Part 11 (2/2)

Other organizations that train people for similar peacemaking ministries are Witness for Peace (witnessforpeace.org), Peace Brigades (peacebrigades.org), and Nonviolent Peace Force (nonviolentpeace force.org, though this latter group is not specifically Christian).

There are currently several thousand courageous souls who partic.i.p.ate in these global peacemaking ministries. But one wonders what would happen if there were several hundred hundred thousand such workers? What would happen if there were as many soldiers laying down their lives to fight for peace on behalf of the Kingdom of G.o.d as there are soldiers fighting violently on behalf of their particular version of the kingdom of the world? While it would certainly cost many Kingdom people their lives, I believe it would cost far less lives than the violent approach has proven to cost throughout history. thousand such workers? What would happen if there were as many soldiers laying down their lives to fight for peace on behalf of the Kingdom of G.o.d as there are soldiers fighting violently on behalf of their particular version of the kingdom of the world? While it would certainly cost many Kingdom people their lives, I believe it would cost far less lives than the violent approach has proven to cost throughout history.

Even if the peacemaking approach to conflict were not demonstrably successful in any particular conflict, it would still bear witness to the reality of the Kingdom that is ”not from this world.” By revolting against the ugliness of violence, it would manifest the beauty of the Jesus-way of living. And this is the one goal that must define the very being of all followers of Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER 9: THE REVOLT AGAINST SOCIAL OPPRESSION.

Return to the Source. We We cla.s.s cla.s.s-ify people because we're socially conditioned to do so. And we're socially conditioned because, on some level, it's how those who benefit from these cla.s.s divisions try to find Life. We will find it impossible to revolt against the Powers behind cla.s.sism unless we are getting our worth, significance, and security from Christ alone.

As in all matters pertaining to the Kingdom, it is vital that we return to the one true source of Life. In special times of prayer and throughout the day drink deeply from the bottomless well of G.o.d's love for you. Together with other Kingdom people you share life with, spend time in wors.h.i.+p and engage in the spiritual disciplines to help one another grow in your capacity to experience and be transformed by G.o.d's perfect, unwavering, unconditional love.

Process this chapter. Alone and with friends, prayerfully reflect on how this chapter impacted you. Did any of it make you feel hopeful and excited? Were there parts that surprised or offended you? Did this chapter challenge any a.s.sumptions you've had about social cla.s.ses and the call of the Kingdom to abolish them? Together with your small group, reflect on the extent to which your view of people is polluted by your social conditioning to cla.s.s-ify people. Alone and with friends, prayerfully reflect on how this chapter impacted you. Did any of it make you feel hopeful and excited? Were there parts that surprised or offended you? Did this chapter challenge any a.s.sumptions you've had about social cla.s.ses and the call of the Kingdom to abolish them? Together with your small group, reflect on the extent to which your view of people is polluted by your social conditioning to cla.s.s-ify people.

