Simple does not = easy

Well, it has been a good trip so far. We visited a church last night that has a homeless shelter in their building that houses about 35 residents. They also have a congregation of 1500 so yeah, they have tons of cash. The highlight was playing volleyball with some of the residents and volunteers. It was a good time. The church itself used to be a school and they built a huge auditorium for their sanctuary, complete with movie theater seats and 'rock star' lighting.

I have mixed feelings about that, especially when they said they've been having trouble finding actual volunteers to do the hands-on part of things. I guess it was just a reminder as to how ignorant and individualistic we can be, with myself being no exception. Maybe I saw a reflection of my inner self. But when we're told to be all we can be, to go and make something of our lives, to work hard and succeed, how do you expect someone to sacrifice their time and money (the two things needed for worldly success) in order to help those in need?

And I don't buy this whole business that everyone needs Jesus equally so it's irrelevant where we put a church and we should just focus on the community our church is in, regardless of what that community looks like. Maybe everyone needs a relationship with God so as to understand their true identity and experience the kind of love that leads to real life. Sure. But not everyone has the same physical or emotional or even spiritual needs. Nor is everyone equally recognizing of their needs. Maybe everyone needs to hear the same message but there is obviously a reason why Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God and I don't think it was because wealth means you are evil and selfish.

I can't help but see our capitalistic and consumptive society as a very direct barrier to discipleship, to following Christ and discovering our most real humanity in love and compassion, justice and peace. And really, you can't even end it there because not only does our society act as a stumbling stone to many but it is also a rock that crushes the poor and oppressed. I feel only marginally more educated about the complexities of poverty and homelessness but recognizing some of these complexities has been very significant. There are so many systems in place in our country to help those in need and yet these very systems can easily become tools to keep people in their broken conditions, holding them back from ever escaping without the help of actual human beings who care.

Relationship.

As much as I don't like to hear it or say it or accept it, relationship is the fundamental building block for real change and transformation in people's lives. God does what God does and yet much of that is done that leads to hope and freedom comes through the deliberate acts of us people. Why? I don't know. Don't ask me.

Relationships are not going to fix the systemic inequalities and hindrances that exist but they need to be the start. Knowing people who are suffering in addiction, poverty, mental illness, etc., is the fuel for our passion. These people have names and faces and without taking hold of that we're simply working for ghosts and it's very easy to give up on working on behalf of ghosts.

After all, who really believes in ghosts?