In the pledge of allegiance, we promise to make this nation a place of liberty and justice for all. It occurred to me recently that it's easier to provide freedom than justice. God noticed this long before I did.
Two of my personal justice heroes were in Chicago this week: Rev. David Beckmann, Lutheran minister and president of Bread for the World, and Sister Helen Prejean, Catholic nun and advocate for abolition of the death penalty. I got to meet each of them personally and thank them for their courageous faith witness and pursuit of justice.
Rev. Beckmann pointed out that 1.4 billion people in our world survive on $1 a day. About 2.8 billion of our sisters and brother subsist on $2 a day. This means that almost half of the world's population may not receive their daily bread.
Sr. Prejean described what it's like to be in prison. People don't talk about where their friends are going to college; they talk about where their family and friends are in jail. She described capital punishment as a secret ritual, hidden from our eyes, so that people do not think about it.
If you're reading this blog, you are like me: privileged. I've never had to survive on $1 a day. I've never been in prison without being able to walk out freely. For me, life seems very just. I've got everything I need and more.
The connection between faith and justice is this: our spirituality awakens us to injustice. And once we are awake, we gain insight. Once we have insight, it sparks our conscience. This leads to repentance and transformation. And it all leads to one thing: grace.
Our church's Faith in Action Committee is seeking to do justice, by addressing the fundamental problems at the root of poverty in our community: lack of jobs, affordable housing and education. We are initiating a microloan program that will be available to clients of our Walk-In Ministry and PADS homeless ministry. David Beckmann offered me some guidance about similar programs, but said these are rare in the U.S. He encouraged us to pursue a Small Business Association grant, to consult with other similar organizations, and to look into alternatives to payday lending.
Why should a church get involved with an issue like banking services for the poor? I think it has something to do with providing justice for all.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Investing in Results
Last night our Church Council spent more than an hour discussing budget priorities for 2011. Some of us advocated for ministries we like the best. Some of us asked to spend more in areas that have been historically neglected. Some want to invest in personnel; some want to invest in programs; some want to invest in mission, some want to invest in the building. The hard part is that all church-related expenses are for good purposes, so you can't really say that any of them are unimportant. But which ones are most important right now?
I asked the question: Where will our investment of resources produce the most results for God's kingdom on earth?
It's an interesting question.
What are the results of a worship service?
What are the results of supporting the food pantry?
What are the results of a Church School class?
What are the results of a great choir cantata?
What are the results of having a labyrinth on our church lawn?
What are the results of a calling a pastor?
What are the results of welcoming newcomers to worship?
What are the results of being active in our denominations?
What are the results of supporting our missioners in Colombia, South America?
What are the results of keeping our building and grounds in great condition?
Here are the results we are seeking:
1. More action, less words.
2. More intimate fellowship, less individualism.
3. More justice, less satisfaction with simply providing charity.
With God's help, we will discern the best investment for our abundant resources. The key is asking the right questions. What results does God want from us? What return will we make? It's a good problem to have.
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? (I Thessalonians 3:9)
I asked the question: Where will our investment of resources produce the most results for God's kingdom on earth?
It's an interesting question.
What are the results of a worship service?
What are the results of supporting the food pantry?
What are the results of a Church School class?
What are the results of a great choir cantata?
What are the results of having a labyrinth on our church lawn?
What are the results of a calling a pastor?
What are the results of welcoming newcomers to worship?
What are the results of being active in our denominations?
What are the results of supporting our missioners in Colombia, South America?
What are the results of keeping our building and grounds in great condition?
Here are the results we are seeking:
1. More action, less words.
2. More intimate fellowship, less individualism.
3. More justice, less satisfaction with simply providing charity.
With God's help, we will discern the best investment for our abundant resources. The key is asking the right questions. What results does God want from us? What return will we make? It's a good problem to have.
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? (I Thessalonians 3:9)
Friday, October 8, 2010
The Visitor
Once a month we host a gathering called "Dinner and a Movie" in the church lounge. When we opened the doors last Friday, a man I'll call Bob came in. He asked to use the phone. Then he stopped to talk with me. Here's what he said.
"Thank you for letting me in and for allowing me to use your phone. I needed to call my dad. I've been homeless for the last few months, and I know I don't look or smell so good. I find in so many places, people don't even want to talk to me. Churches turn me away. One church even told me I should go out on the street and ask people to give me money. I told them that was illegal. Then I asked them if they would give me money, and they said no."
I invited Bob to eat with us, since we had sub sandwiches, chips and brownies for the movie night. He got himself a plate, sat down and started watching the movie with us. It was called "The Visitor." Hmmmmm...
At 7 pm, Bob came to me and explained that he would have to leave, so that he could get a place to sleep that night at the church that was hosting PADS.
"If I come back later, could I watch the end of the movie with all of you? This is such a great thing. I'd love to be part of it. You have such a nice community here, and it looks like a good movie too."
The movie is about a man named Walter who is a college professor in Connecticut, recently widowed. He is just going through the motions, a dead man walking. He gets no enjoyment in life, and he has no compassion for others. In the story, he goes to visit his apartment in New York City. He hasn't been there for months, due to his wife's death.
When he opens the door, he discovers a couple of immigrants from Syria and Senegal are living there. The landlord has sublet Walter's place without letting him know. But instead of kicking them out, Walter allows them to stay there for awhile. He becomes friends with them, and they introduce him to the joys of the city. Tarek teaches him to play the jembe, and they join a few drum circles. Walter returns to himself and experiences a genuine resurrection.
It made me wonder about how we treat visitors. It made me think of the verse from Hebrews 13:2 -- Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Having Bob visit that night reminded me to give thanks for this faith community. Because the church is truly the only place in the world where everyone is welcome. Sometimes it takes a visitor to help us remember why we're here.
"Thank you for letting me in and for allowing me to use your phone. I needed to call my dad. I've been homeless for the last few months, and I know I don't look or smell so good. I find in so many places, people don't even want to talk to me. Churches turn me away. One church even told me I should go out on the street and ask people to give me money. I told them that was illegal. Then I asked them if they would give me money, and they said no."
I invited Bob to eat with us, since we had sub sandwiches, chips and brownies for the movie night. He got himself a plate, sat down and started watching the movie with us. It was called "The Visitor." Hmmmmm...
At 7 pm, Bob came to me and explained that he would have to leave, so that he could get a place to sleep that night at the church that was hosting PADS.
"If I come back later, could I watch the end of the movie with all of you? This is such a great thing. I'd love to be part of it. You have such a nice community here, and it looks like a good movie too."
The movie is about a man named Walter who is a college professor in Connecticut, recently widowed. He is just going through the motions, a dead man walking. He gets no enjoyment in life, and he has no compassion for others. In the story, he goes to visit his apartment in New York City. He hasn't been there for months, due to his wife's death.
When he opens the door, he discovers a couple of immigrants from Syria and Senegal are living there. The landlord has sublet Walter's place without letting him know. But instead of kicking them out, Walter allows them to stay there for awhile. He becomes friends with them, and they introduce him to the joys of the city. Tarek teaches him to play the jembe, and they join a few drum circles. Walter returns to himself and experiences a genuine resurrection.
It made me wonder about how we treat visitors. It made me think of the verse from Hebrews 13:2 -- Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Having Bob visit that night reminded me to give thanks for this faith community. Because the church is truly the only place in the world where everyone is welcome. Sometimes it takes a visitor to help us remember why we're here.
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