DISQUS

Thank you, I agree. Every time we want to ask the question, "Why did God let this happen?" maybe we should start by asking "Why did we let this happen?"

Thank you, I agree. Every time we want to ask the question, "Why did God let this happen?" maybe we should start by asking "Why did we let this happen?"

I went vegetarian two years ago for the very reasons you listed above- not for animal ethics but for justice issues with food/grain distribution and land use. I also bike or ride the bus, so my ethanol use isn't an issue. I try to eat "real foods" as much as possible, especially after reading books like The Omnivore's Dilemma and realizing how much of what we eat is corn in disguise.
'The more I listen to the news of the global food crisis, the more it saddens me that our gluttonous ways with fuel and food are taking away from the least of these. And the more I hear about people complaining because of high gas prices the more I grieve for those who will go without food today because prices skyrocketed.

Yet I know I am not doing enough, and I wonder how to get my resources to those who need it most. We can sacrifice in small ways, but we are still ignoring our neighbor who desperately needs a cup of grain. Yes, money can be given to emergency food funds, and it has been, but what else can be done?

I went vegetarian two years ago for the very reasons you listed above- not for animal ethics but for justice issues with food/grain distribution and land use. I also bike or ride the bus, so my ethanol use isn't an issue. I try to eat "real foods" as much as possible, especially after reading books like The Omnivore's Dilemma and realizing how much of what we eat is corn in disguise.
'The more I listen to the news of the global food crisis, the more it saddens me that our gluttonous ways with fuel and food are taking away from the least of these. And the more I hear about people complaining because of high gas prices the more I grieve for those who will go without food today because prices skyrocketed.

Yet I know I am not doing enough, and I wonder how to get my resources to those who need it most. We can sacrifice in small ways, but we are still ignoring our neighbor who desperately needs a cup of grain. Yes, money can be given to emergency food funds, and it has been, but what else can be done?

I went vegetarian two years ago for the very reasons you listed above- not for animal ethics but for justice issues with food/grain distribution and land use. I also bike or ride the bus, so my ethanol use isn't an issue. I try to eat "real foods" as much as possible, especially after reading books like The Omnivore's Dilemma and realizing how much of what we eat is corn in disguise.
'The more I listen to the news of the global food crisis, the more it saddens me that our gluttonous ways with fuel and food are taking away from the least of these. And the more I hear about people complaining because of high gas prices the more I grieve for those who will go without food today because prices skyrocketed.

Yet I know I am not doing enough, and I wonder how to get my resources to those who need it most. We can sacrifice in small ways, but we are still ignoring our neighbor who desperately needs a cup of grain. Yes, money can be given to emergency food funds, and it has been, but what else can be done?

Ok, I do believe that progress and technological advances can help us further our resources or get the most out of each resource, but you still have to say that resources are limited. We will reach a limit to how much food an acre can produce or how much more energy we can produce from fossil fuels. Yes, progress means stretching or multiplying our limited resources, but that doesn't mean that they are "unlimited". I also think a lot of our huge expansion of resources came from the growing use of fossil fuels, which then led to a growing world population. And I do believe that fossil fuels are in limited supply and will one day be used up. Then we will lose a lot of our current ability to expand our resources as we do (fertilizers for food production, desalinization for water production, oil for plastics production)... unless we find an equally abundant energy source. We cannot plan on forever expanding our limited resources through progress, technology, and the use of fossil fuels. My bet? The pie will continue to grow, but not for forever.

jurisnaturalist- you said "...there are unlimited resources in this world." would disagree. They may seem "unlimited", and I guess, in a sense, our resources haven't gone anywhere- just changed into something else, but there definitely isn't unlimited resources. And yes, God can continue creating new resources, if he wants, but my guess is that he wants us to be good stewards of the resources he has given us rather than creating new ones when we have trashed everything he has created already. Resources are limited...


I would like to hear the reasoning behind the idea that there are unlimited resources.



And, if resources are limited, how big can we make the pie? Isn't there a point at which there is too many of us for the world to sustain us, even if resources are distributed well? What does it mean to trust our creator and provider God in a world of limited resources? Do we trust that he will provide more if we reach our limits?

Sam, I love this post! After a few months of debating, my husband and I finally brought our TV to the Chicago recycling center two weeks ago. It's been two weeks of more sleep, much more reading, walks around the neighborhood, cooking in the kitchen, and frisbee in the park. We knew we needed to be set free from the consumerism, apathy, and laziness the TV brings. We feel just as connected to the world, but it's because we listen to more NPR in the evenings. And yes, I have watched the last two episodes of The Office online, but the temptation to turn on the Today Show while I am getting ready or the Tonight Show as we wind-down for the day is gone. We even had family visit last weekend, and we ended up playing games all night because there was no box in our living room to turn to at the end of the day. It's a risky and sometimes difficult leap to get rid of your TV, but I am loving it.

