Kelly and I just returned from a too short trip to CT. As we were in CT, it brought back so many memories from having worked there from 1995-2005, before venturing to Pasadena for Fuller Seminary. When I was back in CT, I had many conversations, but I started to think after riding with my former partner in police work, "Who will embrace the message of the gospel?" I talked with many of the police officers and came to the realization that it is very difficult to truly follow Jesus and work within the system of the state. It made me think who the gospel, i.e. 'the good news' of God's kingdom proclamation is proclaimed to. The ones who have no hope in this world, God is giving hope to. There is so much turmoil though in the lives of humans, it sometimes makes me think, "Where is God?" I think that the stories of Jesus need to become real in the lives of Christians, first on the personal level, then in the corporate level of the church.
Kelly and I had lunch with my mom and her mom in downtown Hartford. Hartford, CT last year was rated as the seventh most violent city in the U.S.. Not a good statistic for a city. There is a huge amount of New Urbanism going on in Hartford, with the design of the downtown area, being built for the sake of foot traffic, where people can walk around in the city, interacting with the cultural milieu of Hartford.
Many of the quandaries we face within the structure and system of the church I believe have less to do with "spiritual" issues, or inner dynamics of church life, but have to do with the structure of suburban life. The suburbs do not produce an environment of interaction or engagement with the culture at large. I could probably open my garage door, drive my car to my work, leave work, drive my car back home, close my garage door, and never interact with another person, other than my family members.
There is a new Community College in Hartford, we toured called Capital Community College. The ethnicity of the college is representative of the ethnicity of Hartford. I was excited to see this College, developed in the middle of downtown Hartford, and I could feel the excitement of the students at this new college. It is always exciting to see students who are contributing to the development of the city in which they live.
"Freely you have received, now freely give." (Matthew 10:8) I have thought that this verse meant only 'spiritual' gifts, but it means whatever we 'possess', we 'possess' it from God, who has liberally extended all things to us, now we should liberally extend all to anyone who has need.
6 comments:
It was fun hanging out with you guys! Even the crazy fireworks! :) Good post as always...
Check out this video...it's really good. I hope this link works!
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d
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Make sure that "5" on the third line of the tag gets into the window - otherwise the link won't work...
Hey Janet, thanks for the response and I will check out the video link. God Bless, Paul
Hey Paul,
I have to comment on your comment about it being "difficult to truly follow Jesus and work within the system of the state." Is it possible to be unabashedly Christian and work for anyone, regardless of who it is whether state or private? i think that it is possible. We often think that the Bible doesn't talk about working for someone but it does. Both Paul and Peter both talk about how slaves should act towards their masters. You may not think of yourselves as slaves but if you have rent due, utility bills due or any other kind of a payment due, you are a slave. Welcome! Anyway, the Bible is clear that we should serve God as we serve our earthly masters. I can't imagine that those slaves back then were asked to do the easiest of jobs but they served God none-the-less. We should do the same regardless of who our "master" is. Luckily, in this country as well as so many others in the world, we have choices about who we will work for. You may think you have no choices but you always have a choice. I read a story recently about a guy who rode his mule from Minnesota to Wyoming to find work. He had no job lined up, he was just trying to better himself.
Anyway, all that to say that to anyone who reads this, live for Jesus and serve him regardless of who your boss is. "Do your work heartily, as unto the Lord."
Hey Troy, I have to say, "It is difficult to work as a police officer (the state)and care deeply for the poor, (the gospel proclamation)." We don't simply pick ourselves up, clean ourselves off, or else why do I need Jesus? Why do I need the Holy Spirit?
I will quote Elie Wiesel again who said, "God is in the midst of the pain and suffering of those in the gas chambers."
God is concerned about the reconciliation of humanity, so he is deeply concerned about the police officers, who started out wanting to help people, but they themselves have become part of the system, which is designed to preserve itself, not give itself unto death, (like Jesus).
I think that a Christian can work as a police officer, but it is immensely difficult. When most people come back from war, they need counseling, a lot of times they have flashbacks, hear things, are paranoid. I think that we as Christians love them, comfort them, exhibit God's care to them, but I don't think I would say, "Feel better, ok, go back and do it all over again." I simply don't see that as possible.
Being "tough on crime" will not change humans' behavior, it will push crime underground, where good citizens can't see it. As long as we don't see it, it IS NOT happening.
Anyways, good conversations, talk soon.
One more thing, there is a book by James Cone called, "The God of the Oppressed."
I can also disagree with my "master", but not attempt to kill him, or destroy him/her. I have a the freedom to disagree, call him/her out, challenge their way of thinking, debate their hostility, but love them nonetheless, and show them the kindness and love of Christ, and "Forgive them", for their blatent attempt to destroy the image bearingness of God, but through my forgiveness, they can truly be who God designed them to be and it is through this forgiveness, that they would no longer attempt to oppress me, but desire to know my God, a God of love and reconciliation.
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