{neurotribe.net}: ::Rants-Bible Rewrite

::Rants-Bible Rewrite

The Sheep and the Goats doesn't get a whole lot of airplay. Maybe a bit more now but very little when I first came to faith. A significant contributor to my formation was a rewrite of the Sheep and the Goats that looked something like this:

I was hungry and you formed a humanities club and discussed my hunger, thankyou.

I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your chapel in the cellar and prayed for my release.

I was naked and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.

I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for your health.

I was homeless and you preached to me of a spiritual shelter of the love of God.

I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me.

You seemed so holy, so close to God, but I am still very hungry and lonely and cold.

It impacted me to such a degree that I thought that I had to do something to give it the same gravity to the young adults that I spend time with, that the original had upon me. Here is my humble version...

For I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. So we found a water table and drilled a well. But Coca Cola Amatil came to our city and outbid us for access to our own water. They use it to make your Coca Cola. They outbid us with the profits they made from selling you their product.

I was imprisoned in my own country, so I fled in desperation with nothing except the money that I was able to get in exchange for everything I ever owned. I managed to get to your country, even though the people smugglers told me I was going to England! When I got to your country, you put me into another prison. Except you call yours a detention centre?

I was naked, and you did not clothe me. So we had to find work in order to buy our own clothes. I found work, in a factory. I worked every day from 7am till 9pm with very few breaks, 7 days a week. It was hard work. I rarely got to see my family, life was very hard. This kind of life made me very sad. The factory I worked in made clothes that were sold to you.

I was sick. I agonized as many of my family, friends and especially the children in my community die from things like diarrhoea and simple infections. I was afraid I would die in this horrible way too. Day after day, month after month, year after year. This happened whilst every now and then, you would give thanks to your God for your health.

I was homeless and I read in one of your Christian books that if I applied myself and worked hard enough, I could have whatever I could conjure up enough faith for. I have been praying and believing for a home for my family. I cannot wait for God to answer that prayer.

I was lonely, hoping for someone to visit. Often I saw your aeroplanes flying overhead. I suspect that you were probably on your way to London, or Paris to see things that were very important and special.

You seemed so blessed with so many things. You must be very holy for God to bless you with so many good things. I am still very hungry and lonely and cold.

I would be interested in your thoughts...

Labels: Culture, Discipleship, Lifestyle, Rants, Social Justice, Spirituality, Theology

Posted by Stephen @ 4:35 PM

Comments:

I really like it.

It reminded me of some stuff I was reading the other day about "personal viability" programs in PNG (and I hear they're in the Solomons now too) - I can't find out much about them, but they sound suspiciously like prosperity doctrine to me - you know, the whole "if you're a good Christian, God will bless you with STUFF" stuff...

# posted by

Rebecca : 5:33 PM

Hmmmm. My mind is exercised and my heart is moved, but ... why does it make me feel bad? Shouldn't we be moved to live as the sheep by positive motivators - love, grace, the Holy Spirit transforming us from within?

For so many years my Christian faith and expression was driven by guilt, including quiet times, evangelism and giving. Today, before God, I want my life in pursuit of His response to the needy of my world and the world, to be fueled by these positives.

# posted by

Anonymous : 11:51 PM

Hey Anon,

Wonderful observation. I think in the long term, we can really only sustain a lifelong commitment to God's Kingdom with a majority of positive motivators.

However, we do need to think about this from another perspective. What do I mean? Imagine sitting with a poor community in rural Bangladesh. A community that our resources and wealth could make a massive difference to. Now imagine saying to their faces and their plight, what you have just written here in response to my blog entry.

Would it work? Do you think that they would be happy to wait until we felt positively moved?

I'd be interested in your response.

# posted by

Stephen : 7:29 AM

I'm a first time commenter, short time reader. I think I'll have to read more...

I think your version of the 'sheep and the goats' hits the nail on the head. It goes to the roots on what the parable is on about. At the heart of it, Jesus was saying that without action, words are meaningless. Love is meaningless.

