What Would Jesus Buy?

What would Jesus Buy? I hoped that a catchy title would focus your attention, because it certainly did for me. I just recently finished watching a documentary entitled "What would Jesus buy?" The documentary follows Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping during the month of December as they go on a country wide journey to preach to people the "good news" of how we can better help each other if we took time to stop shopping. At this point my readers probably have more questions then answers. Literally, what would Jesus buy? What is the Church of Stop Shopping and is that even real? And how can we improve our lives and mimic Jesus by stopping our shopping? The video explains the message of Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping as they go on their tour. It focuses on details of how our nation is built around consumerism and how many people spend their money, and more specifically around Christmas time. The message of Christmas and what it stands for is so different from the secular viewpoint as it is to the Christian viewpoint. They also target large corporations, such as Walmart, Disney, and the Mall of America to try to get their message across. All in all, I found the documentary worthwhile, and even though at times the message came across as radical, it got me thinking about how I spend my money and how I compare it biblically. And that was the whole point of it anyways, to get people thinking about consumerism in a biblical way.

What is the Church of Stop Shopping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGi21YQFjMM

In the above picture, we see the Stop Shopping Choir at Times Square New York City, while Rev. Billy shouts their message. While they advocate local markets and oppose the obsessiveness of shopping (which they dubbed the shopocalypse) the Church uses organized arts, humor and grassroots. The Choir of Life after shopping sing about a new day, when the stress is gone and we are free to live without debt. The Church believes that Americans are getting overwhelmed with shopping and consumerism. Reverend Billy preaches in favor of real experiences, not ones dictated by products, and for people to care more about local economies. In the church's website, they explain the power struggle that small local business' share against large corporations that may be among wealthiest in the world, but provide us low cost products at the hands of overworked, underpaid children and women in third world countries. They expanded from a 1 man street performer preaching about the bleeding of shopping, to a now 35 member choir and 5 piece band. In their documentary, Rev. Billy and the choir take a road trip around the nation from Black Friday up unto Christmas Day. Many of the facts that they shared about our nations' consumerism were overwhelming to think about. Last year American's spent $455 billion on shopping during the holidays, and consumer credit debt is now $2.4 Trillion. The United States used to be a producing nation, such as manufacturing automobiles. But over the last few decades, the United States has shifted from producing to consuming. And especially over the holiday's, families are inclined to show love through buying gifts more than anything. Have we forgotten what Christmas is about. Are we caught up in providing more for our children then we had growing up that we've lost the values that once shared? When we buy items, we have choices we can make. We can buy from local business' where money that we put into them will be recycled through the local economy. Or we can buy the low cost products of Disney or Walmart, where the money we put in will never be put back into local economies. The documentary is definitely worth watching, its only an hour and a half.

What Would Jesus Buy?

Here's the real the question. Even though the movie doesn't discuss many biblical teachings through out its length, its there to get the ball rolling and to get its viewers thinking about the question "What would Jesus Buy?" I've pondered this question now for awhile and more questions arise, such as "What would Jesus buy if he were on earth today?" and "What did Jesus buy when he was on earth?". If we look back at the story of Jesus we are told very little about his life up until he begins traveling and preaching for several years before eventually paying the ultimate toll for our sins. The bible tells us that Jesus was a carpenter for a living. This means that he worked with his hands a lot, and just like today, carpenters built, fixed, assembled and repaired things. Because we know that Jesus doesn't contradict the bible, we can know that he showed hard work and wasn't lazy, because Solomon says that "lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." (Proverbs 10:4) Even though Jesus was poor during his ministry, Solomon isn't referring to financing poverty, but spiritual. Jesus obviously worked during his life to be able to afford basic human needs, and he wasn't a beggar. We also know that he didn't have much financial wealth which means that he only bought what was necessary, no more and no less. And if Jesus was alive today, I don't believe that he would buy anything that we normally would buy for ourselves or others, such as Ipod's, computers, televisions, phones, music, or cars. During the Jesus' ministry, he sent out the disciples in pairs and he gave them power over demons and the power to heal the sick. (Matthew 10/Mark 6/Luke 9) Jesus begins to give them instructions on what they should preach, how they should do it, and who they should preach too. But he also gives them specific instructions not take any gold, silver, or copper with them and to take no bag, or any extra clothing or shoes or stave's for their trips. (Matt 10:9-10) Jesus tells the twelve disciples not to take extra items with them because he will faithfully provide for them everything they need. The gospels show that Jesus took a special interest in the poor, seeing as he choose to be poor himself. During the famous speech about the Sheep and the Goats, Jesus explains doing good acts through faith and love towards others, such as clothing a naked person, or giving them something to eat. When the witness' say that they don't remember doing that for Jesus, he responds with "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you have done unto me" (Matt 25:40)

