the underground network

By Christi Bowman

I found myself in the middle of a small controversy over a status update I had posted on Facebook the other day. The conversation quickly turned to a debate over wealth.

“Sometimes I am overwhelmed with passages like Luke 3:10-18 and think following Christ and U.S. culture are irreconcilable”

I have been mulling over many things these past few weeks and this discussion helped weave those many things together.

I have been wrestling, for the better part of a while now, with a God of miracles and healing vs. a God of suffering.

I think of Mother Theresa: As a nun she had taken a vow of poverty, and she lived in solidarity with the poor she was among. Before she would give away shoes to the needy she would claim. as her own the most inferior pair. Because of this practice her feet were in bad condition…malformed and misshaped. It has been said that her decision caused her no small amount of physical pain.

Mother Theressa’s reality is difficult for Americans to understand, if we are honest. I think, for some of us, it would be hard to imagine taking the very worst pair of shoes…every time…but, it would also be very hard for us to understand, if we had indeed been blessed with enough insight to have that kind of humility, why God hadn’t chosen to watch over our feet and keep them safe from harm. We would feel as though our great sacrifice had gone ignored and unappreciated.

“God’s permissive will is the testing

He uses to reveal His true sons and daughters” ~ Oswald Chambers

Before we go any farther I must state that I am a universalist. It is IMPORTANT that you realize I have NO ONE person in mind as I write this. If you disagree with me after reading (and many of you will) and you feel as though I am insinuating that the lifestyle you are choosing to live is in my opinion not the lifestyle of a true son or daughter of God than please choose to look on the bright side by keeping in mind that not only does my opinion not count for much, but as a universalist I am NOT condemning you to hell for not believing the way I do…all I want…all I EVER want is nice, civil conversation (please do not try and convince me of your rightful place in heaven…and/or mine in hell.)

In other parts of the world, where the Church is persecuted, becoming a Christian is no small decision. It is not something to be considered just because you fear the eternal flames of the afterlife or are intrigued by mansions and streets of gold. In some respects, by choosing to become a follower of Christ, in these parts of the world, you are making a decision to enter into a very real hell this side of eternity. In these places it is not uncommon, for those who are already Christians and have made the choice to suffer, to adopt a policy of making would be converts wait a minimum of two years to fully take on Christ. There hope is that these would be converts will take those two years to really consider the cost and be fully cognizant of the would be/could be ramifications should they choose to finalize their decision.

Where is American Christianity’s waiting period? Why don’t we have a cost to count? Could it be we got lucky by an act of chance so random as a birthright? Is it possible that there really is no hell to enter here? Might you be willing to consider, along with me, the idea that American Christianity has missed something intrinsically linked with salvation? Per chance has it for far too long held hands with the wrong side? Has American Christianity made friends in high places and become an institution of entitlement where comfort is the expected norm and the lack of it an abhorrent stench?

I argue that there is a hell to enter here and it is the hell of poverty. All of those who disagreed with my Facebook status (mentioned above) argued that wealth was indeed a blessing and insinuated, if not out right said, that I was harsh and ridiculous for even slightly insinuating that it might not be. I don’t necessarily disagree (the jury is still out) that being a wealthy person could be considered a blessing, but if wealth is a blessing, and here comes the harsh part, I’m convicted that living as a wealthy person (most are considered wealthy in America) and enjoying the benefits of your wealth (myself included)…even if you give some away…while others suffer…can in no way be seen as part of that blessing from God.

A friend of mine who has chosen to enter hell, Stephen Lamb, talks often about God’s economy being one where everyone has enough. I often think about how insulting the idea of this economy might be to us as Americans. At first blush it sounds like a nice idea. But if you dig deep enough into the statement it is nothing short of a slap in the face to how most American Christians choose to live. This isn’t talking about raising the poor to a western middle class standard of living but rather entering into their suffering and sharing all resources equally. God’s economy effects YOUR/MY life…YOUR/MY comfort!

I propose that in order to be considered a true son or daughter of God…a true walker in the ways of Jesus, we take a 2 year sabbatical from considering ourselves Christian just because we ascent to certain beliefs and we make this thing more than about acquiring a mansion on streets of gold or a getting out of hell free card. This Christianity needs to cost us something..it cost God everything! Upon his death Jesus entered into hell (Eph 4:8-10 & I Pet 3: 18) and upon making the choice to die to our flesh we need to as well.

