4th July: greed and giving PART 1

Now that the fourth is past and life seems to be returning to normal.  In my town that means not being kept up at night by quarter sticks and cheesy copycats of the real thing whistling through the air.  I’d like to reflect on some deep, sobering, and for me, disturbing thoughts relating to this great holiday. 

I’m not unpatriotic before anyone gets the impression that I’m about to bash America.  I’ve lived in nondemocratic countries and have a deep appreciation for the freedom and liberty this nation espouses and which we celebrate on the fourth of July.  But, underneath all the flag waving, parades, and expensive displays of fireworks (which were really cool this year) there are some realities that need challenging. 

We took our kids to the fourth of July parade that our town hosts on the eve of this holiday.  Like any other parade candy is thrown to the children so in some ways this isn’t any different than our Halloween parade or a Fair Parade except it was in the context of the celebration of independence. 

My daughter is on the small side for her age and so it’s quite easy for other children to, by their size alone, push her out of the way.  Quite a few times as people were throwing out candy she would run to it only to have the bigger kids grab everything in their path leaving none for her. 

As a father it was heart wrenching to watch especially when she would come back to me and say “I didn’t get any”.  I could barely take it without wanting to yell at the other kids to not be so greedy.  It’s only candy for crying out loud so why do we think we need to grab it up as if it were going to delay old age or something.  But then again this is the fourth of July and how fitting it is for children to reflect the values of the nation whose holiday we are celebrating. 

Is the fourth about freedom or greed?  Perhaps us adults we’re not much different from those children.  We use the instruments of politics, power, corporate structures to take as much resources as possible from any country that is smaller than us because our sheer size and strength allows us to do so. 

I’M SURE THERE ARE FATHERS IN POOR COUNTRIES THAT SEE THE UNITED STATES TAKING ALL THE GOOD LAND, FOOD, OIL, TREES, ETC. WHILE THEIR CHILDREN DIE OF STARVATION AND THERE’S NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BIGGER GUNS. 

How should we respond to our own habit of snatching up everything we can without thinking of others?  How should we respond to our children who snatch up all the candy or to those children who get none?  IT’S ONLY CANDY but tomorrow it will be something much bigger.

Whose the real Michael Jackson

Last night I was able to watch a few minutes of an NBC special on Michael Jackson in between failed attempts to make my three year old son stay in bed.  It was fascinating and a bit bizarre as the camera and reporter followed Michael into an upper end antique store where he purchased millions of dollars worth of furniture simply by pointing to it and saying “that one”.  I don’t think he ever stopped to look at the price tag which the reporter did stating that the vase or light set or whatever they were cost around $250 grand.  It was like following the emperor and the reporter made the remark that the stuff had the feel of royalty. 

There are many opinions and theories about the eccentric and iconic life of Michael Jackson.  What gets lost amidst the dehumanizing jokes and screams of sickeningly over adoring fans is the humanity of the person who lived like a king.  Behind the mask whether it was real or fake is a human being created in the image of God with the capacity to love and be loved. 

It’s hard to see Michael’s humanity amidst the crazy media circus and bizarre lifestyle.  Still it exists while at the same time being hidden by our attempts to latch on to and squeeze to death the very icon that we’ve created.  Michael and the Jackson family made their choices.  But, the choices were offered by us, the one’s who followed the stories, bought the albums and attended the concerts.  Even if we weren’t fans, I wasn’t, we participated in this demigod creation through the pop cultural system that most of us allow to speak for our ideals as much as we use it to smother ourselves in false identities to escape the pain of the real world. 

The icon of Michael Jackson became a false reality that hid the real man.  We might not like it, we might actually hate it, but Michael Jackson was more than a pop star, a wealthy artists, and all the other stuff; he was a human being.  One who allowed the fame and wealth of the pop cultural world to create a false person hiding the real one.  And still it was there.  But, there is not where we are in our screams of adoration and curses of hate for an icon of America’s desires to possess the hearts of the masses only to realize the more you have, the more you possess, the more your face is an icon of fame the more you die not knowing who you really are. 

Let us not continue to demonize but love even the wealthy and powerful among us so that the iconic demons of pop culture can be overthrown in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It’s not the pop culture that’s the problem but the worship of something that is a lie and distorts not only us the worshipper but dehumanizes the artists.  Artists are human beings too just like you and me.

Iran: Do people want freedom?

It’s easy for us as Americans to interpret the current political and social crisis in Iran through our own historical and ideological lenses.  We find empathy in any context where people rise up against a perceived tyranny just as our forefathers rose up against tyranny and established the United States.  But, is this perception an imposition of tyrannical ideology upon others whose situation, context, and history are vastly different from our own? 