The Rich Young Man

One testimony that is consistent in all four books of the New Testament is the story of the rich young man or rich ruler. I perfer Mark's version because he has the greatest detail. As the story goes, Jesus was traveling when a young rich man came running too him, fell on his knees and asked "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?". Jesus questions his motives, asking him why he called him "Good teacher" because only God alone is good. Jesus recites the 10 commandments to him, and most eagerly the rich young man exclaims that he has kept them all since he was a boy. "Jesus looked at him and loved him". Then Jesus tells him that he only lacks one thing, that he must go and sell everything he owns to give it to the poor. And Jesus follows up and invites the man to follow him just the disciples have done after he has sold everything. The man became very upset and he left them very sad because he had much wealth. As the other apostles looked at each other in shock, Jesus speaks up and says "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!...It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle then for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. This story is one my favorite to read. We see a man that has acquired a lot of wealth and has done so at an early age. Maybe he was given a large inheritance and thats why he was so rich, or maybe he had worked very hard his whole life to get where he was now. What we do know, is that he was a wealthy ruler, and he seen running to Jesus and falling on his knees. A man of his stature has never fallen on his knees for anyone, he has servants that he can command to kneel before him if he wanted to. He has authority, but when he comes to Jesus he gives all his authority to him. We also see him running. This indicates urgency on his part. No other time has this man had to run unless he wanted to, he was probably carried or driven by other men. When this rich young man, finally gets to Jesus, he gets right to the point, asking about eternal life. Jesus see's that his motives are clear because he is calling Jesus the good teacher. Then Jesus explains the commandments. The rich ruler is so eager to interrupt when he hears this because he's excited. He's excited because all of these things Jesus is saying he has done since he was young. Then we see the compassion of Jesus because he knows whats about to knock this guy down, and he wants so bad for this young rich man to throw away his burdens and follow him to the kingdom. Jesus tells him to sell everything, and the rich man is devastated. Everything he has worked for his entire life, his authority, his legacy, his wealth. Jesus is not going to be second to any of these things. The disciples are looking at each other in disbelief. They probably just witness one of the best interviews ever for someone to become a disciple. This young man has lived a good life, and has obeyed the commandments since a child. He knows Jesus is the good teacher and seeks eternity in the kingdom. If this man can't even be a disciple of Jesus, then who possibly can? Jesus explains to his followers that its harder for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, then a rich person to be saved. They ask "Who can be saved?" and Jesus replies thats its impossible by human means alone, but not with God. (As a side not, when he says its harder for a camel to go through the eye of the needle, I don't think he was speaking literally, although I'm not entirely sure as Jesus often used long exaggerations as humor in explaining his teachings)

As we see through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Jesus often taught using parables. Jesus also had compassion enough to then try to explain them to his disciples. A few parables he used also included money, such as a the rich blind fool, the rich man and Lazarus (Actually not a parable), and storing up treasures in heaven. And in almost every story and parable the Jesus talks about regarding money or wealth, he usually has that directly associated with eternal salvation. That's because it is so important that to talk about at the risk of sounding redundant. In fact when reading through the New Testament, the only time the bible mentions Jesus getting physically violent is when he comes back into Jerusalem and he overturns the tables of the money changers and dove sellers at the temple. For people to be using the temple as a way to get more money was so appalling in the eyes of Jesus that he flipped over benches and drove them out, and didn't even stay in the city that night when his motives were questioned by the religious elite. (Matt. 21:12-17)

So is it a mystery that Jesus talked so much about money. The bible goes so far as to say that money is the root of most evil. Jesus didn't come to earth so that we could live comfortable lives. He came to show us the truth, that if we follow and believe in him, we will be able to spend an eternity with him. But that means storing up treasures in heaven, and not here on earth. Because in 100 years it won't matter what car you drove or what house you lived in, but if you were able to change lives, especially your own. Giving up our need for money and items possibly means losing some security. But when we have to rely on God, it tests us to believe what we say we believe. Oh and how God wants to provide for you. He says don't worry about tomorrow because it already has enough worries, just let go and give it to God. Lastly God asks that we faithfully give back to him just a small portion of what he has given us. He says that he will bless a cheerful giver. He is so adamant that he will keep his word that he says in Malachi 3:10 ""Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."" So maybe next holiday shopping season, we think about what we are buying, our motives and how our money is being used to help the kingdom of God.

