Burma - what you don't see on TV

It's late and I don't have much time for blogging but I thought I'd throw in a quick one. I've been reflecting on the plight of the Burmese people since I posted my thoughts on Rambo 4. i thought I'd add a few more thoughts abou Burma.

I didn't write this in the original post but it's important to note that in Septembers pro-democracy protest where over 100 monks were arrested, the junta unleashed a wave of horrific violence on the protesters. The junta put the death toll at 15 but the human rights watch put the death toll at over 100 and another 100 missing or unaccounted for.

Following the protest there were sanctions put on Burma by the US and Europe. There is hope that a referendum will be put before the people in May. Thailand are unhappy with the sanctions posed on Burma and are offering assistance for negotiations. If all goes to plan, Burma will hold their first election since 1990 in 2010.

There is much to hope and pray for, for Burma. In the meantime, millions of innocent people are killed and displaced, thousands are held as political prisoners and Burma has a long way to go until freedom is realized.

"Use your liberty to promote ours" Political prisoner and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who led the National League for Democracy to a landslide victory in the 1990 election.

Help Free Burma. Check my "Rambo 4 & Burma" post for more

Shalom
Mark

New deadly sins

I'm not sure what has disturbed me most with the latest media frenzy around the Catholic Church's release of the '7 new sins', the fact that they have been so easily dismissed by Christians and the general public alike, or the amount of mockery which has come with the delivery of the story from many media personalities. I mean headlines such as, "Drug pushers, the obscenely rich, environmental polluters and “manipulative” genetic scientists beware – you may be in danger of losing your mortal soul unless you repent." are not helpful, it just stinks of media poking fun. Then again this may still be the common belief of God fearing people!

In case you haven't heard, the 7 new sins are as follows:
1. "Bioethical" violations such as birth control
2. "Morally dubious'' experiments such as stem cell research
3. Drug abuse
4. Polluting the environment
5. Contributing to widening divide between rich and poor
6. Excessive wealth
7. Creating poverty

I would like to debate the first two, however the next five I think would naturally coincide with what it means to be a Jesus follower. Happy to discuss this if anyone cares to comment.

The media on the other hand have chosen to have fun with this and ask the public what 'social sins' have been left out. Responses have included road rage and going through the express checkout lane with a full trolley. I found this comment page entertaining.

In all seriousness though, are we going to continually be so dismissive of some serious sinful behaviour on our part, behaviour (as I mentioned in the previous post) we continue to be unrepentant about. The Catholic Church name some pretty serious social issues here. Some that have burdened my heart for some time now include poverty and the gap between rich and poor, and the deterioration of our environment. When I look around the world in which I live, common behaviour suggests to me that we are still not prepared to address these issues because they require major lifestyle changes and shifts in basic philosophy and behaviour.

And so we remain in our sin.

Longing for Shalom
Mark

Deadly sins

I thought I'd move on a little from my previous couple of posts and expand the conversation. I have responded to the previous posts comments if you're interested in my extended thoughts on the issue of what has been largely determined by the church as 'sexual sin'. I'm still fascinated however about the general Christian obsession with sexual sin over many other 'sins'. In my experience it seems to be the evangelical trend to focus on the personal moral 'don'ts' over anything else.
However, the Catholic Church centuries ago had determined what the 7 deadly sins are and even had punishments for them. As a 21st century protestant theologian I find the whole process scandalous. As I understand it, the seven sins were named the sixth century by Pope Gregory the Great. The sins have remained unchanged since. They are: Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Anger, Greed & Spiritual apathy (Acedia). There were creative and painful punishments in store for you if you were found guilty for such a sin (so much for Good News and grace). Your punishment was your penance and pathway to forgiveness and reconciliation with God. The more corrupt end of the Catholic system allowed people to pay their penance with financial wealth to the church. You could buy your forgiveness while making the church rich. While my summary may be lacking in political correctness and may upset some, these kinds of actions and controls were enough to upset reformers such as Martian Luther, hence the reform of a different way of being the Church reinstating the meaning of grace among other things.
I'm not dismissing the sins by the way, I'm just criticizing the way in which they used to be responded to. There are sins listed here which have personal and communal consequences, yet we tend to ignore them to a large extent in our middle class, western churches. In fact you could say that in many Christian circles some of these sins are dressed up, disguised and passed off as virtues. Take the ever popular prosperity theology for instance. I have visited churches where such theology is encouraged and have heard things that have horrified me. Apparently when God blesses you, you become filthy rich. I can see 5 of the 7 sins dressed up in that one right there.
Allow me room to may gross generalizations here. Western (Christians) are guilty without repentance, of Gluttony; consuming the majority of the worlds resources, and eating so much that obesity is an epidemic. Am I sorry that I scrape my leftovers into the bin after a meal because I'm so full? Not really, it's generally acceptable behaviour where I come from.
Pride; we have become far too proud of our achievements, particularly of our large buildings and extensive programs. Very rarely do I hear of a church getting rid of their building(s) to pursue the mission of Christ. Our pride has led to idolatry. We're not sorry for that either.
Envy; we constantly envy one anothers achievements. If you've ever been to a gathering of ministers, far too often has it been about comparing numbers of attendees in churches and the next big amazing thing they've got going. There is always someone who walks away from the conversation wishing with desire in their hearts, 'if only I could have that...' Not only do we become envious but we have no problem making others envious of us.
Anger; It's our God given right to retaliate, why else would we have so many troops in Iraq and Afghanistan? I would love to see more of the practice of the virtue of kindness (mercy)
Acedia; this can be described as a failure to love God with all your mind, soul and strength and loving neighbour as self. I think I've blogged on this before. As Western Christianity has become more and more narcassistic we have failed to repent, even acknowledge our apathy towards God and concern for our neighbour.
Lust & Greed; more, more, more and it comes at us in the sexiest and most subtle of ways. We make excuses because we can. Take this clip for instance. I love Weird Al Yankovic, he just has a way of stating the obvious in such a colourful and entertaining way. Go Weird Al...



