Called To Independence

In his own autobiography Ralph W. Beiting comes to grips with poverty and welfare. His fundamental stance in reaching out to the impoverished is that God has called each one of us to independence and not dependence. Many might disagree with his system of values, but he insists that this sense of calling comes from his many decades of working with the poor in Appalachia. Listen to his clarion call to the sound of independence:

“Welfare was sure. It came every month on the same day. Welfare was safe. Safe is not always good—not when it leads to dependence and despair. I don’t believe God created us to play it safe. He wants us to be explorers, dreamers, mountain climbers”(Called to the Mountains, page 25).

His observation may fly in the face of conventional wisdom. However, we all know the problem of providing safety nets for children, etc., that require no accountability and provide no opportunities for initiative. What should the Christian’s attitude be toward government welfare? Allow me to give some broad sweeping answers that of course will vary depending on the urgency of the circumstances.

1.   First, welfare fundamentally speaks about a person’s well-being.

2.   Secondly, welfare as originally conceived was never thought of as being a permanent solution.

3.   Third, when welfare creates dependency and destroys initiative it has ceased being welfare.

4.   Fourth, when welfare is offered in true circumstances of need there is no place for judgmentalism.

5.   Fifth, from the Christian perspective, welfare is always offered from a heart of compassion.

6.   Sixth, the church is in the business of helping others where necessary to enable them to come off welfare.

7.   Seventh, welfare is often needed because innocent children are involved.

I am wondering one thing though…if welfare assistance disappeared overnight, would the church be poised to step in and provide necessary support from the stance of compassion, accountability and Christian well-being?

In Christian love, Curtis 

Called As a Child

Ralph W. Beiting is his book, Called to the Mountains, talks about his early childhood memories. He fondly remembers his large family of aunts and uncles. He also remembers the daily routines that his father and mother established for their own home. It is in this familial context that he says, “In this enormous family I always felt safe, loved and cherished”(page 8).

         

          One of the greatest needs of our day is for children to be in family settings where all three of these gifts are bestowed upon them by parents. When a child grows up in a home where all 3 characteristics are present on a daily basis, then the child grows into a healthy adult.

          Is it important for children to feel safe at home? In view of the formative years that children go through at home, this is an important question. Feeling safe at home entails freedom from all sorts of abuses. This eliminates physical, mental and emotional abuse. It means that parents help eliminate bullying and sibling rivalry, etc. The world is unsafe enough without the home feeling unsafe also. Home is where  children should feel safe to express their fears, doubts, struggles and questions with moms and dads they can trust.

          Is it important for children to feel loved at home? In the context of discipline, day to day activities and interaction with parents this is vital. Child developmental psychologists remind us that children have different developmental needs, and that how those specific needs are addressed contributes to a child’s feeling loved. This becomes the bedrock of their self-esteem.

          Is it important for children to feel cherished at home? What does it mean to “feel cherished at home?” This includes parents helping their children feel special for who they are. Their innate abilities and their very personhood is appreciated. Some children need to hear this verbally. Maybe ALL children do! Words of appreciation and actions of being cherished are stamped forever on pliable hearts.

It seems that when parents provide a family home where the atmosphere is characterized by safety, love and appreciation a child is launched out into the world as a young adult with wings beneath their wings! What are your thoughts?

In Christian love, Curtis

Called to the Mountains

 

This is the title of an autobiography that I read during my vacation. Ralph W. Beiting tells some of his own life’s story and the founding of the Christian Appalachian Project. It was a paperback and not on my Kindle! Each chapter began with the word “called.” I am going to post on my blog for a while excerpts, ideas, and my own responses to this delightful book.

In 1964 Beiting founded the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). Its stated purpose (quoting from his own autobiography) was, “…Offering long-term, self-help solutions to the problems that hold Appalachia’s people back, CAP gives the poor a chance to work themselves out of poverty.” [Preface]

I cannot imagine spending a lifetime working with the poor and trying to alleviate poverty. This would be indeed a special calling, and Ralph W. Beiting’s story is his response to such a calling. The first chapter is entitled: “Prologue: Called to the Mountains.” It is in these initial few pages that he has the following wonderful passage about growing older:

“We often think that the future is the focus of the young, but the young live for the present. When you get to be my age (I think he was 70 when he wrote this), you think about the future and what lies ahead. I have never felt as frail as I do at this point in my life. Getting old is not tragedy. It means, after all, that with every day I grow closer to meeting God in heaven” (page 3).