Live out the Jubilee Kingdom. Talk to G.o.d and your Kingdom community about how you can live free from cla.s.s judgment and manifest the cla.s.sless Jubilee Kingdom. Here are some suggestions: Talk to G.o.d and your Kingdom community about how you can live free from cla.s.s judgment and manifest the cla.s.sless Jubilee Kingdom. Here are some suggestions: Pray regularly for those oppressed by society's way of cla.s.sifying them. Pray regularly for those oppressed by society's way of cla.s.sifying them. Read and discuss with your small group books on the role cla.s.s plays in America and in the Church. (For suggested readings, see munity ways you can invite ”outcasts” into your lives by developing meaningful relations.h.i.+ps with them. Jesus said that when you host a feast, invite ”the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” (Luke 14:12 13). These were the beggars, misfits, and outcasts of first-century Jewish culture. Think about hosting a party and inviting people our society (and likely the church) tends to deem lower cla.s.s, misfits, and outcasts-people who may not have been invited to anyone's party for a long time. More broadly, discuss with your Kingdom community ways you can invite ”outcasts” into your lives by developing meaningful relations.h.i.+ps with them. If you live in a h.o.m.ogenous suburb, honestly reflect on why you do so and discuss this with your Kingdom community. Has G.o.d placed you there for Kingdom service? Or, perhaps influenced by a typical American mindset, do you live there simply because you prefer it and can afford it? If you suspect the latter, seek G.o.d's will for a clear Kingdom vision on where and how you're supposed to live. If you live in a h.o.m.ogenous suburb, honestly reflect on why you do so and discuss this with your Kingdom community. Has G.o.d placed you there for Kingdom service? Or, perhaps influenced by a typical American mindset, do you live there simply because you prefer it and can afford it? If you suspect the latter, seek G.o.d's will for a clear Kingdom vision on where and how you're supposed to live. If you are called to live in a h.o.m.ogenous suburb, consider ways you can alter your lifestyle to encounter and befriend people who are not ”in your cla.s.s.” Make adjustments in where you shop, go for coffee, get your car fixed, go for entertainment, and so on. Doing this will help you experience a life enriched by freedom from cla.s.s myopia. If you are called to live in a h.o.m.ogenous suburb, consider ways you can alter your lifestyle to encounter and befriend people who are not ”in your cla.s.s.” Make adjustments in where you shop, go for coffee, get your car fixed, go for entertainment, and so on. Doing this will help you experience a life enriched by freedom from cla.s.s myopia. Continually submit your time, money, and resources to the Lord as well as your small group to discern whether the amount you spend to support your lifestyle versus the amount you invest in the Kingdom is in accordance with his will. Continually submit your time, money, and resources to the Lord as well as your small group to discern whether the amount you spend to support your lifestyle versus the amount you invest in the Kingdom is in accordance with his will. Engage in ministries that cross cla.s.s lines. Together with friends, visit and befriend elderly people. Join a prison ministry. Partic.i.p.ate in inner-city youth ministries. Volunteer in soup kitchens or homeless shelters. Commit to volunteering at an inner-city church. Engage in ministries that cross cla.s.s lines. Together with friends, visit and befriend elderly people. Join a prison ministry. Partic.i.p.ate in inner-city youth ministries. Volunteer in soup kitchens or homeless shelters. Commit to volunteering at an inner-city church. If you are able to, go on regular short-term mission trips to serve impoverished neighborhoods or countries. If you are able to, go on regular short-term mission trips to serve impoverished neighborhoods or countries.

Help your church become a Jubilee Tribe. Talk to G.o.d and others about what your church can do to more faithfully and consistently revolt against the cla.s.sism of your culture and the Powers that fuel it. Here are some suggestions: Talk to G.o.d and others about what your church can do to more faithfully and consistently revolt against the cla.s.sism of your culture and the Powers that fuel it. Here are some suggestions: Once you've studied the role that cla.s.s plays in America and the Church, and have embarked on the journey of living free from cla.s.sism, offer to lead a book study or film-centered discussion on the issue. (A good film to launch a discussion with is Once you've studied the role that cla.s.s plays in America and the Church, and have embarked on the journey of living free from cla.s.sism, offer to lead a book study or film-centered discussion on the issue. (A good film to launch a discussion with is People Like Us. People Like Us. For suggested readings, see For suggested readings, see e only from what G.o.d thinks about us, as evidenced on Calvary. Like everything else the Kingdom revolts against, racism is a form of idolatry. We cannot hope to revolt against it and manifest the ”one new humanity” unless we are getting our Life from a source greater than our race. While it is healthy to feel good about our ethnicity and culture, as a Kingdom people, our ident.i.ty, worth, significance, and security must come only from what G.o.d thinks about us, as evidenced on Calvary.

