Common People

We're hearing a lot in the presidential campaign about promises to look after the common folk, or the middle class, but exactly who is "the middle class"?

Some of us may not think that we are the common folk because we think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Others of us don't see ourselves as middle class because we think too lowly of ourselves based on the world's economic standards.

The good news is, in God's economy, we are all  "common folk" and it's nothing to be ashamed of.  In fact, Acts 4:32 reminds us that in the early church,

"... the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common."

Regardless of who promises what on the campaign trail, we must remember that in God's eyes, the ground is level at the cross.  Practically, that means those in the higher income brackets should not hoard their gains and shield them from taxes that would help the common folk.  Remember, promotion and increase come from the Lord, and His blessings are not limited to the initial recipients.  God's blessings are life-giving and forward moving.  He blesses us to BE a blessing.  Luke 12:28 clearly explains,

"For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."

We really need to sit with that scripture for a while and allow God's Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into the truth about God's purpose for our financial "successes" in life.  Here's a hint, it's not all about us!

Now, the Bible does say if a man does not work, he should not eat.  But if we look at that passage in its fuller context, we'll get a better understanding.  Look at 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13:

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.  For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.  Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.  But [as for] you, brethren, do not grow weary [in] doing good. 

The last line is what keeps us on the hook when it comes to having all things in common.  Yes, those who have been loafing ought to get out and work like everyone else, their charge is clear.  But, the charge to those already being productive citizens, "as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good" is also clear.  We must continue to do the right thing regardless of what others are doing, because we will each answer to God for our charge, not what has been charged to someone else.  That includes doing the right thing by "rendering unto Caesar"(i.e. the Government) what is due even if we don't like or agree with how the money is used. God doesn't need our taxes to supply the needs of others, but we need to be obedient.

Also, we really need to stop carrying on about people not carrying their weight in this country because we all know statistically that those who refuse to work are a small percentage compared to those who are legitimately unemployed and underemployed.  Some of the very folks we have the nerve to complain about in terms of receiving assistance are the elderly, disabled and veterans--categories in which we may all find ourselves at some point in life.

We must also keep in mind that in God's economy, having all things in common means that we all meet in the middle. Instead, we are hearing of campaign promises that will essentially take from the middle to sustain an upper class.

Earlier in the week,Washington Post reporter Ezra Klein blogged about how one campaign promise had been labeled "not mathematically possible" by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center run by one of George W. Bush's top economists. He cited another Harvard study by economist Martin Feldstein  that explained how that same campaign promise would actually raise taxes on the middle class to pay for a big tax cut for people making more than $250,000, not lower them as the candidate would want us to believe.

God is watching how we all respond to our individual and collective economic conditions.  And, not only is God watching us, God expects us to be watching Him during this time.  Our faith must be in God, not in political candidates and certainly not in our bank accounts--whether they be full or empty.

Jesus came to show us the way to eternal life, and to show us how we are to live in this life.  He became a "commoner" and walked with us to illustrate that God wants us to walk with one another, not above and not below.

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen

Standing on Shaky Ground

"If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still." (Ecclesiastes 5:8)

"Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the LORD. "I will protect them from those who malign them." (Psalms 12:5)

The upcoming Presidential election has generated more furor than I recall seeing in previous elections.  Attacks and counterattacks are bursting forth and popping off like a never-ending fireworks display. Regardless of who will fill the Office of the President of the United States in January 2013, ultimately God is still in control and there will be some things we will like about the direction we will be led in, and some we will not--even if our candidate of choice fills the seat.

As people of faith, we must remember that we are electing politicians, not pastors.  Certainly we must vote carefully and prayerfully, but we have to remain grounded about what is really going on and not be swayed by misplaced expectations.  God does not need our political system to accomplish his Kingdom agenda.  And, nothing that happens or doesn't happen at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue gets us off the hook from carrying out our God-given directives--even if it becomes difficult for us to do so.

Essentially, the choice comes down to this, we can have someone in office who emphasizes equity for all people and freedom for all individuals--with an over-emphasis on freedom by declaring that people are free to do that which God says they are not. In this scenario, regardless of what any man declares we are free to do, those of us who answer to God as our final authority must decide if we will follow the "freedoms" of man's law or submit to the authority of God's law. 

