Isolated

Until the last few years, we as Americans have been far removed from the evil the rest of the world encounters daily, or so we thought. We felt insulated and isolated from the dark things of this world. Sure bad things were happening around us, people murdered others, children were kidnapped and raped, and whole neighborhood were terrorized by gangs, but as long as it happened “over there” we weren’t too worried. Then they came to us. They opened the doors to our living rooms. No longer could we ignore the evil that had been here all along. We saw them laugh as they killed the innocent; we saw the innocent cry out in pain as their heads were sawed off. We looked evil in the eye and we were afraid. Some of us have reacted by retreating into our bedrooms so we don’t have to look in the living room. Others have chosen to face evil down with love and compassion, staying in the living room where the cries for God can be heard.

He Suffers With/For Us

Today we go with Jesus to the cross where it looks like evil has won. Like never before, we have something to offer the world that is crying out for a God that will understand. Our God knows what evil is. He has experienced it. He stayed in the living room with it, and He knows its name.

The Via Delarosa

Today as you walk the Via Delarosa, or the Way of Suffering, with Christ (read Luke 23:26-43) , allow yourself to feel the evil surrounding you. Watch as Jesus battles the evil of men as well as the evil that is not of this world. Watch as Jesus submits to the suffering while offering compassion and love to those who are there with Him. Hear the women crying, and feel the uneasiness of the crowd as Jesus loves them even as they brutalize His body. It looks like evil has won. But Sunday has yet to come.

The Question for my paper this week in my business ethics class is:

How should a Christian balance the concern to ‘stand against’ the workplace culture with the concern to participate within the workplace so as to change it?

When we ponder the question of the Christian’s place in the business community, we are debating the age old question “How exactly are we to be in the world but not of the world?” Furthermore, at what point do Christians draw the line at “not conforming to the patterns of this world,” but become “light and salt” in that world? Many have tried to answer this question with convincing arguments touting their respective positions. More recently Wensveen Siker, using Richard Niebuhr’s Christ and Culture typology, has categorized these approaches into five positions: Christ Against Business, Christ of Business, Christ Above Business, Christ the Transformer of Business, and Christ and Business in Paradox. As Siker concludes, each of these positions offers something indispensible, yet insufficient in itself.

In wrestling with this question, I am once again drawn to a Wesleyan stance—that of “and/also.” All five postions offer us a way of answering the question put forth in this paper, but all five fall short of a complete answer in and of itself. They must be held together in tension – an and/also answer.

• While we stand against the evils of this world and the workplace, we must also not remove our light from the world, for what good is a light if not held in darkness?
• We must also hold fast to the belief in the goodness within all of creation (the business world not to be excluded) and the possibility of redemption, for without this hope we are lost.
• While those of us who have faith believe our faith informs our whole lives (including our work lives), providing guidance for ethical behavior (even as we cloak them in universal moral appeals), we must also be aware that many of our moral stances will seem folly to those who do not share our faith.
• And even though our final destination is a world without sin, we must continue to live in a sin-soaked world. That said, we must not abandon this world, but work all the harder to bring this world to its knees before the One True King.

This requires a delicate dance. It requires courage and humility, righteous indignation and recognition of our moral culpability, a demand for justice as well as grace, and hope balanced with a heart that breaks as God’s does.

Sometimes I fear we think we need to do some big thing, to make a big move, but Jesus’ example shows us it is a whole series of little things that makes mountain move. Sometimes we will be asked to take a big step of faith and make a bold move, but most of the time He simply asks us to cast our nets on the other side.

What do you think?

Many think democracy began with the birth of our nation, but this idea did not originate with us. Nearly 3000 years ago, our ancestors had suffered through two successive corrupt leaderships of the prophet Sameul’s sons.

No Punch Cards Ballots

Like many of us in America today, the Israelites were frustrated and angry. So, they came to Samuel and asked for a vote. No, it wasn’t a punch card ballot and the Israelites didn’t have to suffer through months of political ads, but never before had the people made their election choice known. Never before had they dared to demand an election.