Set aside special times to allow the Spirit to bring you into a vivid, concrete, imaginative encounter with the living Lord. See him, hear him, and sense him lavis.h.i.+ng his unsurpa.s.sable love, joy, and peace on you. Experience him telling you he's made you his own child and that his own joy is made complete in you (John 1:12; 15:11). Envision him delighting over you as he reminds you he's given you an eternal and infinitely rich inheritance and is conforming you to his likeness (Zephaniah 3:17; Ephesians 1:11, 18). Throughout each day remind yourself of these truths and give thanks that your ident.i.ty is found in Christ and nothing else. Have regular times of wors.h.i.+ping with the small group of disciples you share life with in which, together, you experience the abundant Life that flows from G.o.d.

Process this chapter. Reflect on and discuss with friends what impacted you most in this chapter. Were there sections that made you feel hopeful and excited? Were there sections that made you feel angry, guilty, offended, scared, confused, or hopeless? Did this chapter challenge a.s.sumptions you've had about race or about racial reconciliation? Reflect on and discuss with friends what impacted you most in this chapter. Were there sections that made you feel hopeful and excited? Were there sections that made you feel angry, guilty, offended, scared, confused, or hopeless? Did this chapter challenge a.s.sumptions you've had about race or about racial reconciliation?

Cultivate cross-cultural relations.h.i.+ps. If you do not have meaningful relations.h.i.+ps with people whose ethnicity is different from your own, talk to G.o.d and your friends about what you can do to begin to cultivate such relations.h.i.+ps. Here are a few suggestions: If you do not have meaningful relations.h.i.+ps with people whose ethnicity is different from your own, talk to G.o.d and your friends about what you can do to begin to cultivate such relations.h.i.+ps. Here are a few suggestions: Go out of your way to cultivate friends.h.i.+ps with people in your neighborhood who are ethnically different from yourself. Go out of your way to cultivate friends.h.i.+ps with people in your neighborhood who are ethnically different from yourself. If you live in a h.o.m.ogenous neighborhood, go to more diverse neighborhoods to shop, get coffee, have your hair cut, get your car fixed, and so on. If you're white and live in a mostly white suburb, prayerfully reflect on whether you live there because it suits your personal preference or whether you believe G.o.d If you're white and live in a mostly white suburb, prayerfully reflect on whether you live there because it suits your personal preference or whether you believe G.o.d wants wants you to live there. (I'm not trying to hint that living in white suburbs is against G.o.d's will. I'm simply suggesting we all need to seek G.o.d's will on where and how we live.) you to live there. (I'm not trying to hint that living in white suburbs is against G.o.d's will. I'm simply suggesting we all need to seek G.o.d's will on where and how we live.) Revolt against racism. Prayerfully dialogue with those you fellows.h.i.+p with about what you can do together to revolt against racism and better manifest the ”one new humanity” of the Kingdom. Here are some suggestions for you and your small group to consider: Prayerfully dialogue with those you fellows.h.i.+p with about what you can do together to revolt against racism and better manifest the ”one new humanity” of the Kingdom. Here are some suggestions for you and your small group to consider: Pray for people who are oppressed by racism in America and around the globe. Pray for people who are oppressed by racism in America and around the globe. Educate yourself. Read up on the realities of ongoing racism. (For suggested readings, see ). ( saltermcneil.com). Offer to lead a book study and discussion group on the topic of racial reconciliation at your church or offer to sponsor a racial-reconciliation film viewing and discussion group. (A great one to start with is The Color of Fear, The Color of Fear, put out by Stir Fry Productions.) put out by Stir Fry Productions.) Encourage the leaders.h.i.+p of your church to prayerfully consider moving toward more ethnically diverse forms of wors.h.i.+p. If there are people from different ethnic groups in the neighborhood of your church, encourage your leaders to take particular care to incorporate their cultural music into some of your wors.h.i.+p. Encourage the leaders.h.i.+p of your church to prayerfully consider moving toward more ethnically diverse forms of wors.h.i.+p. If there are people from different ethnic groups in the neighborhood of your church, encourage your leaders to take particular care to incorporate their cultural music into some of your wors.h.i.+p. If there are people from different ethnic groups in your church's neighborhood, ask them how your church could welcome and serve them. If there are some for whom English is a second language, encourage the leaders.h.i.+p to consider making signs inside and outside your church bilingual. If the need is present in your community, consider helping your church develop an ESL (English as a Second Language) program. If there are people from different ethnic groups in your church's neighborhood, ask them how your church could welcome and serve them. If there are some for whom English is a second language, encourage the leaders.h.i.+p to consider making signs inside and outside your church bilingual. If the need is present in your community, consider helping your church develop an ESL (English as a Second Language) program. Encourage the leaders.h.i.+p of your church to enter into mutually beneficial relations.h.i.+ps with churches whose ethnic makeup is different from your own. If you have been regularly volunteering at a church that is racially different from your own, offer to help make this opportunity available to others in the congregation. Encourage the leaders.h.i.+p of your church to enter into mutually beneficial relations.h.i.+ps with churches whose ethnic makeup is different from your own. If you have been regularly volunteering at a church that is racially different from your own, offer to help make this opportunity available to others in the congregation. Finally if the leaders.h.i.+p of your congregation refuses to move forward on these issues, prayerfully consider the possibility that G.o.d would lead you to join a congregation that Finally if the leaders.h.i.+p of your congregation refuses to move forward on these issues, prayerfully consider the possibility that G.o.d would lead you to join a congregation that is is pa.s.sionate about them. (Think about it. Would you attend a church that refused to preach that Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins? Jesus died to reconcile the races within his Kingdom community as well.) pa.s.sionate about them. (Think about it. Would you attend a church that refused to preach that Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins? Jesus died to reconcile the races within his Kingdom community as well.)