There is an increasing globalization of the idea that people have the right to choose their lifestyle; their economic and political context.  The idea of choice has made democracy a potent force in the past few decades.  But, this doesn’t mean that people necessarily want the version of democracy found in the United States or agree with the lifestyle and culture that dominates the United States.  People want a democracy that enables them to choose how they will live. 

I think we need to tread carefully in our assessment of the Iranian situation.  President Obama has been careful and wise for the most part in staying on the sidelines so that the Iranians can wrestle with their issues without a biased and unjust meddling from a superpower.  Instead we need to understand and respect that many Iranians values the ability to choose their leaders in as much as they value their Islamic revolution.  The protests in the streets is not a protest against Islam but demand for justice and choice within Islam. 

People want and need freedom to pursue those things that provide humanity with dignity and significance.  Americans often equate freedom with the ability to live anyway a person desires giving rise to our destructive consumptive lifestyle.  True freedom is not about living any way the heart desires which leads to anarchy since our hearts can deceive us in the pursuit of selfishness.  Instead true freedom is a reality when all people have the ability to pursue those things that provide human dignity; having access to housing, food, education, a clean environment, living peace, etc. 

True freedom comes in the dignity of love.  Not a love of self but love for others as much as we love ourselves.  Jesus taught us that the golden rule is to love God with all our heart, mind and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves.  When we live out this kind of love we have freedom from the tyranny of consumptive lifestyles and the strength to oppose oppressive theocratic regimes. 

Let’s pray for the people of Iran to have freedom to choose the outcome of their history and live in a peace with significance and human dignity.

IRAN: when elections are more than advertising consumption

The recent protests over Iran’s disputed election results demonstrate the importance politics plays in the life of many people in the world.  The stakes are high and some people have been killed by Iranian militias during a rally that attempted to storm the militia’s compound in Tehran.  People are not just protesting the injustice of a system that they feel has stolen their vote.  They are fighting for the demand to have what many Americans take for granted; basic liberties that provide the substance for a society’s significance. 

The basic liberty to choose the leader’s of one’s nation in a fair and just vote is taken for granted by Americans who display contempt and cyncism towards politics.  The source of this malevolence towards the political system is the contrast between the messages that bombard the consumer through PR stunts, advertisments, and stump speeches and the human significance found in having the liberty to create enjoyment in life that is peaceful and just. 

 The American voter is not voting to ensure a better society with significance for the nation as a community.  Instead politicians are appealing to the American voter on the basic human level of fear and self indulgence.  Advertising and consumerism do not manipulate the person as much as they appeal to the self indulgent desires of the person attempting to convince them that those desires will be fulfilled by the product or idea being offered to them.  It’s the consumer’s own desire that fuels the whole system.  In politics this means the message and vote are not about creating a better society but what appeals to the basic desires of the voter in order to get their commitment and win the election. 

The contrast between the consumer voter in the US and the Iranian voter is vast.  In Iran people are voting for politicians who embody a reality, an ideal that will mold their country in particular ways that either provide them with the kind of significance in life they’re searching for or will strip them of that significance.  Of course, which politician provides this significance depends on one’s perspective; that’s what an election is all about.  But, the vote carries a significance for the people in and of itself because it provides them with the means to wrestle with contemporary issues and embody a vision for their nation that gives them purpose and direction. 

The significance in the Iranian vote is the reason people are willing to risk their lives at mass demonstrations.  While Americans can become vocal and bitter about the results of an election and even contest the fairness of one in the courts.  It’s doubtful Americans would stand up to political oppression in order to guarantee their vote was heard because it doesn’t have any significance for them.  The general attitude is that we can always vote again in four years and besides, politicians do whatever is expedient for them anyway so there’s no real substance to the vote. 

Violence is never the answer to any act of injustice.  May God be with the Iranians to find a just and equitable resolution to their political crisis that ensures their vote continues to have significance in setting the course and vision of their nation.  But, may God also be with us to transform our consumer vote into something that is truly worth voting for.  Instead of appealing to our selfish desires or even fears but instead to make a vote count by having politicians who are willing to risk their careers (life?) for what is good for this nation.

the crashing retail economy

On January 2nd, of this new year, 2009, AOL posted an article from CNNMoney.com titled “14,000 Retail Stores Could Close This Year”.  A dismal picture is painted of the economy that will result in the horror of consumers, that would be people like you and me, will have fewer choices for stores to shop in or products to by, oh my.  There is the threat of a landscape of strip malls sitting empty because stores can no longer survive in this scaled down economy.  People will no longer be buying stacks of t-shirts and dozens of pairs of shoes now that they have, or think they have less money.  People must ask the ultimate question, the one that creeps upon them like the truth from out of the shadows that nobody wants to face, and that question is “do we really need all this stuff?”