What an admirable and beautiful way to see getting older! The aches and pains provide the context for our vocabulary and narratives we share back and forth. And I suppose misery loves company, and shared misery is half the misery of getting older!

However, may we never forget two things that Beiting points out here:

1. Growing older is not a tragedy. It is a blessing. Each day becomes more precious and each relationship more sacred as time goes by!


2. Every day we grow closer to meeting God in heaven. We cannot even imagine the joy of being in the Divine Presence forever!

It was interesting to me that Beiting’s example demonstrates that having a passionate calling here and now gives meaning and purpose to the process of getting older. Yes, the “ravages of time” rage on. But, the purpose of eternity blooms and blossoms in our hearts as we passionately respond to the calling that God has laid on each of our hearts. May we be true to that individual calling!

In Christian love, Curtis

Love Wins (8)

 

Chapter 8 of Rob Bell’s book, Love Wins, is entitled “The End is Here.” Bell begins this chapter by telling the story of his childhood conversion and prayer. He concludes it by saying…

“I tell you that story because I believe that the indestructible love of God is an unfolding, dynamic reality and that every single one of us is endlessly being invited to trust, accept, believe, embrace and experience it. Whatever words you find helpful for describing this act of trust, Jesus invites us to say yes to this love of God, again and again and again.” [Kindle, location 94%]

After reading this comment I think I now know why Bell and I are on opposite pages. His claim throughout the book is basically that the “hell” we experience is of our own making because we do not claim the indestructible love of God for ourselves.

What Rob Bell misunderstands is that when individuals reject the invitation “to trust, accept, believe, embrace and experience” the love of God, there are eternal consequences set in place by God. Not everyone is going to accept that divine invitation.

I totally understand Bell’s angst. I think every thoughtful and respectful Christian agonizes over the reality that not all people are going to accept the invitation of the “indestructible love of God.” But our agony cannot determine the divine response to sin and broken relationships with God.

Yes, Jesus invites us to “yes” to the love of God, again and again and again!” We all believe that! What we do not believe is that a rejection of that invitation carries only consequences here and now of our own misery and making.

I am glad that I ordered this book on my Kindle and have spent the last 8 weeks reading it for the following reasons:

1. It helps me understand where the younger generation is coming from with an almost disdain for traditional ways of thinking and articulating the Christian faith.


2. It helps me understand how people are trying to make the Bible concept of hell more palatable.


3. It helps me understand how individuals view Scripture, not as much as authoritatively transforming and defining their lives, but rather a jumping off place for creating one’s theology for the world.


4. It helps me be aware of how vigorous and vital theological discussions are in our culture right now!


5. It helps me appreciate the effort to wrestle with the deepest issues of life and destiny.


6. It helps me appreciate my own theological journey and formulations.


7. It helps me realize that someone needs to write a serious response to this book.


8. It helps me pray for Christians who are getting lost in the ideological, cultural and spiritual landscape, groping for something to say that will be palatable for all.


9. It helps me re-evaluate my own faith. Why do I believe what I believe?


10. It helps me with a starting point for serious discussion with those who are reading and digesting Rob Bell’s book.


11. It helps me understand the emergent/emerging mindset and its reaction against traditional Christianity.


12. And, it helps me explore the most meaningful experiences and metaphors of my own Christian walk that I can share with others!

I am thankful that this book was written. I always applaud efforts of individuals who are trying to grapple with ways to articulate the good news in a world that is filled with so much bad news. Someone from a more traditional viewpoint of the Christian faith needs to write a response with the book title: “God Invites.” It is not about love winning. It is ultimately about God’s invitation and whether or not we accept it. If we accept it, it is good news. If we reject it, it is bad news.

In Christian love, Curtis