God's Economy: Hungry for More

Out of all the Disney movies I've seen, Pinocchio is not one of my favorites. The part on Paradise Island always creeped me out too much to enjoy the rest of the movie. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove is the first person I've read that focuses on what Paradise Island resembles instead of using the story to show kids why it's bad to lie. Paradise Island shows what happens when people give in to their desires to a point that they become a slave to it. In this case, they get turned into a donkey. This is how it is with many people in America and money, and can be seen so easily at this point in our lives. I am sure many of you have experienced a time where a friend or relative asks you what you plan on doing when you graduate college, and if you don't answer a career that is associated with making a lot of money they try and persuade you to change your mind. I get this all the time. My uncle always tells me to go into pharmaceutics because that is where the money is. The fact that I think working in pharmaceutics would drive me as crazy as working in an office for the rest of my life doesn't matter to him because it would mean I would be making a lot of money. After all, success is defined by how much money you have, right? Most of us know that this is not right, and Wilson-Hartgrove does a good job at making sure we know this is wrong. Last Wednesday we were encouraged to figure out the audience for Wilson-Hartgrove compared to that of Thurman. Thurman wrote to those who are disinherited, and Wilson-Hartgrove seems to be writing to those who are just the opposite. He writes to encourage them to stop and think about the way that they are spending their money, and that they spend it in a way that is glorifying to God.

Oh them lions they can eat my body but they can't (slinky!) swallow my soul, no no no

The second chapter of Thurman's Jesus and the Disinherited is on fear. Everyone experiences fear and there are many different types of fear. Thurman writes a lot (S & W Rule 17 - Omit needless words) on the constant fear of the disinherited, as well as its influence on their children. While we consider ourselves extremely blessed, my family is relatively poor. I have never thought much of it because the Lord has blessed us with an amazing support system, and growing up my friends were in the same boat as I was. Since coming to North Park, I have realized the fear that Thurman talks about for the children of the disinherited is a reality in my life, though not too extreme. It comes in the smaller things, such as a fear of letting others down by my unwillingness to go to Olive Garden, use too much public transportation, or see a show that costs more than I am willing to spend. It is a fear that is only possible in comparison to others. However, Thurman goes on to say "If, on the other hand, the elders understand in their own experiences and lives the tremendous insight of Jesus, it is possible for them to share their enthusiasm with their children." This is how I consider myself blessed. My parent's commitment to Jesus and to our church have kept my dreams from ever reaching a ceiling. I know that I am God's, and that He can get me through anything. One of the verses Thurman mentions is one that I keep constantly by my side: Matthew 6:25-34. This verse is a wonderful help for those who fear, but you really have to believe it.

Chapter 1 of Jesus and the Disinherited

Some of the things in this chapter really hit home for me. The most significant being the questions the Hindu asks Thurman about how he could possibly be a Christian after all that "Christians" have done throughout history. I have heard this argument in many different forms, and from someone very close to me. This is the argument that keeps my brother from being a Christian, or even believing in God at all. How can a people so dedicated to believing in Jesus and what he stands for do such terrible things to others? Thurman does not really answer this particular question, but continues by showing that Jesus himself was in the position of the poor and oppressed. Unfortunately, throughout history people proclaiming themselves to be Christians have caused much of the oppression, as the Hindu points out. I think an important issue here is that many Christians are not really working hard to live out a Jesus-led life, myself often included, which can cause others to suffer unjustly. I think together as a community we must work toward becoming more like Jesus and show the world what Christianity was meant to be.

Disclaimer: I am not trying to say that as a whole, Christians are bad people. There are so many people in this world who really do live a life like that of Jesus. Unfortunately it is often the bad things that get remembered the most.

This blog is intended to be a reflection of my experiences and readings for North Park's Dialogue III class on Intentional Christian Community.