Why we should seek out those with need in our churches and communities: “God’s pattern of mercy … Did Christ sit in heaven and wait for us to beg for his mercy? No, Christ sought us and found us” (Tim Keller)
To many the world is all slum, with the Workhouse as an intermediate purgatory before the grave.” (William Booth, 1890). So do the riots indicate similar levels of hope for the jobless millions whilst a Cabinet of Etonian Millionaires reduce the 50p tax, cancel Sure Start, and privatise the NHS? The disparity between the ruling elite and the other 99% worries me.
God’s kingdom within us bears a very different kind of behaviour to much of the world’s aggrandising drive!
“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.” (Lk 12:33)
We will fight the dirt all our lives and in the end we will be six feet under it! (George Whitfield)
So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. (1 Cor 15:42)
Plato - “How can a man be happy when he has to serve someone?’
Jesus - “I am among you as one who serves.” (Jesus - Lk 22:27)
Imp article from the Telegraph (yes Telegraph) - Read this prepare to fight for your NHS http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/9106880/Read-this-and-prepare-to-fight-for-your-NHS.html
By classifying the whole public sector pay discussion as “either protecting jobs or giving pay rises” Ed Milliband fails to give a context to this debate or sense of justice to the overall question of economic wealth in the country at the moment … and he is the leader of the ‘labour’ party. Expect coming public discontent and more right-wing crack-down on the ‘yobs’ who end-up protesting on the streets. Will be praying and reading the bible this week for a Godly perspective on all this.
Who is representing and advocating for the needs and interests of the masses, and pushing for a fair distribution of wealth and power?
When I read the labour party making comments like this, I see growing political disenfranchisement, and am concerned by seeds sown which will lead to injustice, fear, and public disorder.
It’s too easy to take sides with power and say there is no option because all the money has gone - but it’s never that simple, and that approach seems to lack the righteousness and justice that the church are called to seek and serve as followers of Jesus. The system seems to be rotten.
Read this to see how those with the multi-millions can negotiate the tricky tax brackets that the majority of the population fall into: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/dec/01/mystery-tony-blair-finances
polarised wealth in society - a cabinet of millionaires … http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/election/article-1280554/The-coalition-millionaires-23-29-member-new-cabinet-worth-1m—Lib-Dems-just-wealthy-Tories.html
a ‘labour party’ advocating a 2 year freeze of pay … http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16562966
This 2007 Rowntree report needs revisiting … http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/poverty-and-wealth-across-britain-1968-2005
We are a God-called movement to share the gospel, advocate for the poor, challenge injustice and demand righteousness in our laws and social and economic practice.
Do this, we are told in Isaiah, and the lights will turn on for both the church and the society. Currently it’s looking too dark - we must pray for courage to step out from the ‘safe’ place of hiding in the old structures of instituional power and let the church shine with the glory of God.
I’m not a fan of Joey Barton, but to clarify he asked a question and did not make a proposal - an interesting question to start a discussion
Under the duvet, watching Transformers with boys who are all up. Can someone please make me a cup of tea?
Touch, pause, engage. [pic] — http://t.co/W77LFtmZ