CHAPTER 11: THE REVOLT AGAINST POVERTY AND GREED.

Return to the Source. We h.o.a.rd resources when we view them as a source of Life. We cannot manifest the beauty of G.o.d's outrageous generosity and revolt against greed as long as we're entrapped by this idolatry. So again, return to the true source of Life and get your worth, significance, and security from what G.o.d thinks about you, as evidenced by Calvary. Set aside times in which you bask in G.o.d's love for you. Imaginatively see, hear, and sense Jesus reminding you that you are filled with all the fullness of G.o.d (Ephesians 3:19) and that you have an infinitely rich inheritance awaiting you (Ephesians 1). Remind yourself of these truths throughout the day and enjoy the freedom from things that this experience and ongoing awareness of G.o.d's love gives you. We h.o.a.rd resources when we view them as a source of Life. We cannot manifest the beauty of G.o.d's outrageous generosity and revolt against greed as long as we're entrapped by this idolatry. So again, return to the true source of Life and get your worth, significance, and security from what G.o.d thinks about you, as evidenced by Calvary. Set aside times in which you bask in G.o.d's love for you. Imaginatively see, hear, and sense Jesus reminding you that you are filled with all the fullness of G.o.d (Ephesians 3:19) and that you have an infinitely rich inheritance awaiting you (Ephesians 1). Remind yourself of these truths throughout the day and enjoy the freedom from things that this experience and ongoing awareness of G.o.d's love gives you.

Process this chapter. Together with your small group reflect on how this chapter impacted you. Did it convict, surprise, encourage, or discourage you? Reflect on your life in light of what you've learned. Do you feel you are following G.o.d's will in how you steward his resources? Are you reflecting his heart for the poor in how you spend your time and money? In what ways have you been influenced by the consumer culture of greed and the Powers that fuel it? If you and your Kingdom community were not disciples of Jesus, how would you spend your time and money differently than you now do? Together with your small group reflect on how this chapter impacted you. Did it convict, surprise, encourage, or discourage you? Reflect on your life in light of what you've learned. Do you feel you are following G.o.d's will in how you steward his resources? Are you reflecting his heart for the poor in how you spend your time and money? In what ways have you been influenced by the consumer culture of greed and the Powers that fuel it? If you and your Kingdom community were not disciples of Jesus, how would you spend your time and money differently than you now do?

