It has always been a challenge for me to read a book in which I find an opinion different from my own. On the other hand I believe it is important that I read such books because they help me to see a different perspective. But for the first time I am leading a study on a book that some might call controversial. Now this is really a stretch for me as well as for the people in the study.
I have discovered that many times we only read the writings of those who reflect our opinion and there by reinforce what we already are sure about.
Some people have told me it is very dangerous to read books that propose an ideology that is different from one's own because they are proposing an incorrect view of things. I would agree such an approach is dangerous but to the extent one see the other side as having a point and one might actually end entering into dialogue with that person.
We are living in a world in which looks at ideas with the view my opinion is the only one that matters. The result is an increasing division between people of differing opinions. The result is we no longer listen to one another and we only time we speak to the other side is by shouting louder to be heard.
When I look at the opinions of others and really try to understand I see a person with rights and responsibilities, another human being, rather than see an obstacle to be overcome.
Although it may be difficult it is really worth the effort because in the end i grow closer to those around me.

Disturbing Trend

Some articles crossed my path recently which I feel need to be commented. Both of the articles concern the church and the trends that are finding their way into more and more congregations. The first one is congregations gone wild an op-ed article in the New York Times published on their opinion page August 7th. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/opinion/08macdonald.html?scp=1&sq=congregations%20gone%20wild&st=cse
You can read the entire article by clicking on the link.

I have found a great deal of truth in the article and find it to be a very disturbing trend. As one who is trying to lead a church through a transformation process and facing the issue that church is not always about being entertained or making me feel good I sense it is an uphill battle in particular when a number of people in the small congregation I serve focus on that type of message preached on television from a mega-church pastor. Is it any wonder local church pastors are dealing with burnout in greater and greater numbers because of the pressure to sell out to the popular message.

I have always found the message of the Gospel as one that has challenged and continued to challenge me toward transformation. The result is I see myself not as one who has arrived with a list of all the answers but as one who is in a constant process of becoming a more committed follower of Jesus.

The second article was one someone posted from Harper's. http://www.harpers.org/archive/2005/08/0080695 This article by Bill Mckibben talks about our country in while claiming to be a Christian Nation we really do not understand or follow the teachings of Jesus. The tendency is to live by a Benjamin Franklin quote: "God helps those who help themselves" and take it as gospel when in fact the statement is in direct opposition to the teaching of Jesus who commanded us to care for the poor, the widow and the orphan.

A third article is not about the church per se but is about the attitude of our country in general. Again it an op-ed piece from the NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/09/opinion/09krugman.html

Our rich history as a nation we have been the leader in many innovative areas. But today with the downturn in the economy and large unemployment numbers and and the troubles most local and state governments are having making end meet. The result is our infrastructure is crumbling. Examples in the article talk about roads being turned back to gravel, cities turning off every third street light in order to cut costs. All this while those in office are promising not to raise taxes to pay for such items like education, road repairs and the like.

Recently, I heard from a person who travels a great deal in my home state of Illinois. Drive in front of any school building and you will most likely see a sign that the state owes this district x number of dollars that have not been paid.

In the Kansas City area recently (where I currently reside) we made the national news by announcing we would be closing several schools in the district and laying off teachers. One such teacher a member of my congregation recently recieved a letter saying she was fired and the next day received a letter saying she was assigned to a school. Now this district has had major problems for years and has gone through several superintendents in the 20 years I have lived in the area. But school is starting next week and a lot of teachers still don't know if they have a job.

Now I done a lot of ranting and raving over these three articles but I believe there has to be a major position shift by the people leading this country. First we need to realize the first law of economics (as quoted by my economics prof. Dr. James V. Koch) "There is not such thing as a free lunch." The cost of everything has to be paid for by someone. If we want good schools we have to pay for them if we want good roads they again have to be paid for by us. It is time for us to step up and look at the level of greed in our country and do something about it. Rather than spending money on things we do not need we need to invest in others. I believe that is the only thing that will turn around our situation.