Go. Do. Love.

When I let people know I am a seminary student I get many of the same responses and questions thrown at me. “Are you going to be a minister?” “What denomination are you?” “What do Episcopalians believe and aren’t they the ones that were affiliated with Henry the 8th”? After I have time to sum up in 20 words or less the answers to these (by the way I’m getting pretty good at it and almost have my summation down to 10 words) the person (in order to feel justified to this future “minister”) usually gives me a spill about the last time they went to church. The typical responses are: “I was raised FILL IN THE DENOMINATION BLANK but I’ve been attending the OTHER DENOMINATION church recently”. “I like the conservative churches”. “I like the liberal churches”. “I go to church for the music”. “I go to church for the preaching”. The interesting thing that these types of questions and the free information these persons are gladly providing to me is proof of an individualistic society and how church has become this way to many people. Church, to them, is a place where they only need to show up on Sunday and try to sneak in and out the door before being caught by a greeter or clergy member. Church becomes a place where they come to be inspired by the “great speaker”, “marvelous choir”, or “awesome youth program” and not pressured to give their money or time. God is happy they made it and are trying out church. God (and the preacher) know that they are “saved”. What else is there to do?
Essential Christianity is about showing up. It is about doing a job, serving in a community, and lifting others up all in the name of Christ’s love for his church and people. It is about hearing a dull sermon but volunteering your time to serve on a committee within the church body. It is about eating with the rich and the poor. It’s about praying to connect with something greater than your self. Essential Christianity is selfless love that the world cannot understand. It is not about satisfying your need to feel good by going through the motions of a Sunday church service. It is about showing up 6 other days out of the week with the love of Christ in your heart, mind and soul. There are too many examples of how today’s church is being outsourced to marketing firms, publishing houses, and television programs each with their own agenda and products to push. It is understandable that the church is old. The liturgy is old. The songs are old, but Jesus’ philosophy remains revolutionary, cutting edge, and life-changing. “Go.” “Do.” “Love”…these are Christ’s selfless and simplified commands.
The famous Rabbi Hillel was once asked to sum up the Torah while standing on one foot. He said, “What is harmful to you, do not do to others. This is the meaning of the whole Torah, and the rest is only commentary. Now go and study it.” Too often the commentary, the noise and the fan-fare is what we get caught up in. Essential Christianity is about avoiding these unnecessary distractions while promoting Christ’s philosophy through acts of selfless love. Now, “Go”. “Do”. “Love”…and study it.

Military Spending of the United States

“The World Bank estimates that, if countries improve their policies and institutions, the additional foreign aid required to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 is between $40-$60 billion a year” (http://topics.developmentgateway.org). Is the United States really trying? Consider this:

* “The United States spends more than the next 45 highest spending countries in the world combined.
* The United States accounts for 48 percent of the world's total military spending.
* The United States spends on its military 5.8 times more than China, 10.2 times more than Russia, and 98.6 times more than Iran.

The United States and its strongest allies (the NATO countries, Japan, South Korea and Australia) spend $1.1 trillion on their militaries combined, representing 72 percent of the world's total” (www.armscontrolcenter.org).

Out of School for the Summer

I finished up my first year of seminary. It has gone by very fast because I have been busy studying, reading, and writing which keeps me entertained quite nicely. As a treat, Ann and I went to Hilton Head and Charleston for a few days. I'm going down to Austin to see Bryce graduate from the University of Texas this weekend. When I get back I will be working at J. Crew over the summer and doing some yard work at the house. I'm also looking forward to reading some of the books I've been wanting to read and exploring some of the new ideas we touched on at Candler. Until next time, Brandon.