As a minimum requirement, an act of solidarity or good faith, we should have to count the cost of leaving our secluded neighborhoods where our eyes never have to meet those of the homeless if we don’t want them to, and we should move into depressed neighborhoods. I’m not talking about quitting jobs…go to your nice job, make your six figures…but if we want to be called true sons and daughters of God lets quit hoarding!

Sure, God has a permissive will. He makes the rain to fall and the sun to shine on both the evil and the good. You can be born or marry into the right family, you can have the right kind of brain, the most able of bodies, or even the best of looks…all of these things can help you earn a better living than those less fortunate and because of that you can call them blessings (although I’m not entirely convinced.) God will not smite you if instead of choosing His economy you choose to live in that of America’s. But what if how we live and what we do with our wealth while those around us suffer is a test? Do you have more than enough while others do without? I know I do and I can’t get rid of it fast enough.

Jesus, though he eased the suffering of many, never chose to ease his own suffering. He never really eased the suffering of his disciples either. In the gospels you don’t see healing parties break out among Jesus and the twelve. God’s blessings aren’t for us. Jesus learned obedience through that which He suffered. True disciples choose to suffer and while choosing to suffer they pour out the blessings of God onto others!

I pray over each and every one of you the blessing of struggling with your comfort!

Another great blog post from a member in the Underground Network!  Read below and join in on the conversation.  You can find the original  post here.  Follow this blog at: http://kingdom1st.wordpress.com

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10 challenges to building relationships and sharing your faith in America today:

By seekingakingdom

Most people are…

1. transient – We live is such a mobile society that most people move on a regular basis. The people who live near you now likely won’t the next year or the year after. Therefore, it is difficult to build deep, long-term relationships. (This is perhaps more true for cities.)

2. busy – It is difficult to build relationships because they take time. And time is what most of us are lacking. We seem to be getting busier and busier with little time for God.

3. skeptical – A recent poll revealed that the three most common views of the church were judgment, hypocritical, and anti-gay. The American people are generally skeptical that the church can offer life to the fullest. Furthermore, post-modernism pushes against our claims of universal truth. Many are skeptical of their need for a savior and our belief that Jesus’ message applies to everyone.

4. autonomous – I read recently that America is the most individualistic country in the world. This radical individualism leads us to stay disconnected from our neighbors and co-workers and is producing a society the grows more and more fragmented. Many prefer to be left alone. (To prove this, read Bowling Alone by Robert Putman or check out a summary here.)

5. suspicious – It seems everyone is trying to make a buck. People are constantly working to make you do or buy something. So often times people question your motivation for starting a conversation or even giving a gift. It is important we consider our own motivations for sharing our faith. It should not be out of obligation, guilt, or to give our lives significance. Rather we should be motivated by love.

6. religiously private – Do you pray before you eating at the restaurant? If so, how does it make you feel? If not, why? There is an unspoken rule that public displays of religion (PDR) are prohibited. It is a private matter for one’s home or perhaps the church.

7. consumeristic – Commercials and advertisements are continually teaching us to be dissatisfied with what we have. We need newer cars, bigger houses, and basically more stuff… all the time. We expect to get what we want when we want it, and we’re disgruntled when things do not go our way. Consumerism has a far-reaching influence in American society, and the church is no exception. Check out this book to see more on how Christians live.

8. materialistic – Granted, we are more and more living in a postmodern world. But this modernistic idea that nothing exists outside of the physical still pervades society. Although I was raised in a postmodern era and taught from birth to believe in the supernatural, this idea that only what you see really exists still rests in the back of my mind. Regardless, all agree that materials are more important than the spiritual.

9. satisfied – Because we have jobs that pay the bills and buy the food, we subconsciously (or consciously) believe we did it ourselves without God’s help. If I have enough and am relatively happy, why do I need God?

10. hedonistic – We as a society are obsessed with pleasure. How many advertisements tell us to do what feels good? We are continually taught to gratify our desires, which leads to our excessively watching movies or TV, playing video games, surfing the internet, etc. No wonder Jesus’ command to “deny yourself” is so difficult for us and a challenge to the world.

Now, obviously these ten traits do not apply to everyone, and there’s some overlap between some of them.

What are your thoughts? Any that you disagree on? Any you would add? How these cultural traits affect your life?