well said sagely! I see the kingdom of God as those things under God's reign- those things doing what God created them to do, those systems working the way God designed them, those people redeemed from sin. Basically, any time we "poke a hole" (to use Michael's words) in our fallen world and show God's redeemed ways, the kingdom of God is there. So when we love our neighbor, or take in the poor, or bring justice to the oppressed, the kingdom of God is there. Jesus said at the beginning of his ministry "The time has come, The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). I believe that the incarnation of God on earth was the start of the kingdom of God- the beginning of the redemption of all things, the beginning of the reversal of the fall. I see glimpses of the kingdom all around me. It is here... because I can see God's redeeming work in people, in creation, in systems, but it is not yet, because not all of creation has been redeemed... everything has not yet been made right... and the full coming of the kingdom, of the reign of God, is yet to come. So here- yes- but also not yet- because it isn't completely here.
So we keep bringing the kingdom in the small ways that we can, knowing that we may not get very far, but also knowing that Jesus' resurrection has assured us of our final hope, of the redemption of all things, and of the full coming of the kingdom of God.

well said sagely! I see the kingdom of God as those things under God's reign- those things doing what God created them to do, those systems working the way God designed them, those people redeemed from sin. Basically, any time we "poke a hole" (to use Michael's words) in our fallen world and show God's redeemed ways, the kingdom of God is there. So when we love our neighbor, or take in the poor, or bring justice to the oppressed, the kingdom of God is there. Jesus said at the beginning of his ministry "The time has come, The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). I believe that the incarnation of God on earth was the start of the kingdom of God- the beginning of the redemption of all things, the beginning of the reversal of the fall. I see glimpses of the kingdom all around me. It is here... because I can see God's redeeming work in people, in creation, in systems, but it is not yet, because not all of creation has been redeemed... everything has not yet been made right... and the full coming of the kingdom, of the reign of God, is yet to come. So here- yes- but also not yet- because it isn't completely here.
So we keep bringing the kingdom in the small ways that we can, knowing that we may not get very far, but also knowing that Jesus' resurrection has assured us of our final hope, of the redemption of all things, and of the full coming of the kingdom of God.

Nathanael, can you explain to me what anathema means? I don't know greek, so that would be helpful. Since I don't know the word "anathema", I don't know if you agree or not, but I do think there is a lot of value in helping others see the impact that having children has on this world. I know this is a very controversial, but I am afraid of people's feeling that they are entitled to have as many children as they want, no matter what the consequences to their community around them. This gets into a lot of sticky areas, but I think people need to know the impact a child has on the world. This has lead me to conclude that I would only like to adopt or be a foster parent (because I would rather care for an already created child that needs a family then bring another one into the world) and I would only adopt from north america. I know I just offended anyone who has their own children, or wants a big family, but it's something worth thinking about. Is God sovereign? Oh yes! But does that mean we should stop trying to make wise decisions? Nope! Thanks Nathanael

Nathanael, can you explain to me what anathema means? I don't know greek, so that would be helpful. Since I don't know the word "anathema", I don't know if you agree or not, but I do think there is a lot of value in helping others see the impact that having children has on this world. I know this is a very controversial, but I am afraid of people's feeling that they are entitled to have as many children as they want, no matter what the consequences to their community around them. This gets into a lot of sticky areas, but I think people need to know the impact a child has on the world. This has lead me to conclude that I would only like to adopt or be a foster parent (because I would rather care for an already created child that needs a family then bring another one into the world) and I would only adopt from north america. I know I just offended anyone who has their own children, or wants a big family, but it's something worth thinking about. Is God sovereign? Oh yes! But does that mean we should stop trying to make wise decisions? Nope! Thanks Nathanael

how often, when working with the poor and oppressed do we come with qualifications rather than radical grace.... God forgive us

how often, when working with the poor and oppressed do we come with qualifications rather than radical grace.... God forgive us

Where do we see in the bible that God wants us under human authorities and governments? As someone who leans towards Christian Anarchy, I don't think God's ultimate desire is to have us live under earthly rule and governments, even if we can convince them to "do good" and act morally. Yet I'm assuming that Wright has some strong biblical backing when he says
"But God wants his rebel world to be ordered, to be under authorities and governments, because otherwise the bullies and the arrogant will always prey on the weak and the helpless..." Yes... he wants the world to be ordered and just- but why under governments and not under Him? Anyone have some explanation or places I can look in the bible to shed some more light on this? Thanks.

My church is currently in the process of buying a building (we rent right now), and everyone seems to think it's a great idea. When my friend and I raised some questions about it- such as mission, gentrification, and use of church resources, we got looked at like we were crazy, and then ignored, and then seen as divisive. It's been hard because the vote went through, the new building will be purchased, and the church is becoming more and more of an institution and less and less of a movement. I mourn for it sometimes. I know you wrote this post forever ago, but thanks for it.

My church is currently in the process of buying a building (we rent right now), and everyone seems to think it's a great idea. When my friend and I raised some questions about it- such as mission, gentrification, and use of church resources, we got looked at like we were crazy, and then ignored, and then seen as divisive. It's been hard because the vote went through, the new building will be purchased, and the church is becoming more and more of an institution and less and less of a movement. I mourn for it sometimes. I know you wrote this post forever ago, but thanks for it.

My church is currently in the process of buying a building (we rent right now), and everyone seems to think it's a great idea. When my friend and I raised some questions about it- such as mission, gentrification, and use of church resources, we got looked at like we were crazy, and then ignored, and then seen as divisive. It's been hard because the vote went through, the new building will be purchased, and the church is becoming more and more of an institution and less and less of a movement. I mourn for it sometimes. I know you wrote this post forever ago, but thanks for it.

Awesome... simply awesome.

Awesome... simply awesome.

Awesome... simply awesome.