Incomplete Thoughts on Radical Living

This blog post won't be a completely thought out, but instead will be centered around my thought process as I work out and wrestle with what God is teaching me.

I'm listening to this Secret Church podcast (done by David Platt from the Church at Brook Hills) about Wealth, Possessions and Prosperity.  It is an incredibly convicting sermon on so very many levels.  I only get to listen to about 15 minutes at a time, but my heart and mind keep churning over the topics being presented.  At the beginning Platt talks about blind spots in our faith. He says that we all have blind spots, areas of sin we can't see clearly.  He gave the example of slavery; as Christians, we look back on the era of slavery in American history and wonder how on Earth Christ following people allowed and even justified this kind of atrocity against an entire race of people. Platt then went on to wonder if a few generations from now people will look at the wealth and prosperity of our generation with the same wondering question; how could people who believe in Jesus spend money so lavishly on themselves when other people around the world suffered from such poverty?  It's such a good question and this analogy just resonates in my heart.  What are we as American Christians doing to help a hurting world?

As Americans we are at the very least in the wealthiest 10% of the world, and if we make more than $50,000 a year we are amongst the wealthiest 1%.  I think it's easy for us to point a finger at those millionaires and say, "What are they doing about the poor and hungry?" But we are equally rich, what are WE doing about it?

Platt goes through the Old and New Testament pulling on the teachings of wealth throughout scripture, but he spends a lot of time on Jesus' teachings.  Jesus speaks so often on abandoning ourselves, leaving behind our old lives, loving Him extravagantly to the point that it looks like we hate the world.  Our living for Him should be sacrificial in nature. Our lives SHOULD look different than someone who isn't following Jesus.  Out of our love for Him, we should love others. And if we truly loved others, we would never let a single person go hungry. We would never let a man go without clothing or shelter.  We would forsake ourselves for others, and in those earthly sacrifices, Jesus says we will find eternal gain.  It's a wise investment as we let go of our money and possessions on this earth and instead invest in the eternal gain of loving others so extravagantly they can't help but know Jesus. And you know what? In the early church for a short time, no one in the church went hungry! (Acts 4:34 "For there was not a needy person among them...")

So as Herb and I sat down last night to create a budget based on our new income, I was torn.  We finally have a little wiggle room in our budget.  We can budget in things like eating out, fun activities for the kids, Starbucks.  Part of me was giddy with excitement.  I mean, I can buy Starbucks without a gift card?!?  That's pretty cool! But I continued to think, "How could I justify buying a cup of coffee when someone out there is going hungry?" And this really goes for anything, "How can I justify buying tickets to a baseball game when someone out there will not eat for the next 3 days?" "How can we justify saving for a trip to Disneyland when we could go feed bodies and souls that are hungry?"

So my question is--is Jesus calling me to live THIS radically?  Should I take any extraneous money in our budget and feed those who hunger?  Is it appropriate to buy my daughter a Halloween costume or should we set aside that money for taking meals to the homeless in parks in downtown Phoenix?

And honestly my mind keeps looking for an out.  I keep thinking, "Well how am I supposed to make friends if we can't go do things together?" Or "It's important for my kids to have these experiences, to share in the joy of dance lessons or Disneyland." Or "Maybe Jesus just meant when I see a need to give, not just to give always."  (The scary thing about that one--I don't allow myself to be in places where I see the need.  That's a whole different topic.) I also keep wanting to talk to people who I consider to be "strong believers" and have them talk me down from this crazy ledge.  Surely this isn't what Jesus meant! But I think it is.

I'm not a very possessions oriented person, so I thought this sermon series wouldn't challenge me as much as it has.  But what I am is an experience oriented person.  I want to spend my money on the experience of dining out, the experience of taking my kids to Disneyland, the experience of my kids opening gifts Christmas morning.  (With the Christmas season coming, my mind is continuing to race about this...)

Jesus is calling me to sacrifice, not out of guilt but out of love.  My heart should be moved with compassion and love to give to those in need, to willingly give up my cup of Starbucks to allow a child to eat another day.  It means setting aside myself for the sake of others.  It means selfless living, and selfless loving.  But am I willing to do it? That's the real question. And how do I include or not include my husband and children in that journey? Is my conviction one I need to impose on others?

My mind is racing with questions.  I'd love to hear your thoughts.  And I'd really love to see scripture included in your thoughts.  What does God say? I'm on a quest to discover that; I'll try to let you know what I find.