Only Thing that Counts is Faith expressing itself Through Love

Faith, Hope, and Love (Revised Version)

Drowning before everyone else yet only I can tell that I am in trouble. I shout but no one seems to hear me. They are all lost in their own consciousness. However no one can hear the cries from their brothers and sisters right beside them. Why has the world turned a blind eye? And why does the world no longer hear the calling of help from their own kin. Do they refuse to help and stand by idly? Certainly not! Who among us would not come to the aid of their own family? Would you not even come to the aid of your neighbor if they were crying out for help? If we are so sensible then why do we not help those around us? The answer is evident yet hidden. We have become too involved in ourselves in this world that we don’t even see what is happening to others. But who can drown and yet still try to save your friend who is also drowning. I tell you it is impossible. Before you can save someone else you must first be saved. We are all in need of a savior. When we do find ourselves out of the water, no longer in danger of drowning, why then is it so hard to save others. How can you save someone from drowning if you can’t convince them first that they are in danger? To them its foolishness.

Does it really matter anyways? In the end what have we achieved? Is life meaningless to the very sweet bitter end? Even if we become saved ourselves it only means we are then able to recognize everyone that will drown. Ignorance is bliss to the wise and the foolish alike. Death is certain, and it is a road we will all travel on at some point. There awaits us a party, a feast like none other. Be cautious not to view this life as a prelude to that which awaits, or else we are in danger of making a mockery out of the gift that we have been given. For that reason live everyday in such a way to win the race. Don’t be afraid to love because it might cause pain, such is the life of one who sacrifices and serves. No one knows when his hour will come, so until such a time arrives, live a life full of love. Faith, love and hope are our instruments to use in this world. Faith turns to the truth, and its impending light reveals the hidden and shines light upon those who have given up their life to one greater. Hope remains regardless of circumstance, and fights for those who have long given up. From rejoicing comes perseverance, and through that shines character, and hope is originated out of those who show obedience and humility. Finally love. Unconditional, immeasurable and inconceivable is a love shown to us. Without it we could gain the world but lose our soul. We can love others through actions and words. We love because God first loved us. And Christ laid down his life for us: This is how we know what love is. And it will never fail as long as carry him around with you. It gives freely and is willing to give for others who might never come to fully understand. Those who do uncover this mystery will find a joy that circumvents all others. You will be able to recognize those who have love because they will shine out like. Be genuine in all that you do so that in all things God might be praised through Jesus Christ.

Warm weather brings out Detroit

During the winter, the collective thoughts of our household about opening up avenues of community were dim. It was always cold, and it got dark very early. Not many people were outside during the cold months. One of my hopes during winter was that summer would be different. When I arrived in the middle of September, the weather was nice and warm, sometimes slightly cool. But even in the cooler stages of the fall there would be many people walking around outside enjoying the weather.

Once the summer began, the people of Detroit came alive once again. I am also included in that statement. Early on in late April there was a block fish grill out at a house a few rows down from us. Especially with the rather large unemployment rate in Detroit (33% at its peak) there are so many people that come outside to cook or play and at least use the day to its fullest even if they aren't currently employed. Another common activity in the suburbs is grilling. We just celebrated July 4th on Sunday and walking back from church, only 5 blocks, I saw just about every other house grilling or having a barbecue. However only white folk will have a bonfire during the hottest evenings of the year. Last but not least, I've seen on several accounts people that bring out small tables to the sidewalks or their porches to play cards during the warm summer weather.

Sports has become a large gateway to getting to know and meet the people of Detroit, and in particular our community. There is a small patch of grass at the corner of our block that usually contains our neighbors playing horseshoes or throwing around a baseball. Last week Michael, Luke and I went out to a local basketball court to play. After about an hour, there were three or four more people that joined us and we played a 3v3 game. More often than not, its almost a given that once a week I'll witness people tossing around a football. Needless to say, sports are very popular, and since the houses in the suburbs don't have large yards or property, it encourages everyone to come together to the local park to play.

