last night the conversation revolved around philippians 3:1-15 and this morning around james chapter 1.
James has a lot to say in chapter 1 alone (perserverance, faith, action, integrity, etc) and the final verse of the chapter in which he writes really struck me and challenged me.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." james 1:27
challenging me to keep in tension, in balance, the "church world" where i try to help people understand the kingdom of God and what i'm learning that to mean w/ our call to care for the fringe, for the disenfranchised. evaluating my time spent, when, how, with whom, understanding that we all have a different call and trying to gain perspective, understanding on how to hold it loosely. to live with compassion, with peace, walking in truth.
In philippians Paul says he presses on, and that phrase brings hope, brings encouragement. to press on, to move forward with meekness and openness to redirection, to engage in the process and realize the process will always continue. to get up after stumbling brush off and go.
peace.
3 comments:
"In philippians Paul says he presses on, and that phrase brings hope, brings encouragement. to press on, to move forward with meekness and openness to redirection, to engage in the process and realize the process will always continue. to get up after stumbling brush off and go.
peace. "
well said.
i am learning this in my life. i thank God that this is true, that this is what he desires of us. [Thank you God that it is out of our hands, that you are Provider and Director.]
Question for you...
how does our call to care for the disenfranchised play out politically? Or does it at all?
If our calling is to "look after orphans and widows in their distress", are we responsible in our political decisions to vote for people, not only concerned with, but acting on issues that impact the poor and otherwise abandoned of this country?
Do you think it is more important to worry about the impact of our daily lives, our personal actions? Should we take on the greater responsibility of a country-wide movement? Is this possible?
I so often struggle with the injustices i see in American society, especially where economic class and ethnicity are concerned. What is my part to play then? Working with girls in overwhemingly under-funded, unsupported Oakland public schools is one thing; I am working to make things better in the lives of these girls, in whatever capacity i can; a personal impact. But who will seek out and work to eliminate the roots, the causes of these problems in American society? Is that our calling too? Is that part of it?
Do you think Christians should play a role in the political arena, seeking to aide the impoverished of this country?
I weep. I weep at the desperation i see. Desperation that could be alleviated. Where do you think we as followers of Jesus can be most effective?
Jesus lived with and loved the lowest and most despised people in society. He did not lead a resistence against the occupation of the Romans. Do you think that this is the answer?
Sigh. sorry about the rant. I've been stewing over this stuff for awhile.
i think caring for the disenfranchised plays out in both realms. i know for me personally i'm more interested in my daily life and acting in "small" and subversive ways that could possibly have a ripple effect....and sort of see that pattern in Jesus. for those more interested in working in the political machine more power to them i know its not for me. i'm a little cynical about it - just a bunch of talking heads not doing anything - like i said cynical.
ahh, me too. I become cynical and quite overwhelmed by the immensity of it. I guess acting outside of it can be more powerful in a way, yet still doing what we can within it? (the "political machine" that is.) i do think that it is someones battlefield, though i personally am not cut out for it.
interesting to ponder...
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