50 posts tagged “community”
We could go on and on adding to this list of strategies, but the point is that the world has reduced influence down to working principles they employ daily to shape, bend and direct things "their" way. Paul wrote "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." - 1 Corinthians 9:22 What is he saying? I am working to influence!
Just finished reading a very thought provoking graphic novel titled Red Son. The premise is "what if Superman had been raised in the Soviet Union?" You can read more about the details of the story here. The moment I was introduced to the novel and it's basic idea I purchased it and read it in the same day. The primary reason for my eagerness in regard to this particular story has to do with the idea that "the stories we are exposed to shape our identity and view of the world (of what is good and evil even)."
(NOTE: The following is from some personal notes of mine hence their broken nature)
If in fact the Spirit of of Jesus is upon us... we would characterize the general behavior of Jesus as it relates to our culture.
REFLECT on how THE SPIRIT OF JESUS might be LEADING US. Into what RIDICULOUS BEHAVIOR is JESUS LEADING US?
(NOTE: The word ridiculous is used to signify the worldly perspective regarding the level and intensity of the behavior.)
JESUS is...
The sense of mission Christ-followers hold is so essential regarding our behavior in the world. It keeps us more grounded and humbled in our perception of God and life. How we define our mission and view it is equally important as a distorted view of our mission can create a disturbing motivation to be destructive and brutal in our approach to people. So having a sense of a mission that is rooted in the love of God inspires us to take paths in life that are more volunteer oriented, gracious, giving, creative, kind, compassionate. We need to stir up this sense of duty and call among ourselves as their are many enemies to remaining missional as a person.
The Bible speaks of God building us up as a spiritual house. Christ building his Church. That we are being built up as the church together to be a habitation for God. When you look at the Church through this lens or perspective of Building you consider the integrity and strength of the relationships and the substance of the individuals present in that organization to determine how well the building is going. I have observed at times a high level of dysfunction in Church environments and have been concerned about it when it comes to it's becoming a house or structure formed for the purpose of housing and expressing God's nature. It seems due to the lack of real relationships, strong connections and honor among the parts that the house has become one of cards. This house of cards is fragile, easily toppled by any wind or nudge that might occur, possessing no strength or substance it is merely for show. God impressed this picture of a House of Cards on me some time ago as I was considering how strong we are as a people in our local context. How Christians function and relate on a local level is affecting the purpose of God in such a significant form if we see God's work and desire to build the kind of house fit to express his true nature and power...
MEASURING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
How can we boil down our relationship with God to the most practical measurable terms from a Christian & Biblical perspective? Metaphysically how may we define God relative behavior, is there any...? If we were to breakdown the "spiritual mechanics" of relationship with God what would we discuss? What are the most practical physical terms we can use to measure and identify relationship with God?
DEMYSTIFYING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD TO A DEGREE
We need to demystify to a degree the relationship issue... We (evangelicals) have for centuries now said it is not about religion but relationship. We use the word relationship with God with a significant amount of ambiguity. These terms used as they are, carry many attached meanings and misunderstandings.
HUMAN INTERACTIONS DIRECTED AT GOD
When we discuss humbling ourselves before God and looking for grace, looking for mercy, forgiveness, and or a hearing ear we see in Scripture the mention of proper loving relationship with people that reflects what we seek. There is mention of loving others as even being the proof of knowing God and being born of the Spirit. We see spiritual value being added to our life by being someone possessing and operating in love. This direct connection means that our way with people, our action or inaction is the most direct affect we can have toward and on God in being people that wish to relate to Him. Our countenance, our affection, our value, our words, our sexual propriety, our dealing with one another on all levels is at and toward God. there is no action toward a person that is not directed at and affecting God. Not only is this true but our action or inaction toward the least of those around us is directed at Christ and he identifies with all people therefore all people are Christ to us in our action and in terms of our relationship...
HUMAN INTERACTIONS THE BASIS OF JUDGMENT
We find that this direct way of relating to Christ is also the basis of Judgment and measurement we are faced with at the judgement seat of Christ. As servants of the living God we are born of the Spirit and are direct relators to God in all human interactions. This is a massive but simple paradigm shift we all need to go through. Seeing people and their needs is to see ourselves in need and is to see an opportunity to minister directly to Christ.
HUMAN INTERACTIONS DIRECTED AT GOD CREATING INTERDEPENDENCE & BRINGING GOD TO THE FOREFRONT OF EVERYDAY LIFE
There is an interdependence created among us by viewing relationship with God in this way... How strained may our relationship with God be at this point considering our harsh and severe treatment of the people around us. What stumbling blocks have we placed in our way by possessing offense and failing to forgive? What tension is there between me and God due to my inflexibility and insensitivity with others... No one wants to see relating to God in such a light for it is inescapable and far to intrusive. This brings God into every avenue of our life and breaks through every wall we have built to keep God in a consolidated position awaiting our call to do our bidding. This is a genie in the lamp kind of perspective...
Having said all this. Religion in the Biblical sense speaks of our care for people as a direct expression of our care for, love of and knowledge of God. It is in this light that we must say that "true religion is about relationship." We also see from this just how twisted it is to adopt a doctrine that excuses harsh treatment toward any people or group. "To hate man is to hate God." God is LOVE! Something to think about!
I want to encourage everyone to consider being involved here. Especially us Americans in the group. I love the heart of this service and we need to all start thinking more like this... Here is the website. I have also posted a snippet here from their newly upgraded website...
ChristmasFuture empowers people to give a new kind of holiday gift—one that helps eradicate extreme poverty and changes the way we think about giving.
On Nov. 5, 2007, ChristmasFuture released DonorTrust technology to North America. This technology makes it easy for people to refocus their holiday spending towards the eradication of extreme poverty. Gift givers can send what amounts to an online gift card to friends and family; the gift recipient then gets to choose from a database of poverty-eradication projects and then allocate their gift towards a project that interests them. DonorTrust helps people change the world for good.
ChristmasFuture is about change. Fundamental, meaningful, planet-shifting change. We are a passionate movement of people empowering a non-profit organization that advances us – all of us – everyday closer to eradicating extreme poverty.
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