Or we can choose someone who unapologetically maligns the poor and makes light of the oppressed--one who will fight to save the unborn, but then patronize or disregard the lives of certain groups once they are born; one who declares his concern for all Americans, but whose declaration has demonstrated no depth and a stony interior:

And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth.... (Mark 4:5)

Perhaps the stony hearts of those who are desperately seeking the White House would be softened by spending time with the poor and lowly, like some persons did on reality shows like Secret Millionaire and Undercover Boss.  Perhaps the stony hearts would actually melt if those individuals went deep undercover and altered their skin pigment to live as a person of color as white journalist John Howard Griffin did in 1961, a troubling journey he recounted in his book, Black Like Me.  

In each of these instances, the individuals who availed themselves to truly and thoroughly walk in the shoes of people whose reality was miles apart from anything they could ever theorize came out of the experience with their eyes and hearts opened.

I recall one episode of Secret Millionaire in which a millionaire was given meager funds to subsist on and stayed in a rundown duplex alongside those in the poor neighborhood where the filming took place.  For the first time he realized how difficult it was to afford anything healthy to eat and how stressful it was to live in dangerous and dilapidated surroundings--both of which affected his quality of sleep, energy level, and ability to focus on his daily tasks.  Of course, he was only there a few days, but imagine growing up every day in a poor, crime-filled neighborhood with schools lacking in resources while the school of hard knocks is never lacking in drugs or assault weapons (which, by the way, are imported into the neighborhood by a hierarchy of individuals whose top rung extends far beyond the residents who use them--but that's another blog).

Certainly, there are many families and individuals who are succeeding in life, and there are far more success stories in the minority populations than we are led to believe. There are also numerous success stories of individuals who made it out of dire circumstances and are doing quite well.  But, there are still too many Americans who are left behind in a country that is supposed to be leading the world.

I have worked in one of the most challenged inner-city schools in the nation's capital, and I can tell you first-hand that "separate but unequal" still exists for too many children today. The policies and perspectives of those we put in leadership have a direct impact on whether things will change or remain the same.  

It is disappointing to see politicians tread on shaky ground by characterizing a high percentage of Americans as deadbeats with a victim mentality.  Apparently they have conveniently forgotten about the racial brutality and corporate greed that have been unsightly but all too real threads in the fabric of our being as a nation. Such individuals are standing on shaky ground when they insist on standing their ground by maligning hard-working people who pay their fair share of taxes and, when possible, enjoy their fair share of income tax breaks as allowed by law.

It's fine to stand your ground when you're standing on solid ground, or even better, holy ground.  But when the ground you are standing on is shaped by a myopic reality that is signified by those in your own "amen corner"--a $50,000/a plate "amen corner"--you've gone beyond shaky ground and into sinking sand.

The scripture is replete with references to the poor and oppressed, two words which are often found together because of the relationship between oppression and poverty. Sure, there are people who are poor because of their own poor decisions, but there are far more who are poor due to being marginalized by those in power.

"Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid [them] out of the hand of the wicked." (Psalm 82:3-4)

Because the ground is level at the cross, it stands to reason that God would want us, as His ambassadors, to level the playing field in all aspects of life.  Plus, it's probably better for us to proactively level the playing field rather than leaving it to God.  For, if we refuse to help our brother up, God just may decide to bring us down. 


BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen

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If It Feels THIS Good Being Used....

OOPS!  Did I miss Wednesday's deadline?

R&B crooner Bill Withers was a prolific, award-winning singer and songwriter in the 1970s and 80's who wrote and recorded songs like "Lean on Me," "Lovely Day," "Ain't No Sunshine," and "Grandma's Hands" that continue to be played and re-recorded today. 

One of his hit songs was called "Use Me," a heartfelt declaration of his willingness to be used by the woman he loved. In the refrain of the song, he boldly declared, "I want to spread the news that if it feels this good getting used, Oh you just keep on using me until you use me up."

As I sit here typing this blog from the beach in sunny Outer Banks, North Carolina, I began to think about how good it feels being used by God to be a vessel of blessing to others.

My mom turned 70 on September 10, and in addition to the surprise party that my family and friends held for her, the Lord allowed me to bless her by bringing her with me to the beach.  She was already on a natural high from the surprise party-- which turned out to be the first birthday party she has ever had--and now she is simply soaring with joy at the beauty of God's creation here at the beach and the wonderful accommodations we have.

