These thoughts have been brewing in my brain for about 5 years. They started around the same time as I began to read through the entire Bible, page by page, chapter by chapter. Before I launch into my rant, here is an informal disclaimer:
One.
While I have read through the entire Bible three times, my understanding of its original text is nonexistent. I am not familiar with Hebrew or Greek. If the text I have chosen to look at cannot be well translated from the original, then some meaning will be lost. I am purely examining the Scriptures translated into a dynamic English translation.
Two.
The people I have had contact with to form these opinions form a very small sample. As a result, these opinions are not based on global Christianity, but on Westernized Christianity, which I think some will already agree, is a little messed up. I would like to see Christianity in practice around the world as that would increase my perspective. And that is never a bad thing.
Three.
I am making generalizations about a body of people. I am not targeting my judgements on specific persons. Rather, my intentions are to share what has been eating at me. I understand that with all generalizations there are exceptions. I have met some beautiful Christians who are living out their convictions as best as is humanly possible.
Here we go.
From the reading I have done of the Bible, being a Christian is no easy task. Nowhere does it say that a Christian’s life is cushy and easy. From my understanding, it warns Christians that they will suffer for the sake of the name of Jesus. Alongside that, it also does encourage Christians that they will not suffer alone. This does not mean that Christians can claim all suffering as some sort of martyrdom because all living organisms suffer. This is an inseparable consequence of being alive.
Let’s take a look at Scripture for a minute. In fact, let’s look at the gospels. Christians tend to use Jesus’ words and life as a model to follow. Why? To answer that we need to answer this: What is the meaning of “Christian”? According to Wikipedia, the word is derived from the Greek, meaning “follower of Christ”.
Here’s a summary of some points of Jesus’ life according to the gospel of Matthew. My thoughts are in italics.
- Born in a stable with barn animals. (Matt. 1)
Indicates great humility. How many of us would have our children born in a barn? - Has some shady characters in his genealogy, including his virgin mother. (Matt. 1)
- His cousin, also revered, eats grasshoppers dipped in honey and wears camel hair for clothing. (Matt. 3)
Here is a man preparing the way for Jesus and letting people know about what’s coming next. He doesn’t eat out at restaurants, he eats bugs. He doesn’t wear Gap, he wears camel hair. - His first followers left their careers to follow him. (Matt. 4)
Think about this for a second. How many Christians are there just quitting their jobs with no plan of getting another one and just walking around and telling other people what they believe in? How do you pay your rent? How do you buy your groceries? The idea is that God supplies. I’m not really seeing this in practice. - He says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt. 6)
I find this really interesting. The average person in the 21st century doesn’t have a barn, but we do have RRSPs, savings accounts and here’s the clincher: mortgages. - He says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them…. (Matt. 6)
Again, this links in nicely with what I said earlier about leaving your career with no plan of getting another one. Some may argue at this point that not everybody could possibly live their lives like this because then there wouldn’t be anyone supplying the funds necessary to pull this off. However, note that the Bible doesn’t give exceptions to commands. - He says, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Matt. 8
Jesus literally meant, drop everything you have to follow me. Family, money, home, job… - He sends out his 12 followers with this, “Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.”
Again, they are commanded to leave all money and personal property behind. - He says while predicting his death, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Matt. 16)
Yes, it will be hard, Jesus says. - He says to a rich young man interested in following him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matt. 19)
Hammered home again. Christians are not to hoard wealth but to give it away. - What is the greatest commandment? Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22)
Our lifestyles are extremely individualistic in this city. Having talked with friends who moved in from other places I have discovered that this city shuts down after dark and everyone drives into their double car garage, shuts the door, and closes the curtains. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be limited to non-Christians. - Jesus warns his followers, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…”
- Matt. 25:31-46. Not going to write the whole bit out. Look it up for yourself if you’re interested.
This is hammering home the point that Christians are required to give and give and give everything they have to the poor as if they were giving to Jesus. There are severe consequences for those who do not give. Look it up to find out what they are. - He died a death worthy of a wicked criminal.