Live out the generous Kingdom. Talk to G.o.d and those you're in community with about what steps you can take to more perfectly manifest the beauty of G.o.d's generous Kingdom and his heart for the poor. Here are a few suggestions for you and your community of fellow disciples to consider: Talk to G.o.d and those you're in community with about what steps you can take to more perfectly manifest the beauty of G.o.d's generous Kingdom and his heart for the poor. Here are a few suggestions for you and your community of fellow disciples to consider: Pray for the poor, especially those geographically closest to you. As you do this, repeatedly surrender all your possessions and money over to G.o.d. Let G.o.d reign over everything in your life, including your wallet and your possessions.

Budget! A high percentage of Americans don't really know where their money goes. Remember that ”your” money is really Budget! A high percentage of Americans don't really know where their money goes. Remember that ”your” money is really G.o.d's G.o.d's money-and you're his steward! Tally how much you spend on yourself versus how much you use to further the Kingdom and help the poor. Then enter into a dialogue with your Kingdom community and seek their help in discerning if the way you spend time and money is in accordance with G.o.d's will. money-and you're his steward! Tally how much you spend on yourself versus how much you use to further the Kingdom and help the poor. Then enter into a dialogue with your Kingdom community and seek their help in discerning if the way you spend time and money is in accordance with G.o.d's will. If you live in a wealthy neighborhood, prayerful reflect on and discuss with others why you do so. Perhaps G.o.d has placed you there for Kingdom service, but perhaps you are living there simply because you like it and can afford it. That is normal for non-Kingdom people, but not for followers of Jesus. Seek G.o.d's will about where and how you're supposed to live. If you live in a wealthy neighborhood, prayerful reflect on and discuss with others why you do so. Perhaps G.o.d has placed you there for Kingdom service, but perhaps you are living there simply because you like it and can afford it. That is normal for non-Kingdom people, but not for followers of Jesus. Seek G.o.d's will about where and how you're supposed to live. Wherever G.o.d has called you to live, seek his wisdom about how you can live more frugally and simply. It's okay to enjoy nonessential things G.o.d has blessed you with, but when we acquire or cling to things on the basis of our own preferences, they inhibit our capacity to manifest the beauty of the outrageously generous Kingdom. Seek the wisdom of your Kingdom community as you honestly ask yourself whether you're supposed to be ”enjoying” that boat, cottage, or extra car. Are you supposed to have all those shoes and clothes? Many people testify that they've discovered a much greater depth of love, joy, and peace by dumping many of the ”extras” and by living more simply. Wherever G.o.d has called you to live, seek his wisdom about how you can live more frugally and simply. It's okay to enjoy nonessential things G.o.d has blessed you with, but when we acquire or cling to things on the basis of our own preferences, they inhibit our capacity to manifest the beauty of the outrageously generous Kingdom. Seek the wisdom of your Kingdom community as you honestly ask yourself whether you're supposed to be ”enjoying” that boat, cottage, or extra car. Are you supposed to have all those shoes and clothes? Many people testify that they've discovered a much greater depth of love, joy, and peace by dumping many of the ”extras” and by living more simply. Whenever you consider purchasing an unnecessary item, ask yourself, ”Who might need this money more than I need this item?” If a person or a cause comes to mind, consider the possibility that G.o.d might be calling you to forgo the unnecessary item for the sake of that person or cause. If you are called to live in a wealthy neighborhood, consider ways you can alter your lifestyle so as to enter into meaningful relations.h.i.+ps with the poor. Whenever you consider purchasing an unnecessary item, ask yourself, ”Who might need this money more than I need this item?” If a person or a cause comes to mind, consider the possibility that G.o.d might be calling you to forgo the unnecessary item for the sake of that person or cause. If you are called to live in a wealthy neighborhood, consider ways you can alter your lifestyle so as to enter into meaningful relations.h.i.