Quotes

Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw

"Too often the patriotic values of pride and strength triumph over the spiritual values of humility, gentleness, and sacrificial love."

"We in the church are schizophrenic: we want to be good Christians, but deep down we trust that only the power of the state and its militaries and markets can really make a difference in the world."

"Rather than placing our hope in a transitional church that embodies God's kingdom, we assume America is God's hope for the world, even when it doesn't look like Christ."

Abraham Joshua Heschel:

“The opposite of good is not evil, but indifference.”

“An individual dies when he ceases to be surprised.”

“No religion is an island”

“The cure of the soul begins with a sense of embarrassment; embarrassment at our pettiness, prejudices, envy and conceit. Embarrassment at the profanation of life. A world that is full of grandeur has been turned into a carnival.”

“The primary purpose of prayer is not to make requests, the primary purpose of prayer is to praise.”

“Prayer will not save us, but will allow us to be worth being saved.”

“Some are guilty but all are responsible.”

What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?

What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?

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Am I betraying my call?

Every now and again I feel I like the Disciples when Jesus says, "you have been with me this long and you still do not know me?" And it makes me sad, frustrated and immobile. Today is one of those times.

As I sit in my office, making decent money, driving my own car (which my family has three in our possession right now), working on my own laptop, wearing a J. Crew shirt, GAP pants and Sketchers; I reflect on my day thus far and wonder, am I betraying my call as a Christian?

The church I work at has a lot of money and people yet we seem to be an establishment of the status quo. We do not have relationships with the poor (except we send some money and used clothes every now and again), we do not work for social justice in any way, we have worship which speaks to a specific type of person and we have a huge endowment which sits there.

I do not want to bash the church, we do a lot of good, however I wonder if we are focused on maintaining the building, upholding the status quo and reinforcing our own empire rather than transforming our community, building relationships with the poor, and rivaling the Empire.

Here I sit, immobilized wondering if in fact if being a minister at this church and NOT doing these latter things if I am betraying my call?