Bill McKibben Reading

Wow the reading for tomorrow was really good!! It really made me think about my life as a Christian and how it is so true that people do these things! I have noticed that a lot of Churches I have attended in my time do talk a lot about politics. There are definitely churches that give to the poor, and help out with the community, but it seems that there is an overwhelming discussion of just gay marriage and abortion. I also have noticed that the Christian community seems to be somewhat exclusive as he cited. They love each other, but not others. Or, they feel for the poor but do nothing. I feel embarrassed and bad for in a way putting down my fellow Christians, but I am one of those people who had my clique of friends in High School and ignored making friends with people of other religions. I did not think that other religions were bad, I just lived in a community that was predominantly Christian. I worked on mission trips, and helped out with the food drives, and things like that, but it was not until college that I realized the true reality of the world. I kind of lived in my perfect little bubble not realizing how bad the state of the world really was. I think a way to combat this is education. As McKibben cited at the beginning of his article, many people cannot tell you what all the Ten Commandments are or the four writers of the Gospels. We are going to need to educate people of the true meaning and teachings of the Bible and work together as a community. I think that Environmental Education could help with this. Educating people on the state of the environment will help them to better learn what we need to be doing as Christians. I believe that we as the biggest nation in the world can do better, and actually make it happen!

thats what Ben Franklin said...

seems that everyone liked the reading about the christian paradox. i generally don't follow trends, but for such a brilliant article i will make an exception. i find it amazing (and not so much in a good way) that two-thirds of Americans think that the quote "God helps those who help themselves" is a biblical one. i will readily admit that i do not read the bible on a regular basis (or even an irregular basis) but i do know that it was Ben Franklin who said that. (as i read that part i joked to myself "well of course that's in the Bible! the four gospels, after all, were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and Ben Franklin. oh wait, no. John. it was John. i always get those two confused!")
in any case, i just find it hard to believe that people would think that Jesus or God went around saying "hey, you look affluent, let me help you pay for your groceries." the whole point of Jesus telling people to love their neighbor as themselves was to remind us that we arent alone in this world, we need to think of how our actions effect everyone. my neighbor is not only the person in the next house. it is anyone and everyone who needs help. (and just as a side note, since i'm talking about helping people who need help, i strongly encourage everyone to donate money to help the people of Haiti.)

How can we say "Stay warm", but not provide a cloak

Bill McKibbon's article, in some ways, reminds me of the Letter of James where he talked about wishing someone in need to stay warm and well fed, but not doing anything to actually help that person to stay warm and well fed. Mr. McKibbon succinctly challenged our hypocricy. We do say a lot of things about being good Christians, but do not follow through with our actions. This is one of the things that I am most embarrassed about, being a Christian. I fully understand the critiques, they are well warranted.
What would happen if, as Mr. McKibbon says, a modest few of the 85% of Christians in America and the similar proportion in Canada starting making their deeds mirror their words? I think a lot of good can come out of it. This does not mean making the entire world think like us, but to just let deeds follow faith. We could have a major impact on the environmental and social issues. I have hope that we can.
Maybe I need to stop being so worried about how people will react if I said things like Mr. McKibbon did. There have been many times I wanted to. Wish me luck. Good luck to everyone as well.

A Paradox, A Paradox...

I am impressed with how well Bill McKibben can mix together the Christian faith with America's lack of Christianity, all while adding a slight hint of cynicism! I, too, find it rather depressing that although our country claims to be "Christian", many people within its borders do not live a Christian life. Our fast-paced society seems to only utilize the "Christian" label when it works for them. Much attention in the Christian bookstores really do focus on how individuals can better themselves. Obviously, our country did not become like this overnight. The tiny, subtle changes slowly creeped up, creating a generation of "believers" that cannot fully understand what Jesus was implying because they haven't been able to view the Scriptures in that way.

I admit wholeheartedly that I am NOT perfect, nor will I ever be. I will inevitably continue to fail at Christ's teachings because I am human. Does that necessarily mean that I don't TRY to adhere to them? Absolutely not! I want to consider others better than myself. I want to love my neighbor as myself, but why do I find myself sometimes putting stipulations on my actions? Jesus didn't say to help my friend, but not the starving children around the world. There are many teachings in the Bible that I will continue to spend the remainder of my life trying to uphold and live by. Every day is a learning experience that teaches me just how sinful I am and how incredibly pure Jesus is. My hope comes from the fact that although I am just a sinner, I am saved by grace.

I believe that if more people who professed to be Christians would have the opportunity to read some of Bill McKibben's writings and actually take them to heart instead of becoming defensive, our country could begin to turn the tide on the way we live our lives.

The Christian Paradox

From this week's readings, I liked The Christian Paradox the best. Since I was old enough to realize what was going on, I've been confused by people around me, and probably myself, who identify themselves as "Christian" but don't seem to follow very "Christian" ethics. Let me say this up front: I am NOT bashing Christianity. What I am doing is talking openly about the difference between the people that use the word "Christian" and those that live the word "Christian." I also understand that there is more than one interpretation of Christian values.

Anyway, this article interested me when it pointed out the differences between the predominently Christian America and the "godless" countries like Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands. So, if we really are a Christian country...why are these "godless" countries taking better care of their poor? Why is there less hunger? Less murder? Less war?

Sometimes I feel like Christianity is a label people hide behind, much like having a Range Rover keychain to make people think you own a fancy car. Is Christianity becoming all about appearances and less about actions? I think we as a country, and as Christians, need to remember why we identify ourselves that way.

I know I am a hyprocrite, just like many others. I identify myself as Christian, and do believe in God, but I do very little to help others. I give to GoodWill, food shelves, and charities for medical causes (If you can count $2 here and there as giving) but is that really enough? Am I a true Christian yet?

This article confused me a little when it spoke of how this country has become very self-centered with all our self-help and self-empowerment lifestyles. I am in favor of self-improvement. I feel that God wants me to be the best I can be, though I guess the question lies in does the best me have a profitable job that gets me a flat screen, new truck, and gives generously to charity - or is the best me the person who lives on little pay but gives what I can?

But perhaps, I am being too hard on myself. I love my neighbor, I try to make this world better a little at a time. But there is a small voice in my head saying that is a cop-out. That I am never doing enough, because in reality, I could be doing more. Just look at Greg Mortenson sleeping in his car to save money for Pakistan schools.

I don't know, I'm apologize for this wandering post. I just wonder how this Christian country can have so many problems that "godless" countries seem to handle better and more effectively.

Are You The Problem or The Solution?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7WHzqg-3gg

http://www.kirklandsmith.com/?page_id=4

Response to Friday's Class and Readings (1/15/09)

The reading about the inner life and how religion has and does effect our environmental ethic really made me think when they mentioned how we are going to some how have to reach each religion on some level in order to encourage them to become more environmentally conscious. This made me think about several things I have come across over the past few days that made me think about this subject. Bethany sent me an email that said that the Pope said that Avatar was bad because it promoted the environment, but the Episcopal church has a statement on environmental ethics. So frustrating! Why can't we get everyone on board? Dave sent me an article on churches in the West on how they are becoming more environmentally conscious to try to encourage better attendance in church. One church has a farmer's market in their parking lot and now has to pay taxes because that exempts them from their tax free status. They are willing to pay that fee to encourage people coming. I think according to the reading we really are going to have to adapt to the surrounding cultures and religions to encourage better stewardship, this means that we will have to somehow find a way to convince some Christians too which I hope maybe my project on creation care will help in this effort!