The problem today is that the world is such a complex place with so many theories of what is going to improve society and what is not. It's very difficult for the general population to ascertain what the roots of poverty are, and therefore what can be done about it. Though, the problem more likely lies in the general complacency towards it, because we do not feel responsible for it, or do not recognise and acknowledge that we are the ones who benefit from the unfair system of the 'free market'. It comes down to education and a change of heart. People need to have a knowledge of what the problems are and how they can be a part of the solution. For my part, I feel unempowered to do anything. I think that empowerment and a firm understanding of the causes of poverty need to exist before we can take action.

However, that should not be a scapegoat for not taking action. If people feel (as I feel) that way they need to learn more about it, then they should do so.

Hmm, hope that rant made sense.

Thanks Steve.

# posted by

Adam Dean : 12:30 PM

There seems to have been a backlash against "feeling guilty" in Christian circles in the same way there's been a backlash with what's called "the poverty mentality", and in doing so we've thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

I agree that it's preferable that people act with positive motivations, rather than out of guilt. Guilt can be debilitating, and in the long run, it's the "positive motivators" that sustain our action. However I'm not sure that guilt is always such a bad thing. I'd rather people ac tout of guilt than not act at all. Guilt can move us to reaction. Guilt is a "flag" that something's wrong. A sense of guilt can be the Holy Spirit stirring us into action. Jesus certainly didn't seem to have a problem putting the Pharisees on a guilt trip!!

I'm also not convinced that we need to be really highly educated before we act. I don't think that Adam is suggesting this, but taken to it's logical extreme, this promotes an intellectual elitism and an emphasis on "experts" - only those that know enough can get involved and get their hands dirty. I also think that getting involved is the best way to get educated.

# posted by

Rebecca : 10:04 PM

Thanks Steve, I am 'Anon' from a few days ago. Was having computer probs.

I see your point and agree - perspective is a powerful argument. My observation was perhaps more personal, asking myself when am I doing ok? There will always be more poor and needy, and have I given enough glasses of water? I can see God's gradual work in my life but you never arrive, and can never pat yourself on the back that the naked or hungry are so much better off because of my help!

Hope this makes sense. Keep up the great work.

# posted by

Tim Fawssett : 9:53 AM

Thanks for your return comments Tim. Much appreciated.

A quick note. You have mentioned "you will always have the poor with you" twice so I reckon I should elaborate.

When Jesus uses this phrase, the vast majority of Christians are unaware that Jesus is in fact quoting the old testament. Jesus is making reference to Deuteronomy 15.

The Deut 15 passage talks about the need to cancel debt and to pro actively act generously towards those who are the least and the last, not to wait until we are asked.

So what Jesus is effectively saying to his judges is this "you reckon you would take this money and use it on the poor? Don't fool yourselves, you never will because you never have. The command has been with you since the very beginning, yet in your lives you have never lived it out. Yet you claim that if you sold this womans perfume you would do so? Don't fool yourselves." kind of thing.

Often when Christians use this phrase, they use it to justify *not* responding but rather worshipping Jesus, which is what the woman did.

What Jesus saying about the poor is *exactly* what he says in Deuteronomy, "they will always be with us, therefore, this is why God commands us to be openhanded and generous towards them...".

Make sense?

# posted by

Stephen : 9:09 AM

Hi Steve,

Your re-hash is great, to be frank. It serves the purpose of confronting what I believe is the main issue that westerners and, therefore, the western church have with poverty. That is, we are nowhere near it. We aren't confronted with it. When we are confronted with it within Australia, we know that our government has programs which attempt to deal with it.

Your version of the parable confronts the materialistic screen which we can (very easily) put up to protect our world view. Coca-Cola and OUR health and well-being are what we are told matters.

And we believe it because we see poverty on the same medium that we see "Futurama" and "All Saints". We read how many people died in Dafur yesterday and then how can improve our self-esteem.