What does all of this have to do with being used?  Well, the Lord used one of His vessels to bless one of my dearest girlfriends to stay in a beach house for the week.  He then used her as a vessel of blessing by directing her to host me and several other friends at the beach house with her. From that blessing, God used me to bless my mom in ways I would never have been able to do, by directing me to invite her to the beach house as part of her birthday gift.

On top of that, not only is Mom having the time of her life, God is using her as a vessel of blessing as she has inspired all of the ladies here with her energy, joy and unhindered love of God.  It was especially touching to see her express herself so powerfully because less than a year ago she was critically ill and unable to care for herself or even stand up without assistance.  God has restored her to the point that she has gone far beyond simply standing up, she is kicking up--her heels and dancing with delight.  She even showed off a few moves that I had never seen her do!

My friends were so excited to have Mom join us this year and they have been spoiling her in honor of their own moms, some of whom have gone on to glory.  When we arrived, they treated us to a home cooked meal, including homemade dessert, placed lovely welcome gifts on our beds, and after dinner our beach host read a scripture in honor of Mom that truly made her feel welcomed and honored,

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (Psalm 92:12-15 English Standard Version ESV )

There are just so many vessels and so many blessings swirling all around here that my cup is overflowing, and I haven't even been here 24 hours yet!

None of this would have been possible had I or my friends not been willing to avail ourselves to be used by God to do what is honorable and right.  We could have decided to make this a "girls gone wild" week of activities that would have been totally unfitting for a 70-year-old woman and totally unfitting for us as women of God.  Thankfully, in our various walks with the Lord, we have each allowed God's Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truth, so we understand that the real joys in life don't involve shame, blame or hangovers:

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21 ESV)

I don't agree with Bill Withers' allowing a woman to use him or walk all over him.  However, when it comes to God, the one who loves me so much that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to shed His blood for me that I might have life and have it more abundantly, I say it feels incredibly good being used! So Lord, please keep on using me until You say my time is up!

BNcouraged--and B A vessel!

Rev. Karen

Blind-Sighted

When a car is hit unexpectedly in its blind spot, we call it being blind-sided.  The same is true if someone were to be punched or hit without ever seeing the punch coming.  We would say that they had been blind-sided.

Some of us go through life with injuries or challenges that have not only blind sided us, but have left us "blind-sighted."  In other words, we see, but we don't see. Our eyes may be fully functioning, yet, we are unable to truly "see" what we need to see.

I read an article today about an 82-year-old woman who was arrested for burglary.  Her rap sheet was 21 pages long and dated back to 1955.  Her latest arrest came from stealing from doctors' offices.  Allegedly, she would hide out in the offices after closing hours to steal from them.  Talk about being blind-sighted.

At the age of 82, this woman is blessed to be able to see well enough to make it to the doctors office on her own, but only to sneak around, hide out and steal. After all these years she still can't "see" that her life of crime has gotten her nowhere.  Satan seems to have found a really good blind side to hang out in with this woman.  And, from the length of her rap sheet, it appears he has been crippling her spiritual and emotional eyesight for decades with no signs of stopping.

Perhaps it's not even her blind side where the enemy is hanging out.  Perhaps like some of us, she is the one who hung out the blinds which cover the windows of her soul. 

Blinds are placed in front of windows to prevent the sunlight from streaming into a room.  Some of us have mounted up mini blinds, venetian blinds, vertical blinds and whatever else we can find to block out the Son's light because we prefer the darkness.  We don't want to be fully exposed to the light of God's Word because we still enjoy some of the sinful things we should have outgrown long ago.

Like that 82-year-old woman, some of us still get a cheap thrill from doing what we know is wrong.  Some of us have lived with the blinds on our eyes for so long, we don't even know how to see life any differently.

Certainly, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  But to deliberately continue blocking out the Son is a different story. We may not think it's a big deal to go around blocking out the Son's light with our spiritual blinds, but God says otherwise:

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. (John 12:46)

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not [tell] the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:6-7)

Some things will begin to change for the better in our lives the moment we dismantle the blinds we so carefully and stubbornly put in place.  Some of our relationships will improve dramatically the moment we take the blinders off about our negative attitudes and other behaviors that drive people away from us.

God invites us to walk in the light, not to expose us to embarassment, but because when we know the truth, the truth shall make us free.

Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. (Ecclesiastes 2:13)

Let's leave the blinds for the windows in our physical homes.  When it comes to our spiritual and emotional homes, I say, let the Son shine in!

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen