God's Economics

Over the past year I've been working for the researcher/writer/capacity builder Amy Sherman, and one of our main projects has been implementing a program that teaches at-risk kids about economics and how to manage their money. It seems like a worthy program since disenfranchised communities are the predominant victims of predatory lenders, and it empowers kids by helping them to earn their way out of poverty. However, at moments throughout the year I've had reservations about what I'm actually doing. Am I really helping kids, or am I just feeding their tendency toward materialism? Am I teaching them to build character, or am I teaching them to strive for the American dream? Am I helping them, or am I helping America's economy?

Over the past week I've been at the annual conference for the National Association of Street Schools, where they are making a zealous push to incorporate economics into the education of their network of schools. As I'm thinking more about Economics, I'm realizing it's not necessarily bad nor good, but rather a neutral science that can be harmful or beneficial. What's important is the value system that one employs as she or he approaches economics. Let me explain.

Economics is all about making choices. Because of scarcity (unlimited wants and limited resources to satisfy those wants) we are forced to make choices. Those choices have consequences. For example, since I have a limited number of hours in the day (24) I can spend 16 of those hours checking facebook and reading people's blogs, but the consequence is that I won't be able to join my friends when they go for a hike (do finish reading this before you turn off your computer and go outside).

So when I think about the resources that I have (time, money, emotional energy, possessions), I am always doing a cost-benefit analysis to determine the best way to use my resources, and the consequences of my potential decisions. Economics has given me reservations over the past year because too often people's value systems say "How will my choices benefit ME." That is why many businesses and individuals tend to oppress the weak with their decisions - because in a sinful world a person or company can make a self-promoting choice where the only negative consequences are faced by the marginalized in society.

However, a Christ-like way of doing economics asks "How will my choice serve the welfare of others, even if it costs me a great deal?" It's reversed from the way the world does it. When Jesus was in the garden before he was crucified, he did a cost-benefit analysis - the cost was his life, but the benefit was the life and freedom of others. So it is great to learn about economics, as long as it's coupled with a value system that puts God first, others second, and us third.

Why I Like Shane Claiborne

A few nights ago I went to see Shane Claiborne's Jesus for President tour with some friends. Afterwards, and for the few days following, people have been asking me how it was, and I usually tell them "I love what Shane Claiborne is doing." Then when they ask details I have a hard time saying what I liked so much about it. So after thinking about it, I've realized that what is so encouraging about Shane Claiborne's writing, speaking, and lifestyle is that he begins with what the Scriptures say about Jesus and and how we should live, and then models his lifestyle off of that, rather than beginning with his own interests, affections, and lifestyle and trying to fit a Christian identity into that.

During the first half of the talk, Shane and his co-writer Chris Haw talked about the political sphere during Jesus' time, and emphasized how Jesus used explicitly political language to subvert the powers of Caesar. So he wasn't politically ignorant, nor was he marrying God to the powers that be, but rather he was testifying that with his arrival a whole new kingdom has come that will take over the powers of this world. But it will not take over in the manner the world is used to - by wealth and power and prestige - instead it will rule by becoming small, becoming the least, and serving the world in love and humility. This observation about Jesus' time has direct application to our political situation in America, where the Church is either manipulated by politics (traditionally by the Conservative agenda but now increasingly by the democratic party), or pretends that it can function without acknowledging the political situation. But what Jesus did is turn politics on its head by testifying of the Kingdom of God - that he is the King - which scared the crap out of the political leaders of the time.

I think we need to keep our eye on Shane Claiborne, because he is really becoming a leader worth following, who is drawing the Church away from its love affair with America and into deep intimacy with Christ and a lifestyle that Jesus intended for us.

Ego v. Othercentric

Today I was reminded of a quote by C.S. Lewis that had a huge impact on me a few years ago, but has drifted out of my life. It was in the last few sentences of the chapter on pride in Mere Christianity, where he says essentially that a humble person will not go on and on about their flaws, but rather they will take a deep interest in others. When I had read that before I remember setting out to having that others-focused attitude, but as I look on the past year or two of my life, my own desires and pursuits have pushed that mindset away. I'm glad that God reminded me of this because although my natural tendency is toward self-obsession, I truly do find more joy in celebrating the lives of others than focusing on myself.

