Irresistible Revolution Ch 2-5

Irresistible Revolution
Chapters 2-5
“Debate”

Well, well, if Shane hoped to ruffle some feathers, he was gloriously successful. I can’t begin to even communicate the range of emotions these chapters have drawn out. There are moments I am deeply convicted, and at others I am outraged and insulted. I have a feeling that is exactly what Shane hoped to invoke in guys like me. Our small group is struggling as well. Our small group is made up of incredibly hard working, self made folks. Several of the folks in this small group literally arrived in Westcliffe with little to no money at all. Yet, instead of crying foul, and blaming others, they simply got to work. One began pouring cement, another borrowed a tractor, yet another found himself jobless and hurting. Yet each one got to work, and slowly worked themselves out of a hole. The thought of potentially enabling people to continue to be victims is deeply bothersome to these folks. Some poor do choose to be poor, and they choose not to work. Not all poor are victims, and so we have wrestled with how to be the body of Christ to the poor. How can we discern between true poverty, and laziness. Maybe that is not our job to discern, but yet it has been a struggle to know how to respond. It is very true that there are many who are victims. There are many who are victims of a system, of back luck, or of downright oppression. There are many in poverty due to no choice of their own. We want to respond.

So, we sit and wrestle, and argue and try to find truth as we read. Some have already dismissed the book, others are hanging on, and still others are deeply convicted. All of us long to do more, to be more aware of the poverty around us and engage in a solution. Yet, we wrestle with some plaguing questions.

How does the message of the Gospel play into Shane’s ministry to people dying in Calcutta? Yes, Jesus would be with these people, and indeed he is present amongst these poor. But, in helping people die, did anyone prepare them for life after death. Was the gospel message shared, did the dying understand their need for the forgiveness of Jesus, and did they know of the brutal death he endured so that they might have eternal life? Maybe they heard it, but there was no mention of it, and it had us perplexed. We are in desperate need of the transforming Grace of Jesus, and if we do not live in that, not only are we in jeopardy of hell, but we are in jeopardy of living lives full of self reliance, arrogance, pride, judgementalism, selfishness, greed, and much more…

There has to be a balance between content (theology) and action. Truly James says faith without deeds is dead. But our deeds, without the transforming work of the Holy Spirit are dead as well. Our hearts, our works, our lives truly have no eternal meaning if they are not rooted in the transforming Grace of Jesus death, resurrection, and life. How does this content, and this foundation play out in Shane’s ministry?

Shane’s life is amazing. His work, and deeds amongst the poor are amazing. His focus on feeding the poor, on teaching the poor to feed themselves, his work with kids and their homework, his heart for single mom’s and drug addicts and many others is incredible. I do love how he seeks not only to help these people, but to live with them and have true relationships with them. Yes, it is far easier to help from a distance, and I applaud his complete life investment. It is convicting. I want to be challenged to examine my own life and decisions, and I hope that I will continue to cross examine my life decisions and be willing to make some changes.

When Shane mentions carrying the cross and cheap grace, it would be helpful to understand more of what he means. He seems to allude to the fact that if we are not amongst the poor, we must not be carrying our cross. Yet, I think carrying the cross is much more comprehensive than just living amongst the poor, and giving all we have. Truly living for Jesus has many contexts. The whole world needs Jesus, whether rich or poor, whether in the slums or in city lofts. Jesus is needed in the suburbs, and in marriages, in small towns as well at cities, in parenting, and on the sports field, on the college campus, in Starbucks, and at the office. We are all called, but I do believe Jesus calls us all to different contexts. We need to be accountable, to follow where Jesus leads, and if we don’t, we may not be carrying our cross. But to assume Jesus had only one main ministry to the poor may be a bit of a stretch.

So, where are we? Well, we are going to keep reading, but we are also going to begin to study Jesus words and actions for ourselves. It is true we have neglected Jesus emphasis on poverty, and we want to be accountable to him. So, as we are reading we are going to spend more time just wresting with what Jesus actually said and did, and how that should affect how we should live. Stay tuned..