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Willowcreek, Part 3
By Jeremy | August 11, 2006
Jesus begins his ministry with Jubilee (Luke 4). An era of grace.
Most satisfying experience of 2006: Not just writing music, which is his gift. The most satisfying was his SERVICE, through the One campaign. ONE aims to represent the poor and vulnerable with honor. They deserve the head of the table, not the the crumbs.
Youth group testimony. As a kid, never had a problem with Christ, but most Christians made him feel strange and judged. But met a few Christians that were trying to imitate the early church, and became fascinated with Christ. Laws of the universe operate by karma, or "reaping and sowing." Into that, grace enters, which we have trouble grasping. ("I depend on grace.")
Felt squarely within a contradiction. Wanted to do right, live right; but also wanted to be honest with his confusions and tensions. Wanted to "wrestle truth to the ground": "Know the truth and the truth will set you free." A lie can be being the person you want to be, not the person you are. Interested in the blues, because it's authentic, like the psalms of David - God, where are you? "I still haven't found what I'm looking for."
All prayers are answered. Sometimes the answer is, "No."
Jesus was either a nutcase, or who he claimed to be. Something poetic about God's infant son being born in "straw poverty."
Went to Ethiopia in 1985 with World Vision after Live Aid. Defining moment for him. People of great dignity being reduce to begging for food. Striking poverty. How could this be in a world of plenty? That is the way of the world, BUT it doesn't have to be. We have to overthrow the way of the world.
When he returned, he tried to put the poverty out of his head. How could he carry the burden every day? But understood that at some point, he'd be required to revisit the questions that were too big for him back then.
Late 90s, became confounded by the reality that Africa paid more in debt service every month than Live Aid raised ($250 million)! Became involved in a JUSTICE ISSUE: Jubilee Movement. Redemption is an economic term. God's order upends the world's order.
His influence is currency. So he tries to USE it! He's "strategic and smart" about the world's poor. He's no Mother Teresa, who had a heart for the poor. He has a "head" for the poor.
Jubilee & Justice: An idea whose time has come. Ideas have the same power as timeless melody. There's momentum behind it and it changes the world. The world doesn't have to be this way, and we can change it.
Historically, the church is late to the Justice party (civil rights, segregation, apartheid, AIDS, etc). Why?
1. BECAUSE afraid of politics. BUT, justice is non-partisan.
2. Church had been judgmental about AIDS. Judgmentalism is contrary to Christ. In 90s, only 6% of evangelicals felt responsible to respond to AIDS. Now he knew why he didn't like the church. Then they woke up and started to respond. Convicted him.
Love you neighbor is not advice. It's a commandment. Who is your neighbor? In a globalized world, "accidents of longitiude and latitude" are no excuse not to care about the global poor.
2000 verses about the poor. We can't miss it. Jesus only spoke about judgement one time: Matthew 25. "As much as you do it unto the least of these, you do it unto me." The parable is about God's judgment. How we respond to the poor & vulnerable defines whether we are part of the kingdom.
Stop asking God to bless what you are doing. Find out what God is doing, because that’s already blessed.
Charity is not enough. JUSTICE is key. We can end “stupid poverty†like starvation and malaria relatively cheaply.
The Lord’s prayer: “Thy kingdom come ON EARTH as it is in heaven.†Our purpose: bring heaven to earth in every detail. Have peace that surpasses understanding, but DO NOT be at peace with the world. We can "wrestle it from fools."
PREACHING TO PASTORS:
Bill has convinced me of the importance of the church in creating the moral and practical infrastructure in assisting the needs of the most vulnerable. Open the doors of your churches. Make them clinics. JUSTICE is key, not just charity. We need to march together. Chill out if you march with colorful characters. Give permission to your leaders to spend your money on the poorest of the poor. These problems are fixable. It’s an adventure, not a burden or a duty.
Aside: Guard the "right to be ridiculous" as a family.
Psalm 40
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.U2's version: 40 (lyrics) A song about JUSTICE: "Where the Streets have no name"
"I want to run I want to hide I want to tear down the walls That hold me inside I want to reach out And touch the flame Where the streets have no name"Related: More on U2's use of scripture in their music.free watch movies pornporn movies xxxporn movies free downloadmovies free porn downloadablewife free moviesmovies gloryholemovies nexxxfemale nude stars movie Map
Topics: economics, justice, leadership, poverty, willowcreek | 2 Comments »
August 11th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
Jeremy,
Thanks for dropping by my blog! Bono was amazing – he was the highlight of the Summit. I wish that message would get out even more! I looked at your site, keep up the awesome work!
August 13th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Thanks for sharing your notes from the conference – I am looking forward to seeing the video myself sometime. Bono doesn’t fit Willowcreek but I’m not sure Jesus would either…it is time for North America to wake up and instead simply being gracetakers become gracegivers – to those dying in Africa and around the world!