New Sacred Music Guy at Duke

Welp, Duke is now complete. I've been blown away since I visited Duke Divinity school about how perfect of a fit it is. They have some of my favorite theologians, they are very intentional about involving students in ministry rather than just having them sit in a classroom, they take spiritual life seriously by having morning prayer every morning and setting up spiritual growth groups for us, they care deeply about the Church and at the same time bringing the gospel to the public realm. However, the one area I would have admitted that it's not ostensibly the BEST place to be trained for ministry is theology and arts. I think most people would say to go to Yale if you really want to focus in that area. Well, I just heard yesterday that Duke hired Jeremy Begbie to be a professor starting next year. From what I hear (I haven't read anything by him myself), he is a leading theologian in sacred music. They want him to teach classes and start a number of arts and theology initiatives. Since God has been rekindling my love of art, particularly music, over this past year, I'm very excited to have the opportunity to study under him.

This got me thinking about theology and art today. I admit that I'm still reluctant about that relationship because too often it seems like people really like music but they want to feel good about it, so they find some proof-text from scripture to show that 'God is the great artist,' or some such justification. But still, my boss told me that Jeremy Begbie says that classical music communicates the order of God. This is a huge simplification and third hand, but I think that's a neat idea. It makes me wonder - in modernity, music was neatly ordered, and so was theology (systematic theology). In postmodernity, liberal theology paralleled postmodern music - the twelve-tone stuff like Shoenberg. The postliberal theology that is quite present at Duke came out of dissatisfaction with modernity and postmodernity. It makes me wonder, what would postliberal music sound like? Postliberal theology views the Bible and the Church as a narrative that transcends the system of doctrines of modernity and chaos of postmodernity. How would postliberal music present that narrative but also present the fragments of liberalism and insufficiency of modernity?

Still a long way to go

I was talking with a new friend about spirituality a few days ago at the coffee shop, and I had realized that I'd forgotten how much people are scarred by a perverted form of Christianity. He talked of Jesus with such high regard, but it was sad to realize that his only frame of reference for Christians were were not very much like Jesus. One of the first things he brought up was "How can anyone who is racist say that they love God or follow Jesus?" Great point. Too many Christians think the race problem is a think of the past, but until my friend sees black and white Christians loving each other and fellowshiping together, he won't change his mind. Another thing he commented on was how Christians are focused on wealth and are willing to hurt the environment and go to war for money. Another great point. The testimony of the Christian witness was not the only thing skewed for him, but also the testimony of Christian worship. He had a problem with the idea of worship, so I explained that worship is an expression of humility. He said "Show me a humble Christian." During the conversation I found myself trying to emphasize that the essence of Christianity is in Jesus, and yes, many Christians sadly fit in with his descriptions, but they are not all like that. But I have to admit that it gets old trying to say something that I can't show him. I believe in Jesus, and I believe in the church, but I want so bad for the church to be a credible witness to the world, which will only happen if they start being more like Jesus. We need to reconciled to one another and love one another, and we need to be willing to serve the world rather than try to dominate it with money and power. And it's not just Christians who are doing it, but it's just sad when Christians can't say no to the evils around them.

I was encouraged to see Shane Claiborne's tour on CNN.com the other day. The thing I love about what Shane is doing is that it is nothing extraordinary from the perspective of what the lifestyle of a Christian should look like, but Shane and his crew are so intentional about being like Jesus that they bear witness to the world around them. He always emphasizes peculiarity - and the peculiarity is beautiful. I think that unless we take being like Jesus seriously, we'll blend in with the rest of the world until we realize that we're the oppressors ourselves, which we know is too often the case.

Here's a link to the website of the community Shane is a part of: http://www.thesimpleway.org/

One other thing this made me realize - Christians may think they're doing their job until they talk to someone who is not a Christian. It was talking to my new friend that reminded me that the Church has a long way to go. But with Jesus I have hope that it will go there.