Darn it, now I really want that alf alarm clock and the smurf TV tray. Have you ever bought something on Ebay? I have so I get the references and jokes. However, this is a classic example of the lust, gluttony, greed, envy and pride I have been talking about. We buy stuff because we can. Out of the 6 things I have ever bought on Ebay, I still use them today, but I have friends who are Ebay junkies, buying stuff just because they can.
Friends, give the gay community a break, and while you're there let off on the defacto couple in your community who have had kids but aren't yet married. Millions of members of Christians in churches have sinful acts in their lives they have not yet addressed. In fact they are completely aware of it in many instances, because it's ok to want to desire a life of comfort with a half million dollar house, 2 cars and a 6 figure income. Beware of the subtle lure into a promoted way of being which is not complimentary of the call of the Gospel. Maybe our greatest sin (and I do include myself by the way) is our constant resistance to follow the call of Jesus truly and honestly. Often that means embracing virtues such as justice, mercy, humility, temperament, patience, abstinence and the like. Virtues which are not popular in today's western culture. They are the virtues of absolute foolishness.

Shalom
Mark

Sex, marriage, commitment and the problem with western thought

Well, my friend anonymous chooses to remain anonymous and not respond to my request for conversation which I think is a shame because I believe conversation leads to learning and understanding (please note I have not said conversion or persuasion to anothers way of thinking).

I thought I might broaden my response to the 30 day sex challenge and to certain other challenges thrown my way by first establishing my position on the subject stated above (which I think is grossly misunderstood by many) and then give you some food for thought if you're interested.

I am and plan to continue to be a man reserved for one woman and that is my wife. I chose to share all intimacy, emotionally & sexually exclusively with her within (what is understood in the culture I live) the western institution of marriage. It is a lifestyle choice I long for for others and a lifestyle I encourage. This is a desire I uphold as a minister of a church and I certainly encourage with the young couples within my ministry influence who are getting serious about the relationship in which they are intimately investing.

However (yeah I know you were waiting for this), I will not under any circumstances, treat differently, or exclude any person who is living in a defacto relationship or same sex relationship just because I have chosen a certain lifestyle for myself. The advice I have given to such couples is to remain exclusively committed to one another in their love for each other. Yes it is possible for a gay couple to be exclusive to one another in love. Hence take note of the final paragraph in my last post.

As for theological reason for marriage...this is an interesting position for western Christians to take when quoting scripture out of a cultural context which may not be understood. I believe marriage was invented as a social tool long before theological thought came into it. That is certainly not to say that marriage isn't God given, although some may disagree with me as that could be interpreted by some in some contexts as God punishing them (and no that wasn't a joke).

On a theological note, I don't believe the bible is a weapon we use against one another to prove our own position therefore I refuse to quote scripture verses because tey are too easily taken out of context. I believe the people of Israel we read about in the early pages of our bibles are not the only society on the planet at the time who are writing laws for living and wondering about their existence (and certainly in the context of the bible their existence in relationship with a theistic being and the cosmos). Marriage by the way, in this context is very different to what we understand now. Marriage in ancient cultures, not only Israel, was based on convenience, social balance, bloodlines, royalty, power and possession, not love! I could make this a long post by explaining that but instead I'll leave the link and you can see for yourself The Origins of Marriage And check this one out. It might be too much for some to take in but I found it a very interesting read and it is enlightening to be aware that there is so much outside my own culture we don't understand Marriage, A History.

