A small group of pastors was talking the other day about how many significant and stressful trends and events are in the news now that affect us more or less directly. Here are some of the things we discussed, plus a few more:
- very high gas prices, and still rising
- home foreclosures
- high and increasing costs for health care and insurance, and shrinking coverage
- the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan along with the needs of returning GIs
- food shortages around the world and in U.S. food banks
- repeated attempts to legalize gay marriage
- the quiet but persistent infiltration of Islam in Western societies
- the growing role played by China and India in the world economy
- earthquakes in China and Japan, floods in Iowa (and this is just in the last couple of weeks)
Other items could be added to this list of things that are reshaping the world in which we live.
One person observed that these are all conditions which we sense we cannot control to any great degree. The accumulation of all these pressures might have a paralyzing effect.
How are we as the community of Christians to understand the times in which we live? Let's converse (civilly!) about it in the days to come. The challenge will be to not repeat stock answers we have heard others express, but to think carefully while seeking the mind of Christ...
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Some thoughts:
- very high gas prices, and still rising
>> Christians might consider making their lives smaller: moving closer to work or church, riding their bikes, selling their second car, reconsider activities that make us drive a lot, buy a reel (i.e. not a gas) mower, etc.
- home foreclosures
>> Christians should consider communal living. This need not mean the establishment of Christian communes (though that wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea), but younger couples might move in with older (post-children) couples, for pooled resources and mentorship opportunities; single folk might consider moving in with other (same gender) single folk, or with married couples. Christians could also downsize--i.e. move out of the rich suburbs into the not-so-rich suburbs, or heck, even into the city, or just a smaller house.
- high and increasing costs for health care and insurance, and shrinking coverage
>> This one's a tough one. But again, I think Christians pooling resources might help. Something like relationaltithe.com seems right to me.
- the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan along with the needs of returning GIs
>> For the needs of returning soldiers, see above. Regarding the ongoing wars... pray for peace! (And perhaps rediscover the meaningful distinction between allegiance to the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of the world. Encourage Christians to be peacemakers.)
- food shortages around the world and in U.S. food banks
>> Big problems like this are hard to think about, but a theology of sharing might do a lot of good.
- repeated attempts to legalize gay marriage
>> I don't find this to be a threat to the Church, insofar as it is only a restructuring of civil society. But it is an opportunity for us to revisit the topic of marriage, and to meditate on how deeply Christians have been influenced by Hollywood romanticism rather than a biblical sense of vocation in marriage.
- the quiet but persistent infiltration of Islam in Western societies
>> Again, for all of these, prayer seems key. If we believe Christianity is true (and I trust that we do), then the way we live our lives, the faithfulness we exhibit to Christ's message and enemy-love should go a long way to opening doors for proclamation of the gospel.
- the growing role played by China and India in the world economy
>> Hmm... Learn Chinese?
- earthquakes in China and Japan, floods in Iowa (and this is just in the last couple of weeks)
>> Pray, share, and pray some more. Maybe explore denominational contact points with churches in affected areas.
It's very easy to think these thoughts from the comfort of my chair while I remain largely unaffected by most of these problems, of course.
So take my thoughts for what they're worth.
Much love,
-Daniel-
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