It’s ironic that the wholesale conversion of land into strip malls and shopping developments was overdone with it’s foundation upon a short sighted view of the future that depended upon greed; the consumer greed to buy, buy, buy till you go broke and then buy some more with credit.  Now stores sit empty on land that once consisted of forests and wetlands that helped to control flooding and keep the air clean.  Land that once grew food which by the way has increased in cost as agriculture is no longer a local thing but tied into this global economy that depends upon greed. 

We are faced with a serious dilemma regarding the closing of stores which will result in the loss of jobs which, in a recession, are not easily replaced.  How our society responds in helping the less fortune is a test of what kind of heart we have; whether it’s a heart of greed or one of compassion.  But, this new economy also provides our nation, the world, with an opportunity to create an economy that’s not based upon greed, consumption, and exploitation but one that’s based upon environmental sustainability, justice, and peace. 

Empty strip malls are an icon of greed that consumes and abuses the person transforming them from being human into a cog in a merciless system of consumption; into being a consumer that is soulless.  People are not consumers but living beings whose significance depends, not on what they can buy, but in the quality of life they live within the context of human relationships.  To base the self-worth upon purchasing power creates an injustice and fuels greed to acquire more stuff whose significance is shallow and thrill quickly fades leading the person to purchase more.  While this cycle of purchasing makes some wealthy it leaves the average person empty because they don’t attain fulfillment or significance but simply a garage filled with more stuff.  So the solution in a greed based economy is to buy more stuff as if it were a drug and the consumer a junky needing a better fix. 

Jesus said where our heart is there will be our treasure.  This doesn’t mean we should live without anything like hermits in the wilderness.  There are too many people for the human population to live that kind of lifestyle and those that do have a special calling in life.  But, for the rest of humanity Jesus raises the question about what we find ourselves attached to, what is the god we serve.  If our god is consumerism then that is where our treasure is; with stuff and stuff and stuff that leaves us seeking more stuff that we don’t need and an economy that collapses. 

Instead we need an economy that provides for the basic needs of people while freeing humanity to contribute to society in ways that are meaningful thru service to the poor and meaningful community interaction.  We can’t live without an economy but an economy should not rule our lives.  Life’s worth is born out of human interaction and contributions to society that create healthier and more holistic ways of living.  It’s a life that is devoted to love, the love of God and the love of all humanity regardless how much they can buy.  But, this kind of economy will only come if people are willing to let go of greed and change.

Prison is a GROWTH INDUSTRY???

The other day I was listening to NPR doing a piece on how the downturn in the Stock Market was affecting small towns in New York state (as one example of a larger problem).  The global economic crisis is causing states and municipalities to slash their budgets which has a bigger impact on small towns that may not have access to as many resources as a larger city.  But, the stock market downturn is also causing businesses to lay-off and close down which greatly affects small towns where a major portion of the economy is fueled by one or two businesses.  A corrections officer for a detention facility located in one of these New York towns was interviewed for this piece voicing concern over the state cutting positions in the prison system and stopping some of the prison programs.  This correction officer referred to prison as a growth industry during economic harship. 

My reflections are in no way intended to criticize or demean the correction officer’s comments.  This is a person who works in a occupation that involves an incredible amount of risk and danger and should be commended for being willing to take on a dangerous responsibility.  But, his comments reflect our culture’s perspective and view of the world being shaped by business mindset.  This is not necessarily wrong but neither is it necessarily healthy for all circumstances.  To refer to prison as an industry transforms convicts into products to be packaged and marketed to borrow business terms. 

This business mindset allows government, society in general, to develop institutions and programs for accomplishing tasks that fail to realize or account for the humanity of people.  People are not objects that are bought, sold, traded, or manufactured like lifeless commodities in the business world.  People are beings of love whose significance and meaning in life is not given by ecnomic/business models no matter how hard we try to make this so but in relationships that reveal ourselves to one another.  True, authentic relationships can’t be commodified but are freely entered into with no strings attached. 

The prison system is not a business or an industry but a means whereby society attempts to bring justice (no matter how flawed) for the victems and transformation for the victimizer (or at least this should be the goal).  To say prison is an industry not only dehumanizes criminals who, according to the teachings of Christ are still human beings (Jesus ate and had fellowship with the criminal elements of his society such as the woman caught in adultery and Matthew the tax collector) but it sells justice to the highest bidder.  Industry is about producing a product that a business markets to people in order to make a profit.  Prison is about justice and peace in society.  It’s not a business or a growth industry but a part of society whose goal isn’t growth or decline but ensuring society is able to function in a holistic way.

consumer faith: what, which, god

I recently read about a pastor praying for one of the candidates and mentioning the prayers of the other party as being to another god.  Religion, in particular Christianity, always plays some role in presidential elections and politics in general.  But, this election seems to highlight more than ever a divide within Christianity which isn’t necessarily bad until it becomes a means for judging and condemning those who don’t share one’s  own views.  This is ironic in that Christianity is a religion that claims adherence to a Christ who preached love for enemies and forgiving those who have sinned against you.  Considering this justaposition between the Christian faith(s) being embodied in the presidential election and the faith espoused by Christ there is a need to deconstruct what passes for Christianity in the US. 