+ps with the poor. If you're a westerner-and especially if you're an American-you live in a consumer culture that brainwashes people into believing they If you're a westerner-and especially if you're an American-you live in a consumer culture that brainwashes people into believing they need need to consume things to be happy and fulfilled. Learn about this consumer culture and seek out ways you can break free from it. A good place to start is watching a short video called to consume things to be happy and fulfilled. Learn about this consumer culture and seek out ways you can break free from it. A good place to start is watching a short video called The Story of Stuff The Story of Stuff at at storyofstuff.com. storyofstuff.com. Read up on poverty in your own country and around the world and process what you can learn with Kingdom people you share life with. (For suggested readings, see munity that is relatively isolated from poverty, consider partnering with a faith community located in a poorer neighborhood. As in the previous chapter, join with your small group and/ or your church to host a party in which you invite ”the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” (Luke 14:12 13). If you're part of a faith community that is relatively isolated from poverty, consider partnering with a faith community located in a poorer neighborhood. Go on short term mission trips to serve impoverished neighborhoods or in Third World countries. This is especially important for people who live in isolated wealthy communities since one can't be adequately impacted by poverty from lectures, books, or movies. One has to smell it, taste it, touch it, and breathe it. Go on short term mission trips to serve impoverished neighborhoods or in Third World countries. This is especially important for people who live in isolated wealthy communities since one can't be adequately impacted by poverty from lectures, books, or movies. One has to smell it, taste it, touch it, and breathe it. Volunteer regularly at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Go through your wardrobe and take out everything you haven't worn in the last twelve months and donate it to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or another recycling clothing outlet that offers affordable or free clothes to the poor. Volunteer regularly at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Go through your wardrobe and take out everything you haven't worn in the last twelve months and donate it to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or another recycling clothing outlet that offers affordable or free clothes to the poor. If you can afford to do so, consider adopting an orphan from a Third World country. If you can afford to do so, consider adopting an orphan from a Third World country. Whenever possible, purchase Fair Trade products. These are imported products for which a portion of the profit is reinvested in the economy of the impoverished community that helped produce the product. Unless specifically led by G.o.d to do so, I discourage people from giving to panhandlers. True, Jesus told us to give to everyone who asks (Luke 6:30), but this doesn't mean we have to give them precisely what they ask for. Statistically, it's likely you're helping support habits and activities that are helping to keep these people in poverty. Instead, I recommend taking strangers who approach you out to eat or to a grocery store. (One has to be wise about safety issues, of course.) Or consider carrying gift certificates to local eating establishments that you can offer people when they approach you for money. Unless specifically led by G.o.d to do so, I discourage people from giving to panhandlers. True, Jesus told us to give to everyone who asks (Luke 6:30), but this doesn't mean we have to give them precisely what they ask for. Statistically, it's likely you're helping support habits and activities that are helping to keep these people in poverty. Instead, I recommend taking strangers who approach you out to eat or to a grocery store. (One has to be wise about safety issues, of course.) Or consider carrying gift certificates to local eating establishments that you can offer people when they approach you for money. As discussed in chapter 6, as you pray blessings on people, be sensitive to the Spirit possibly leading you to engage in a random act of generosity. As discussed in chapter 6, as you pray blessings on people, be sensitive to the Spirit possibly leading you to engage in a random act of generosity. One of the best ways to help people in Third World countries is by extending them short-term loans to establish businesses. This is a relatively inexpensive way to make an enormous, lifelong difference in the lives of impoverished individuals and their families. For more information, see One of the best ways to help people in Third World countries is by extending them short-term loans to establish businesses. This is a relatively inexpensive way to make an enormous, lifelong difference in the lives of impoverished individuals and their families. For more information, see kiva.org/index.php. kiva.org/index.php. If you partic.i.p.ate in the political process, make poverty a primary issue in a.s.sessing the candidates and parties you support.