There is no place in this worldview to have a large home with a double car garage, to drive a nice BMW, to eat out at restaurants, to wear a different top every day of the month, to own luxuries like pets, to have RRSPs, savings accounts or mortgages. Here’s a sobering question for Christians: How would your life change if you were not a Christian today? Think about it. This is a high calling with a narrow road.
Shanon, there is a lot of food for thought here… (or for ACTION, not just thought!!) Much of this has been an issue in my mind as well, but I haven’t figured out what my role is in all of this. I’d love to be part of an ongoing discussion, though. Have you ever read Shane Claiborne’s book, The Irresistible Revolution? He takes your questions to their logical conclusion and started “The Simple Way” – community-style living.
That appeals to me on many levels, yet I can’t see myself ever going to that extreme. I’m not sure why… Am I just not willing to go the distance? Or are my obligations to family, friends, job… real?
Do we own too much? Absolutely!! I often feel like my ‘stuff’ owns me… rather than the other way around. I am happy to lend out my stuff, but not many people are comfortable borrowing anymore.
I do feel better when I shop for clothing at Thrift Shops rather than buying new, but I know I get caught up in wanting to ‘fit in’ or even ‘impress’ at work, with my wardrobe, haircut, perfect nails, etc. Not very ‘Christian’, I know.
When Christ called his twelve, they were asked to leave everything and follow. He never asked that, though, of Mary & Martha & Lazarus. My understanding is that they hosted him and the disciples when they came through, and so they may have been somewhat well-to-do…. Not sure what point I’m try to make here… maybe just the question, does he ask the same of everyone? Or are some called to live like Shane Claiborne, and others called to be missionaries in their own world, regardless of what that world is (their workplace?)
Ever read “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan? Our small group is going through it right now and last chapter was on exactly the things you’re talking about. The book’s even more powerful when you hear what his family did with their lives so look it up!
Some thoughts on your blog: I love the way you’re questioning “normal” Christianity! I think the Western World too easily defends our “rights” to wealth and comfort, and we need people to stop us and ask us: is this really okay? And MANY of us need to make adjustments on how we are living!
However, we also need to be very careful with sweeping comments. Mortgages aren’t evil in and of themselves: if they lead to financial slavery, or if they distract from God that’s not a good thing. But I know a family that got a bigger mortgage because they knew of too many people who needed a place to live to stay in their trailer. They generally have 1-2 families (often refugees) living with their family at any time – I think their mortgage honours God immensely! Or my first house: a rental property went for $750-900/month, but my mortgage payments were $250/month. I’m thinking that was pretty okay in the kingdom of God as well.
My friend always tells me “everything we have is either a tool or an idol” and that’s the way I’m starting to think about stuff. I guess each of us have to answer that question about many things in our lives: mortgages, credit cards, education, vehicles, careers – God can be honoured in so many different ways, but we can also use those same tools as substitutes for God instead. The question is, do we?
While 90% (random guess) of the Bible does talk about giving away wealth, living simply, giving to the poor, etc, it’s also worth mentioning that Jesus wasn’t exactly the shining example of choosing poverty. In Bible times Holy Men were expected to live like John, fasting often and living simply. Jesus did the opposite and is often portrayed at banquets and feasts (maybe not so different from eating at restaurants?) Or consider one of the most moving pictures of worship: a woman bathing his feet with expensive perfume. To put that into modern perspective, that’s like opening a $40,000 bottle of wine & Jesus not even blinking as he pours himself a cup, then chastizing his friends for thinking that the money could have been better used! (John 12:1-7)
Ha! There’s fuel for fire for both sides of the coin! Wouldn’t Christianity be so much easier if it was just a few rules & we knew exactly what to do? Luckily it’s a relationship and each of us is called to live differently than the other – makes it harder to figure out but SO MUCH MORE rewarding in the end! Bless you as you figure out your journey!