Subversive Christian Economics

I would like to return to a subject from a few posts ago. I believe that the modern market has become one of the leading disciplers of our culture - people and institutions make decisions now based on market sense - is it productive, profitable, and efficient. This business trinity has saturated our society (and we are trying to export it to the world) and in some ways the church.

Several people have inquired about what the church can do to respond to the market idol and its minions: individualism, consumerism, and materialism. Here is a short list of suggestions:

1. Subvert the marketing madness by consciously simplifying your lifestyle. Easier said than done I know, but there is great satisfaction in reclaiming simplicity. This may show up in not always needing things that are new - not always needing name brand - not always needing bigger things. (For instance, I just saw that Panasonic is coming out with a 102 inch TV that costs $70,000 ...tempting, but is it necessary)

Simplicity has been explained primarily as a personal discipline - but I would like to see some group try it in their church body.(There are groups doing this - you just don't hear much about it) What if a church body decided that they didn't need a 102 inch TV that costs $70,000 in order to be the church? What if a church decided that they did not need 7.9 million dollars worth of facilities, but was going to invest that money in kingdom initiatives instead?

2. Can we return to some sort of "Acts 2" economics? This giving and sharing as described by the early church would truly subvert our market mentality today. Possibly a church could develop a "co-op" where things are brought and shared - this cuts against individualism and the market that tries to make us believe that we have to buy things ourselves and own it. I suspect that much of the reason that we don't practice "giving and sharing" among the body is that we have most of our money going towards building and upkeep.

3. Some have suggested that returning to a "Sabbath" can be subversive to our current economic climate. What if a church decided to reclaim the day of worship as a time of rest and relationships. Not buying and selling on the Sabbath was originally intended as a statement that "I trust God to keep me even if I don't labor today - He will provide". What if a church tried to spend the day in community, rest, and worship and subverted desire by resting in God.

Here are a few ideas. I would love to hear more about individual ideas or church practices that help us keep our balance in the market-driven world.

Why I Don't Say the "Pledge of Allegiance" Anymore

I am hoping that this is not an argument starter. I don't intend it to be. And I must say from the beginning that I am not Anti-American - I am just more pro-Christ and his worldwide kingdom than I have ever been before. So here are a few points of why I have stopped saying the Pledge.

First, the pledge assumes that my highest allegiance will go to my country. Do I really pledge my "allegiance" to my country? Is this just another way of saying that "Caesar is Lord"? Does the pledge relativize my commitment as a Christian to Christ? Isn't the pledge competing for my allegiance that should only belong (in the ultimate sense) to Christ?

Second, the pledge reinforces boundaries that are nationally drawn. In other words, we are being asked to support "our" country. Doesn't this claim compete with the Christian claim that the "Body of Christ" knows no national boundaries? As William Cavanaugh points out in his great book, "Theopolitical Imagination", states tend to promote salvific myths about themselves. But it is only in the church that a truly transnational community can be developed.

Third, the pledge is used as propaganda to instill concepts of ultimate allegiance to the state. Ever wonder why the pledge is one of the first things you learn in school? I am told that after 9/11 many schools that had become complacent about the pledge in the mornings, have now redoubled efforts to make sure that the pledge is recited. This is another sign that the state is competing for absolute allegiance.

Fourth, the pledge adds confusion to the strange concept of a national God. "One nation, under God" sounds cool, but what does it mean really? Isn't it another attempt to state the myth that our nation is a Christian nation and somehow blessed of God more than most other nations? Isn't this just a step away from saying, "pledge your allegiance to our state, because we have God on our side".

Enough already..I simply want to end by restating a pledge that was written by June Yoder and J. Nelson Kraybill of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary as an alternative.

"I pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ,
and to God's Kingdom for which he died -
one Spirit-led people the world over,
indivisible, with love and justice for all.

Worship American Style

I just have to put down a few thoughts about this. Not that it surprises me - I fully expected it. As a matter of fact, a few years ago, I would have thought nothing of it. But now I am sensitive to it.

While vacationing in the great Smoky Mountains we were able to catch a few dinner shows in Pigeon Forge, TN. Great shows they were - but I had forgotten that July 4th was just last week. At both shows they obviously had added July 4th pieces. Both shows ended with Christian songs - one was "Mine Eyes Has Seen the Coming of the Glory of the Lord" - complete with military video on the screen. One shot was of an American soldier shooting a gun into a cave and leading those prisoners that were alive out in procession. It was a stunning display of American religion - Christian worship songs with the backdrop of American war planes and guns.

At the close of both shows, a huge American flag rolled slowly down across the back of the stage. You guessed it - everyone got up and gave a standing ovation. I stood there with mixed feelings - trying to feel proud of my country (which I am most of the time) yet trying to sort out the idolatry of our American religion which blends worship of the one true God that loves the whole world with American symbols that suggests that our country is somehow special to God.

Any comments? Any other stories of blended worship? (ie Christian worship with military overtones)?