While I was at the CCDA Conference a couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to hear Jim Wallis, the founder of Sojourners and the writer of the now famous book, God's politics: Why the right gets it wrong and the left doesn't get it.
Last year, I watched him as he shattered John Stewart's perception of evangelical Christians on The Daily Show. When he spoke at CCDA, he blew the crowd away with a powerful call to awaken the giant force we can be as an evangelical movement.One of the images which remains poignant in my memory is of Wallis with his finger in the air - "These days everyone in Washington are walking with their fingers up in the air - trying to get a feel for the direction of the political wind... As evangelicals, we have been spending our time trying to elect the right person into leadership... Rather, we need to become the wind!" (my paraphrase)
Wallis reminded me that faith without action is dead... as he stated, "Christianity is always personal, but never private."
He talked about the House Budget Bill (please read this!) that was passed on November 18th in Washington. This bill reduces the money which is given to food stamps, medicaid, childcare and welfare.
As a result, Jim Wallis, leaders of CCDA, and several other religious leaders are gathering on December 14 for a call to renewal. This is a situation where we need to become the wind - a voice for the poor - and this is a non-violent, respectful way to do so.
Consider becoming the wind!
Steve
4 comments:
"the simple way announces the return of PAPA(People Against Poverty and Apathy) Festival
June 23-25, setting up camp in the hills of East Tennessee. It will be a convergence of movements and local revolutions-- intersecting folks from the Community of Communities and the New Monasticism, Emergent, the Relational Tithe, Jesus Radicals, the Christian Community Development Association... we will set up a little village of learning, art, and music. Details will come later... for now just mark your calendar."
Steve, this is a bulletin on the Simple Way site. Seems quite interesting. Thought youd like to see it. By the way, psalters will be there as well.
~~disturb the comfortable~comfort the disturbed~~
-eli
"Jesus Radicals is a Christian Anarchist resource. Just like the word "christianity" itself, the words "anarchy," "anarchism" and "anarchist" are abused terms. They are abused so often by the media, state historians and government officials that, by not fault of her own, the average person on the street only thinks of chaos, terrorists and random violence when the term anarchist comes up.
This section of www.jesusradicals.com is dedicated to shattering these misconceptions. Anarchism is a rich and powerful critique of modern society that Christians have at our fingertips. We do not wish to confuse Christianity with anarchism but we do believe that when Christianity is lived rightly it looks a lot like anarchism. The two are not the same thing but that does not mean they are mutually exclusive.
While the FAQ is Jesus Radicals' most original contribution to anarchist theory, we invite people to read our FAQ, search the links in our resources and delve into authors in our library. These resources are meant to break apart misconceptions and to educate Christian and non-Christian alike as to the practical steps that anarchism offers us in creating a more just and peaceful world right now, and in our FAQ the truthfulness that a radically orthodox Christian theology offers this world, which are all things every follower of Jesus is called to do as a work of mercy."
Steve and company...ha...heres the section titled "Anarchy" on JesusRadicals.com. It is quite relevant to some of the discussion we shared in the car last night. Hope you find it interesting! (doog tsom eht gniod)--my little form of satirical and subliminal protest.
~~disturb the comfortable~comfort the disturbed~~
-eli
"114 faith leaders and activists were arrested to protest a morally bankrupt budget that cuts food assistance, health care, and other services to families already struggling to make ends meet."
-www.sojo.net
This is the begining of a rEVOLution...
find out more and right to your government leaders,local or not.
One minister in Washington said yesterday "The poor belong to us!" as a statement of resonsibility. I would like to add that WE belong to the POOR!
Faith without action is dead. We say we love them, and i believe we do......but then it is time to sacrifice what is needed to be sacrificed as to find justice for the suffering. Our Adonai WILL NOT fail us.....but we CAN fail him. Let us do EVERYTHING we are able to do to fight for the widows and prostitutes and orphans. Let us NOT lose the spirit of William Booth's "ILL FIGHT!"
may God be with you and convict you~
~~disturb the comfortable~comfort the disturbed~~
-eli
Thanks Eli for this post. I know that you went to this Washington event and am encouraged that you had a good time.
It's great to know that you are getting fired up about things which matter to the kingdom.
Keep on growing!
Steve
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