Be the change by Jason Valendy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Jim Wallis - The Call to Conversion
The betrayal of the biblical call to conversion has occurred across the theological spectrum. The gospel must be preached in the context. We live in one of the most self-centered cultures in history. Our economic system is the social rationalization of personal selfishness. Self-fulfillment and individual advancement have become our chief goals. The leading question of the times is, "How can I be happy and satisfied?" Not surprisingly, our self-centered culture has produced a self-centered religion. Preoccupation with self dominates the spirit of the age and shapes the character of religion. Modern evangelism has played right along with this central theme. The most common question in evangelism today is, "What can Jesus do for me?"
The gospel message has been molded to suit an increasingly narcissistic culture. Conversion is proclaimed as the road to self-realization. Whether through evangelical piety or liberal therapy, the role of religion is presented as a way to help us uncover out human potential - our potential for personal, social and business success, that is. We are told Jesus is here to help us to do better that which we are already doing. Jesus doesn't change our lives, he improves them. Conversion is just for ourselves, not the world. We ask how Jesus can fulfill our lives, not how we might serve the kingdom.
Italics were added as this is the line I deeply resonated with.
I do not know about you, but I desire a Jesus that changes my life. I desire a Jesus who calls me to turn everything I know upside down. I desire a Jesus to disrupt the status quo. I desire a Jesus to lead the world to an uncomfortable place, so we might discover the Kingdom.
I desire a Jesus whom I can work for and work with.
The gospel message has been molded to suit an increasingly narcissistic culture. Conversion is proclaimed as the road to self-realization. Whether through evangelical piety or liberal therapy, the role of religion is presented as a way to help us uncover out human potential - our potential for personal, social and business success, that is. We are told Jesus is here to help us to do better that which we are already doing. Jesus doesn't change our lives, he improves them. Conversion is just for ourselves, not the world. We ask how Jesus can fulfill our lives, not how we might serve the kingdom.
Italics were added as this is the line I deeply resonated with.
I do not know about you, but I desire a Jesus that changes my life. I desire a Jesus who calls me to turn everything I know upside down. I desire a Jesus to disrupt the status quo. I desire a Jesus to lead the world to an uncomfortable place, so we might discover the Kingdom.
I desire a Jesus whom I can work for and work with.
Call of wisdom and Roosevelt
In Proverbs 9:1-6, Sophia calls to the passer-byers "You that are simple, turn in here!" At this point she invites these simple people into her house so that she might impart the wisdom of God to them.
When this text was read on Sunday for some reason I could not get that quote from Eleanor Roosevelt "Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people."
All I could picture was Sophia calling out to all of us in America who talk more about American Idol than American policy, "You that are simple, turn in here! Turn in here and I can help you move your simple mind, clamoring about people and events, to a great mind."
Perhaps this is why Jesus spent so much time in parable teaching. It allows us simple minded people to hear about people and events, but at the same time challenges us to talk about the ideas behind these people and events?
Perhaps Jesus spoke in parables, not to be cryptic, but to call us to expand our mind... to become Great.
When this text was read on Sunday for some reason I could not get that quote from Eleanor Roosevelt "Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people."
All I could picture was Sophia calling out to all of us in America who talk more about American Idol than American policy, "You that are simple, turn in here! Turn in here and I can help you move your simple mind, clamoring about people and events, to a great mind."
Perhaps this is why Jesus spent so much time in parable teaching. It allows us simple minded people to hear about people and events, but at the same time challenges us to talk about the ideas behind these people and events?
Perhaps Jesus spoke in parables, not to be cryptic, but to call us to expand our mind... to become Great.
Sayings of Abba Anthony
Reverned Nancy Allen shared a story on Sunday from Abba Anthony:
Three Fathers used to go and visit Blessed Anthony every year and two of them used to discuss their thoughts and the salvation of their souls with him, but the third always remained silent and did not ask him anything. After a long time, Abba Anthony said to him, 'You often come here to see me, but you never ask me anything,' and the other replied, 'It is enough for me to see you, Father.'
Here are some other stoires from Abba Anthony as well which I liked:
Abba Anthony said, "A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, "You are mad, you are not like us."
Abba Anthony said, "I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, 'What can get through from such snares?" Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Humility.'"
A hunter in the desert saw Abba Anthony enjoying himself with the brethren and he was shocked. Wanting to show him that it was necessary sometimes to meet the needs of the brethren, the old man said to him, "Put an arrow in your bow and shoot it." So, he did. The old man said, "Shoot another," and he did so. Then the old man said, "Shoot yet again," and the hunter replied "If I bend my bow so much I will break it." Then the old man said to him, "It is the same with the work of God. If we stretch the brethren beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary to come down to meet their needs." When he heard these words the hunter was pierced by compunction and, greatly edified by the old man, he went away. As for the brethren, they went home strengthened.
One day some old men came to see Abba Anthony. In the midst of them was Abba Joseph. Wanting to test them, the old man suggested a text from the Scriptures, and, beginning with the youngest, he asked them what it meant. Each gave his opinion as he was able. But to each one the old man said, "You have not understood it." Last of all he said to Abba Joseph, "How would you explain this saying?" And he replied, "I do not know." Then Abba Anthony said, "Indeed, Abba Joseph has found the way, for he has said: 'I do not know."
Three Fathers used to go and visit Blessed Anthony every year and two of them used to discuss their thoughts and the salvation of their souls with him, but the third always remained silent and did not ask him anything. After a long time, Abba Anthony said to him, 'You often come here to see me, but you never ask me anything,' and the other replied, 'It is enough for me to see you, Father.'
Here are some other stoires from Abba Anthony as well which I liked:
Abba Anthony said, "A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, "You are mad, you are not like us."
Abba Anthony said, "I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, 'What can get through from such snares?" Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Humility.'"
A hunter in the desert saw Abba Anthony enjoying himself with the brethren and he was shocked. Wanting to show him that it was necessary sometimes to meet the needs of the brethren, the old man said to him, "Put an arrow in your bow and shoot it." So, he did. The old man said, "Shoot another," and he did so. Then the old man said, "Shoot yet again," and the hunter replied "If I bend my bow so much I will break it." Then the old man said to him, "It is the same with the work of God. If we stretch the brethren beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary to come down to meet their needs." When he heard these words the hunter was pierced by compunction and, greatly edified by the old man, he went away. As for the brethren, they went home strengthened.
One day some old men came to see Abba Anthony. In the midst of them was Abba Joseph. Wanting to test them, the old man suggested a text from the Scriptures, and, beginning with the youngest, he asked them what it meant. Each gave his opinion as he was able. But to each one the old man said, "You have not understood it." Last of all he said to Abba Joseph, "How would you explain this saying?" And he replied, "I do not know." Then Abba Anthony said, "Indeed, Abba Joseph has found the way, for he has said: 'I do not know."