Detroit City Futbol

Soccer has been revolutionary for me in meeting people in my community. Michael did some grunt work during the winter days when we were couped up and anxious for the warm weather. After doing some research on soccer leagues, he discovered a league that was starting up that would start games in mid May and conclude at the end of July. The league was dubbed the Detroit City Futbol. The more and more we learned about it the more excited we became. Not only because we were going to be outside and playing soccer together but because of the intrinsic value of this league. The league's founder, Sean Mann, is all about community. He protested against the construction of another bridge to Canada (not anything against Canada but the resources were better used for Detroit's wellness) and local involved in community building organizations. His vision of this league was to organize teams based on player/neighborhood location. He had a small captains meeting so that each neighborhood interested would have a person to contact to get organized. Originally Sean had predicted that around 4 teams would be formed. Unbeknown to Sean, getter forces were in play, and by the time Spring arrived, 11 teams were in the process of being formed. All 11 teams eventually were formed and they each represent a historic part of Detroit. Teams ranged from the suburbs, such as our team called New Center, to downtown, to the nicer regions of Detroit, such as Green Acres and the Villages. Our team has over 25 people registered and as announced, all of them hail from New Center. Michael and I have gotten to know a few of our teammates very well, and in fact we carpool with our new friend Ara each week, since we only live a mere two to three miles away. Our team and the league is primarily white, but that doesn't reflect how this leagued has crossed boundaries to connect different parts of Detroit with each other. It also gives us a sense of pride playing with the people that live around us. Another fun statistic about the Detroit City Futbol league is that it came up with its our bar schedule. In another attempt to promote fellowship, the league asked each team to come up with a local bar for after game drinks and conversation. Each team picked its bar, namely based on being sponsored or having connections through someone working there that is also in the league, and a schedule was developed. Along with the matches and the times that teams would play each other either on Monday or Thursday, each week came with a different team hosting the after game festivities. And so after the games, a lot of people will go to whichever bar is being hosted that night, and we will further enjoy the night with everyone else. The league has a few rules that make it unique to other leagues. The location of all the games is on Bel Isle, a small island park that is found in the Detroit River between Detroit and Canada. It was designed by the same person that designed Central Park in New York City. We play on smaller fields and we play 7v7 including goalies. The league is co-ed, and to make sure women are treated fairly, there have to be at least 2 girls on the field at all times. No slide tackling is enforced because the last thing we want is for some people to be over competitive and someone to get hurt. The last and final rule of the league is "Don't be a jerk". Basically if you start being a jerk, you will be asked politely to leave until next week. Refs are anyone in the league who volunteers, but as incentive, any tie breakers will be determined by which team had more volunteers to ref during the season. The league has been such a success so far that it has actually received media attention even in its first season. Most teams have at least a 30 player roster. Our team isn't that good compared to other teams, but either Mike or I, or both of us have scored in every game but 1 so far. I think thats 8 out of 9 games. We call it the Pingree Connection. We measure success in having fun and trying our best, so its all good.

Downtown Detroit has also been enhanced thanks to the warm weather. The center plaza in downtown, called Campus Martius, was fitted with a ice skating rink during the winter. But now its got green grass laid down with benches, tables and chairs everywhere for people to enjoy their lunches outside. Last week their was live bands playing during the middle of the day for entertainment. Also the Hart Plaza, a large area that borders the riverfront, has had plenty of attention during this summer. Its been the location for the weekend Techno Festival, the Detroit Hoe Down, and a place in general that is always been used to share local live music.

So all in all, the warm weather has been a blessing to us in Detroit in giving us more ways to enjoy the people and the locality. My job hasn't changed much however. We are still just as busy as we are in the winter. The only difference is that now I have a mini-van to do deliveries, rather than having to bike everywhere. The ironic thing is that during the winter I had to do it all on a bike. Now that its summer, and the weather is fantastic for biking in, my bike is broken and I am forced to do it all in my mini-van. I do have a friend currently fixing up a bike for me, so I'm hopefully that my waiting will not be in vain. The warm weather has also influenced our living conditions. Before we were huddled up in blankets because it was cold during the winter. Now we have fans blowing all day and night while we try to wear as little as possible. Anyways its been a blessing to have our community out and about during the summer and to learn more about the people that live here. Hopefully this will help and encourage us to continue connecting with people through out the year.