My Confession of Faith

Today’s Reading: Psalms 126-128; 1 Corinthians 10:19-33

I read Psalm 128 today and realized that it clearly articulates a lot of what I want for my life. This has become my confession of faith… the scripture I can use to speak my ideal future into existence.

Words are powerful. One of the most important parts of the creation story to me is that God spoke the universe into existence. He said “let there be light”, and there it was. In the book of John, Jesus is described as being the Word of God made flesh.

Most of us throw around our words carelessly but this is dangerous. The more that we speak with negativity the more negativity we will invite into our lives. Similarly, the more positively we speak the more positivity we will speak into our lives.

What do you want for your life? Who do you want to be? The first step toward being whom and where you want to be is to say it.

Choose your words wisely.

Psalm 128

1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
   who walk in obedience to him.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
   blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
   within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
   around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing
   for the man who fears the LORD.

5 May the LORD bless you from Zion;
   may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
   all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children—
   peace be on Israel.

The Critique Ain't New, But it Still Rings True

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13: 34-35

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 19-20; John 13:21-38

So the homie Yohance of Merc80.com sent me this link to the video below.

My first thought was damn… it’s a REALLY dope song. I love the message and I think that what Rhymefest is saying is on point. If one were to watch many of the ministers that you see on TV you get the sense that we can just pay for blessings. If we pray and ask God for what we want and pay the church their 10% then Boom! It’s all gravy baby!

This is not a new critique. This very real notion of selling blessings goes back to the selling of indulgences. Martin Luther did an even better job than Rhymefest on this issue back in 1517.

The critique is really really old.

But that makes me think about the passage above. Are folks who claim to be Christians really dedicated to loving those around them?

Ok true, the folks we see on TV are not a representation of all Christians but at the same time I’m sure you can dig what I’m talking about here. If love were at the forefront then there would be no room for these perceptions.

Personally, I’m getting tired of seeing songs and art and other forms of commentary like this. I’m not tired of it because it is offensive or wrong. I’m actually not offended at all.

I’m just tired that after hundreds of years of this same issue a talented artist like Rhymefest can make this point and it still rings true.

I guess that’s the thing with people. None of us are perfect. There will always be a select few who choose to pimp a good thing to their own benefit. It happens with every religion and system of thought really.

I’m just tired of it.

Dope song tho…

Ancient Advice for the World's Economic Woes

At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD's time for canceling debts has been proclaimed…

If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. – Excerpt from Deuteronomy 15: 1-11

What would the world would be like if we followed this policy?

Yes I know, there are some details to work out, but it is an interesting concept. If lenders knew that their loans would have a maximum term of seven years, after which the loan would be dissolved, how would that change lending practices?

It seems to me that folks would lend smaller amounts and there would be less money in the system. But that’s not really a bad thing is it? Money created by credit isn’t “real” money anyway. It is value created by trust in the borrower. And we saw in September of 2008 what happens when that trust goes away.

That fake credit money disappears.

One thing is certain here. We would be forced to live closer to our means. And on the flip side, there would be less incentive for the hustlers to get over on borrowers.

The other interesting part is the focus on helping the poor. It says “be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.”

Counterintuitive right?

Not necessarily. Muhammad Yunus and his bank won the 2006 Nobel Prize in Economics for his lending to the poor. He created micro loans that helped millions of Bangladeshis (mostly women) buy phones, cows, and the little things that they needed to get their small businesses started. One phone lending program had a 98% payback rate!

Often times the poor around us don’t need handouts, but just a little helping hand. However, it seems like we have a tendency to lend with so many strings attached that the borrower becomes a slave to the debt.

And before we pass too much judgment on banks let us not forget that we sometimes do this in our daily lives. Do you know someone who only gives when they know that they will get the same or more in return? This could be money but also time, favors, energy, help, or love…

Odds are that you do, and if you don’t, maybe that person is you… I know I have done this once or thrice.

But what’s the point of all of this? Why bring up this old scripture. Clearly it doesn’t fit today’s world right?

Maybe it does. The message of generosity, forgiveness, and redemption is a powerful one. If one banker in Bangladesh can improve the lives of six million people with an average loan of $200, what more can be done?

It looks like that old line about the mustard seed is true…

"I assure you, if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, 'move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." – Mark 17: 20-21

More prosperity from more generosity…who’d have imagined…



Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 14-16; Mark 12: 28-44