Finding Your Calcutta...

Last Summer I had the privilege of going to the Icthus festival in Ky. I love these kinds of events, and really like being there amongst all the musicians and artists.

Last year, however, I had this huge jolt that sort of turned me off. One of the bands there was this band called the Psalters. Really hippy kinda stuff, very outside the mainstream. I really respect that, I liked their music and in general think that a lot of us could learn much about living a life of simplicity and living a Jesus centered life. What I didn't like was their judgement spewed out towards the kids who were there. In general they said something along these lines: "If you don't life this kind of life...the life of chosen poverty, you do not follow Jesus".

What a load of Crap!!

I understand in essence, and agree with the substance of what they are saying...namely that when Jesus came to earth he identified and lived amongst (for the most part) with those who were marginalized. But I reject what they say is the next step, giving everything away and living the chosen life of poverty.

Some would say, "well didn't Jesus tell the rich young ruler to sell everything he owned...didn't Jesus say that he could not follow him unless he did that?"
Yes, he did say that...

But I would ask this: Well, then why did Jesus not ask Zaccheus to leave his job as a tax collector? He didn't did he?

Point is, God leads everyone along their individual path into the kind of community he wants them to serve in.

This experience with the Psalters left a bad taste in my mouth, and anytime I ever hear or read of people endeavoring to live a simpler way so that they can more readily identify with the poor, I get leary.

It was refreshing then, last night to hear Shane Claiborne author of "The Irresistible Revolution" talk about how everyone needs to find their own Calcutta.

I will share some really cool quotes in a minute, but before that let me give a comment.

In finding your own Calcutta, Shane suggests that everyone has one step out of their comfort zone that they can take but that this step doesn't mean we disregard our safety, or the safety of our families and children, or even the safety and security of our way of life. All of those things are things that we can still take into account as we listen for the prompting of the spirit to lead. His point was "It's not how much we do, or even what we do that matters, it's how much love we put into it while doing it that matters." So everyone can take steps towards identifying with the poor and the marginalized, everyone can take a radical step of faith, but that doesn't mean that if you don't sell everything and give to the poor, that you are not a Christ follower. Some will be called to do that because that is the one thing that keeps them from fully following Christ. But others are rich, filthy stinking rich, and still follow Christ fully.

Ok some cool quotes:

Jesus never talked to a prostitute, cuz He never saw a prostitute...only a child that God loves.

What was amazing about Jesus was not the power behind the miracles, but the love behind Jesus.

We don't start with what we do...we start with who we are.

We can't talk about the good news without talking about the bad news.

Jesus is calling us out into the world so that we may find Him.

How can you rightly preach against homosexuality if you don't know any?

The only place in the world where community is counter cultural is in the US