Led Astray By False Ads

Samuel wasn’t happy with their demand because he knew they were being led astray by false advertising. They were believing the press coming from the other nations. The grass appeared greener on the other side, and the Israelites wanted what the other nations had. They wanted a king, just like everyone else.

Samuel knew that God was the only King his people needed, but when he talked to God about it, God did something surprising. He told Samuel to give them what they were casting their vote for…”give them a king.”

The First Democratic Election

The first democratic election had taken place. The people had spoken. Before the newly elected would take his place, God had some closing remarks. These words are still relevent to us today as we go to the polls to cast our votes. God said, “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.”

3000 Yr Old Words For Us Today

So, what is it the Lord said they would do? God goes on to detail how these leaders/kings would be corrupt. Not every king the nation of Israel had was bad, but God wanted the people (and us) to know that there is no one but God who is totaly trustworthy, completely loyal, and always steadfast. Yes, we will go to the polls today and cast our votes for the man or woman who we think will be the best leader for our nation, state, and community. But, let us heed God’s warning: don’t place these people on the throne reserved only for the One True God. For only He is worthy of our eternal praise.

After preaching on the parable of the talents, our pastor handed out $10 bills to each family asking us to take our “talent” and multiply it. We were told that in Jesus’ day, a talent was equal to $130,000- not pocket change.

Indentured Servants

The servants or slaves in the parable had indentured themselves to this wealthy man because they owed someone money and the wealthy man could buy their freedom, or they could not find enough work to buy the basic necessities like food and shelter so they sold themselves in exchange for food. The servants owed everything, including their very lives, to the Owner. So, when this Owner invests these men with some of His bounty, He expects a return on His investment.

Return on His Investment

We, too, owe all we have, even our very lives, to the Owner. Everything we have–gifts, talents, a home, family, food on our tables, the world we live in–everything comes from God. When God gives us these blessings, He expects us to use those blessings in a way that honors Him. So what honors God?

The Least of These

Following the parable of the talents is Jesus’ explanation of the end of time when we will be divided into the sheep, who will enter heaven, and the goats, who will suffer eternal damnation. And what is the criteria that will determine our grouping? It’s probably not what you’d think. Ask most Christians and you will get a laundry list of things, but Jesus makes it simple. He tells the sheep on his right they will enter heaven because they “gave me water when I was thirsty, visted me in prison, and fed me when I was hungry.” The goats on His left ask, “When did we see you thirsty, hungry, and in prison?” Jesus answered, “When you did this for the least of these you did it to me.”

God Wants Us to Make a Profit

In the parable of the talents, the servants were invested with gifts, which the Owner expected to be used according to His will. The first two servants invested wisely, doubling the return on investment for their Master. The third was fearful and hid his Master’s money in the ground. The Owner said to the first two, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” They had returned with a profit what He’d invested in them. But to the fearful servant He said, “You wicked man.” He had not invested his Master’s gifts in a way that honored Him.

God’s Economics

Where we invest our gits, talents, money, and resources will either make a profit for our Lord, or will return void. If you’ve ever had the joy of working with the poor and overlooked, you know that we always receive more than we give. When we invest in “the least of these,” the return on that investment is more than we can count. But God is counting, and one day we will be held to that that account.

Join Me in Investing

November 13-14, when I return the proceeds from our Talent Investment, my “talent” will benefit Jackie’s House, a ministry to rescue children left at the dump in Santo Domingo, giving them a place to live and a future. I’m encouraging those who’ve read this blog to consider giving a quarter, .50, or $1 every time you throw something in the garbage that could be recycled. Say a prayer for these children and the woman who’s made it her life’s mission to rescue these children from the garbage. Then make your donation through my Pal Pay account (CheriCowell). I can’t give you a tax deduction, but I do know The Accountant who knows and remembers each gift.

For More Info on Jackie’s House http://www.jackieshouse.org/testimonies.html