Archive for May, 2006

…fate operates when people give up…

Here’s some food for thought from one of my favorite thinkers, Jacques Ellul:
“There are moments when history is flexible, and that is when we must put ourselves inside to move the works. But when the atomic bomb is dropped, it is no longer the moment to attach a parachute to it. It’s all over. I [...]

May 22, 2006 | 2 comments | View Post

Remember, it’s a systems thing.

Revisit the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10 25-37) as a justice text.
There are more players in this admonition than just the unwitting victim, the cause of the situation in the robber, and the compassionate acts of a stranger. There is also the Priest and the Levite — consider them a pastor and a [...]

May 10, 2006 | 1 comment | View Post

What is the presence of the Kingdom?

One of my favorite authors, Jacques Ellul, in his own words “constantly tried to show how the action of God through Christians could solve the problem of the world; that Christians are in such a situation (placed by God in this situation) that they can respond.” Even though he was very politically and economically astute [...]

May 10, 2006 | 2 comments | View Post

What is the proper relationship between material wealth, discipleship, and justice?

Could living a just life in our culture of consumerism and materialism go something like this: Sell everything you have, give to the poor, get more stuff, repeat. Is that possible?
Read Mark’s and Luke’s account of the rich young ruler (Luke 18: 18-29, Mark 10: 17-31). What side of that conversation do you think you [...]

May 10, 2006 | 0 comments | View Post