Anonymous mentioned that Jesus had something to say about this subject. I think we need to be careful what words we choose to put in the mouth of the one we follow. It has been done many times over the centuries and not necessarily with good intentions. Jesus' comments on marriage (as stated by the Gospel authors) are very limited. In fact Gospel writers probably wouldn't have deemed it necessary to expand on what is already understood in culture and law. For instance Jesus reinterprets the law in the sermon on the mount in the context of adultery and divorce. His comment would seem to promote wholeness for community living more than anything. The divorce one is a doozy! I had a couple come to me last year who wanted me to marry them. They had a very conservative view of scripture and so had a problem because one was divorced and the other never married. The never married person was afraid that he was committing adultery if he married is divorced partner because the reason for divorce was not due to unfaithfulness. Now in our culture there are so many more reasons why people get divorced that are not outlined by Jewish law or the bible. I married them by the way, as there was no legal reason or reason otherwise to prevent them from getting married. There is another Jesus example when he's sitting with the Samaritan woman by the well and it is uncovered in conversation that she has been married 5 times and the man she is with is not her husband. Does Jesus condemn her? No

I've heard it suggested by many that marriage is for life. You try telling that to some traumatized people I have counselled. Marriage has not got a good reputation in our western culture. The problem with western thought on marriage is that most westerners think that this is the way it's always been since the beginning of time. There is a romantic belief that you meet your life partner, abstain from physical contact that may be deemed too sexual, get married and live happily ever after. Yet at no other time in human history has this institutionalized union of a couple been so destructive. Our 20th/21st century commitment to marriage is a blip in history and yet through extensive anthropological research it is found to be the most unhealthy form of institutionalized covenant of relationship. It's only been in the last 2-300 years that love has been the basis of marriage in western culture. And it has only been during this time that the church has had prominence of place in sanctioning marriage on this basis and church buildings have been the locations for wedding ceremonies.

I don't mean to be unhelpful in deconstructing an institution and may be the only one you know, but i say this to tell people, 'pull your head out of your bum' and acknowledge the eclectic, diverse, multi cultural bid wide world we are part of with a history we know very little about and have very little appreciation for.

I once counselled a couple who had been married more than 20 years and my heart broke for them. One member of the marriage relationship felt they couldn't remain exclusive to a monogamous relationship, the other felt that was the only way. In some cultures that would be perfectly acceptable but in ours it's not. I felt for them because it is my desire to remain exclusively monogamous in a relationship with my wife. Yet I chose to journey with them and support them suspending any judgement so them could understand each other and try to work through this.

I recall having this sex before marriage conversation many times before and I can't for the life of me find any direction from scripture that spells out that two people in a committed relationship for life may not have sex with one another outside the institution of marriage. Therefore I'm am struggling to understand why some church communities condemn and exclude people who are committed in a defacto relationship. I know many in such relationships both gay and straight who have a much more solid foundation, are much more committed and are much more in love than many I know who are 'stuck' (another person's words not mine) in marriage. The church is yet to display good health marriages in some contexts and convince others that marriage really is the way to go. Instead we want people to comply, even if we have to drag them kicking and screaming.

As for my further thoughts on same sex relationships, you'll just have to read my Australian Christian article 'Open and Affirming' or my comments on the article 'Australian Pastors Offer Apology To Gay Community'. yeah you can probably guess what I had to say there.

Anyway, this is by no means a comprehensive exploration of the subject I have attempted to engage with and I do not intend for everyone to agree with me. It's just the beginnings of a conversation piece if you choose to participate.

I think I might choose a completely different topic for my next post.

My final thought. I remain committed to the institution of marriage as the primary context of relationship for which I advocate. However I stand with those who have chosen to live in a committed relationship, but for whatever reason are not married. These are often people who have been hurt or are suspicious of such an institution. In the context of gay couples it's just not legal in Australia...yet. I will not exclude them from participating in worship, leadership and the life of the church or the mission of Christ. I believe quite foolishly that Jesus would also be standing with these people. I don't choose to be foolish out of recklessness or lack of education. I will not blow where ever the wind blows, or as some had put it be influenced by culture for the sake of 'being relevant.' I think that is simply naive convenience. No, I will as I once heard Tim Costello say (although not in this context) be one who will influence and 'change the direction of the wind' to be counter to that of popular religious thought for the sake of tradition and promote the cause of the kingdom of God. Because Jesus is a fool who would stand where no righteous religious authority would. He dared to go there for the sake of the human condition where ever people were at.

Shalom Mark