Help your church manifest the generous Kingdom. Talk to G.o.d and others about what your church can do to better revolt against the Powers that fuel greed and poverty, and what you can do to more thoroughly manifest the beauty of G.o.d's generous Kingdom. Here are some suggestions: Talk to G.o.d and others about what your church can do to better revolt against the Powers that fuel greed and poverty, and what you can do to more thoroughly manifest the beauty of G.o.d's generous Kingdom. Here are some suggestions: Pray and think about whether your church looks like a ”giant Jesus” in its relations.h.i.+p with the poor. What can you and others in your congregation do to help it become more like a collective Jesus in this area? Pray and think about whether your church looks like a ”giant Jesus” in its relations.h.i.+p with the poor. What can you and others in your congregation do to help it become more like a collective Jesus in this area? Does your church's budget reflect G.o.d's heart for the poor? If it doesn't, use whatever influence you have to help make alleviating poverty a higher priority. Does your church's budget reflect G.o.d's heart for the poor? If it doesn't, use whatever influence you have to help make alleviating poverty a higher priority. Learn what your church is doing for the poor and become part of it. If it's doing little, talk to the leaders.h.i.+p about starting a ministry to the poor. Learn what your church is doing for the poor and become part of it. If it's doing little, talk to the leaders.h.i.+p about starting a ministry to the poor. Volunteer to lead a book or film discussion group on poverty. A small group curriculum many churches have found helpful in waking Christians up to the biblical call to care for the poor is Volunteer to lead a book or film discussion group on poverty. A small group curriculum many churches have found helpful in waking Christians up to the biblical call to care for the poor is Compa.s.sion By Command ( pa.s.s...o...b..command.com). Compa.s.sion By Command ( pa.s.s...o...b..command.com). If you're in a suburban church, encourage the leaders.h.i.+p of your church to enter into mutually beneficial mutually beneficial partners.h.i.+ps with inner-city churches and volunteer to partic.i.p.ate. partners.h.i.+ps with inner-city churches and volunteer to partic.i.p.ate. Encourage the leaders.h.i.+p to enter into relations.h.i.+ps with other churches in your community to match resources and talents in the various churches with the needs in your community. A great ministry that helps churches around America do this is Encourage the leaders.h.i.+p to enter into relations.h.i.+ps with other churches in your community to match resources and talents in the various churches with the needs in your community. A great ministry that helps churches around America do this is Love in the Name of Christ Love in the Name of Christ (Love INC). For information, go to (Love INC). For information, go to loveinc.org. loveinc.org. As with all other areas that are central to the Kingdom revolution, if the leaders.h.i.+p of your church refuses to make confronting greed and poverty a high priority, prayerfully consider with your small group whether in fact this is the larger church body G.o.d is calling you to align with. As with all other areas that are central to the Kingdom revolution, if the leaders.h.i.+p of your church refuses to make confronting greed and poverty a high priority, prayerfully consider with your small group whether in fact this is the larger church body G.o.d is calling you to align with.

CHAPTER 12: THE REVOLT AGAINST THE ABUSE OF CREATION.

Return to the Source. We mistreat the land and the animals entrusted to us primarily because we are self-oriented idolaters. To the extent that we are not full of the Life that comes from G.o.d alone, we tend to a.s.sign to nature only whatever value it has for We mistreat the land and the animals entrusted to us primarily because we are self-oriented idolaters. To the extent that we are not full of the Life that comes from G.o.d alone, we tend to a.s.sign to nature only whatever value it has for us. us. Trees become little more than potential houses and paper while animals become little more than potential food and profits. We can only be freed to experience and appreciate the Trees become little more than potential houses and paper while animals become little more than potential food and profits. We can only be freed to experience and appreciate the intrinsic intrinsic value of nature and animals when we are freed from this idolatrous self-focus. value of nature and animals when we are freed from this idolatrous self-focus.

I encourage you, therefore, to continually return to the true source of Life. Spend time basking in G.o.d's love for you. Experience his reminders that you are perfectly justified by his grace (Romans 5:1), freed from all condemnation (Romans 8:1), blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3), and are made to be his partner in caring for the earth. Together with your community of Jesus followers, engage in spiritual disciplines by which you help one another increasingly deepen

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