Adam brings up a good point, though. Combined "the Matrix" with the feeling of "unempowerment" and it's all very disenchanting and overwhelming. Still, Christ makes it perfectly clear what he requires of us.

# posted by

Simon : 5:44 PM

Yeah, I'm not trying to promote some intellectual elitism. But we do need some general knowledge, or at least a framework of knowledge, to understand the basics of poverty. Otherwise, in attempting to relieve poverty, one could easily cause further problems and perpetuate the underlying causes of poverty. As was the case with early Christian missionaries in the colonial era. Bringing thier own ideas of progress and development and imposing it on to the 'natives'.

Though, I agree, the best way to learn is to get involved.

At the end of the day, if we actually have love for our neighbours we ought to do what is best for them. And as Jesus communicates in the 'Sheep and the Goats' it is to love and serve the defenceless, poor, hurting, thirsty, and oppresed. And in a globalised society this means not only our immediate neighbours but also our fellow human beings on the other side of the world whom we can conveniently ignore (except when we buy our shoes and clothing). I just don't know how to act in a way that will most benefit these people. (And when I say benefit I mean it in a God's love kinda way - not a consumeristic/individualistic kinda way)

I'm bracing myself for a rebuke. I can take it. I'm sure I've left something out.

# posted by

Adam Dean : 1:30 PM

Mate excellent response. Except...

;)

I *do* need to say this tho! Promise.

So many times when people have a go at missionaries in the Colonial era, I need to ask just how much of that perspective is revisionist? The core of my degree dealt with missiology and one of the things I walked away with was an appreciation for the degree which the church acted as a restraint on what could have been all out, unbridled mayhem committed against the colonised, by governmental powers.

Sure the church made massive mistakes and missionaries did stuff that, given reflection and opportunity, many of them would have repented of, but we need to consider that it could have been far, far worse if the governments and the economic organs of those same governments had no one looking over their shoulders.

That's all!

# posted by

Stephen : 3:45 PM

Hmmm... point taken.

I guess we should learn from past mistakes though. Or maybe we can never know if we've made a mistake until afterwards?

Are the transnational corporations of today functioning in the same way as the colonial governments functioned in their day? A new form of imperialism? If so, we should act as the restraint against those powers to be, yeah? Or are they providing a means of lifting people out of poverty by providing to them a way of making money - growing cash crops? What's our role then?

A few questions. Perhaps rhetorical questions. I'm not sure. I guess that's where I find this big grey area.

# posted by

Adam Dean : 3:27 PM

Adam, what a brilliant insight. I had not thought about the analogy. Thanks for this, it has been a helpful insight. Much appreciated...

# posted by

Stephen : 7:21 AM

I should clarify something. My ordinary proof-reading has made my previous comment a bit confusing.

In the last paragraph, "The Matrix" refers to the westernised, commerciallized wall we put up, as I described ealier in that comment. Eh? Cool. Sorry about that.

# posted by

Simon : 11:14 AM

Stephen, are you going to clarify if your last comment was sarcastic? I can't tell. The analogy is neither mine or new. It's just with that 'ironic' photo of you in the corner, I don't know whether to take you seriously.

(Don't feel as though you have to publish this comment - as it's not really adding to the conversation)

# posted by

Adam Dean : 11:17 AM

Hey Stephen. A bit late (I'm sorry)- I obviously don't check often enough...

What should we do, then? Having recently come to the conclusion that there are few things I do that don't have a negative impact on the poor whom God loves - what is there that I CAN do?

Feel a bit like the rich young man who said to Jesus - all my life I have done all those things (supported refugees, agitated for changes to low cost housing and increases in aid, worked to minimise my emmissions/pollution, avoided third world labour products, etc) - but how do I now follow him?

Would love your thoughts, or to know that my frustrations are shared...

# posted by

christina : 4:23 PM

i must admit I have used this a few times recently...tis a great piece of work! and i gave you credit ;-)

cough promote www.imagine07.org cough cough

see ya at schooool!

mitch

# posted by

mitch : 9:09 PM

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