The revelation we find in Christ of a transcendent God who steps into our world and becomes one with it through the Incarnation of Jesus having taken on flesh thru the Virgin Mary challenges the notions, ideals and systems of belief found in much of American Christianity.  Starting with the Incarnation of Christ we are confronted with the Transcendent fused with humanity which deconstructs American idolatry by asking what are we putting our faith in?  What ideology have constructed based on our own self-centered notions of truth?  Have we recreated god in our own image(s)?  How can a Christian assume or infer that the Jesus an opposing political campaign is praying to is a different Jesus than the one they’re praying to? 

We can assume the other’s Christ is not our Christ if we have reduced him to an impersonal ideology void of the transforming power of the Incarnation and Resurrection.  The Christ of Scripture has taken on flesh and blood to conquer death and give new life to all humanity transcending economic, social, political or cultural barriers.  At the cross there is neither republican or democrat but raw humanity stripped of it’s ideology, religion, beliefs, prejudices and perspectives so that we stand naked before the God whose love is so powerful that it faces and conquers death even for those who are enemies of God.  This love transcends human efforts to do good and exposes all political systems as self-righteous means to power.  It’s not that the efforts of either or any political party don’t have good intentions because I think there is good in every religion and every political system.  But, every religion and political system also has greed and self-centered seeking after power to fulfill personal agendas; this is reality.  It’s also why Christianity should never identify with a political system but seek the welfare and good of all humanity and every part of the world. 

I think it’s time to put a challenge to Christianity especially those forms that use politics to promote their agenda.  Either preach the gospel of Christ where there is suffering on the way to the cross of death giving salvation and new life to the world in the living resurrection or shut up and stay out of politics.  The political bantering on the part of most religious groups in the election season is sickening, dangerous and a hinderance to the real issues facing the American people.  If Christianity can’t preach, reflect, reveal, uncover the true and living Christ who has conquered death to give hope and new life then what passes for Christianity is a shame and needs to be done away with. 

Both candidates for president are making appeals to the Christian community and both candidates have different perspectives on faith issues and moral issues.  These differences or the candidates positions should never garner allegiance from any Christian who claims to follow the Christ who has transcended human barriers to create a community of people where there is no longer a division based on ethnicity or beliefs but one Body of Christ.  Instead it’s time for the church to challenge all political parties, regardless of their claims, to stand up for the poor, protect the widow and orphan, and stand for justice (not Quantomino bay style but Christ justice).  The church can only truly be prophetic in this cultural arena when it submits to no candidate but understands all candidates as being created in the image of God and worthy for office based on their abilities and calling.

Consumer faith

The current crisis on wall street has repurcussions that extend beyond the financial sector of our society.  We live in a world that is defined by consumerism, what we consume defines who we are as person.  This consumption is the fuel for our economy providing the means for business to sell products that are necessary for the individual’s consumption.  We are told and have come to believe that who are, what we are, our worth and significance is based upon the image we’ve created for ourselves and this image is formed by what we’re able to consume, buy, possess, own.  Now that we’re in an economic crisis we are threatened by the lost of identity and the fear that the powers that give us our image (Corporate America), our gods, may fall.

But, there is a deeper dilemma to this economic situation that threatens the form of religion Christianity has become in recent decades.  Following Corporate America’s lead church’s have created a faith that is based upon consumption.  We’ve packaged god into a marketing plan that is used to attract, convince, the largest number of people possible that our particular church is the one to attend.  People have responded to church programs designed to provide for the felt needs of people (i.e. products that they desire to consume) by treating church the same way they treat any product that can be bought at the mall.  There is a shopping around for a faith that suits their personal needs and provides them what they currently desire.  Once their desires and needs change they move on to another church constantly looking for religious products to consume. 

It’s not that church programs are bad or that church shouldn’t attempt to invite people to become part of the faith community.  But, we must ask the question can God be consumed, the Creator of the unieverse, the one by whose breathe we live and move and have our being.   Can Jesus be turned into an action figure and be sold next to G.I. Joe action figures?  If the church is the Body of the Christ who suffered a horrible death for our sins and defeated that death in a resurrection glory.  If the church is about following the Jesus who was obedient to the Father even to death.  Then how can church be consumer driven?  Church is not about selling religious goods and promoting the slavery of consumerism that traps people in a never ending burden of constantly needing to buy something new.  Church is about a relationship with the one gives eternal life. 

So what will happen to Consumer Christianity with the changing forces in the world’s financial crisis?