Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love

I recently finished reading Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love by Saint Augustine, which is a letter written in response to one of his devotees who had asked him for spiritual guidance. It’s actually very interesting once you cut through his brainy and often overly complex writing style (which is indicative of both Augustine’s intellect, and most likely the writing style of that period). Now, I am not exactly sure where the title of “handbook” came from, as it is not like any handbook I have ever seen. It doesn’t have easily accessible solutions (i.e. “Crisis of faith – page 27″), which one might expect from a volume given the title “Handbook…”. Instead, it reads like a letter, with Augustine tackling some very paradoxical ideas, most of which support or affirm the others. His ideas flow almost like a logical succession with each idea building on the previous,  supported by his logic and reasoning.

Here are the main ideas I took away from the book:

1. All which God created is inherently and completely good because it was made by God, in the image of God.
2. Evil is simply the absence of good, just as darkness is simply the absence of light.
3. Because all that God created is good, and evil is the absence of good, one could never be completely evil without ceasing to be (to exist).
4. The only reason evil is allowed to exist is to show God’s mercy, to show that God’s creation can be redeemed.
5. We are saved by our faith in God and God’s redeeming power, but it is only by the grace of God that our faith is even possible.
6. We are in need of redemption because we have been separated from God by the Fall.
7. Since the fall, every human has been born into a life of sin, both original sin, and our own. Thus, we are responsible for not only our own sin, but the sins of our parents, and so on.
8. Jesus Christ, who is simultaneously God (without origin) and human (with divine origin), was sent as mediator to reconcile Gods creation to God.
9. Since Christ was born of Holy Spirit (God’s grace, divine origin), he is free from the bonds of sin, yet because he is born of the flesh, he is called sin (though it is our own, not his).
10. When Christ’s flesh dies on the cross, so to does his connection original sin, and in his resurrection shows us how we can live a life free from sin.
11. Following Christ’s example, it is though baptism that we may also break our connection to original sin, and be reborn into a life free from sin.

I have to say that while most of these ideas aren’t completely new to me (at least in some form), I had never thought about them quite in this way. What I mean is, the main ideas are not new ones, but the logical progression from one to the next is new to me.

For example, the idea that evil is allowed to exist, albeit for a greater purpose, is difficult to wrap my head around. It almost alludes to the popular idea of “God’s Plan,” but without being tied to specific events (i.e. “God allowed my puppy to die so that I could learn a lesson about ________ “). Instead, it remains at a macro level, tying the specific events to evil, not to God. Bad things don’t happen because God allows them to, bad things happen because there is evil in the world, which God allows to exist in order that His grace may be revealed.

We have hope that we can be saved. We have faith that God can save us. God’s redeeming power, God’s grace, is God’s love and it’s God’s grace that both justifies our hope, and saves us.

Note: It is entirely possible that my conclusions are theologically unsound. However, seeing as I am not a theologian, I would expect a little latitude. If you find that I am off, please (in a very kind, and teaching manner) feel free to correct me.

Changing the world, one perception at a time.

Changing the world can be a fairly idealistic and impractical task. Few who seek to change the world live to see it on a large scale. But change doesn’t need to be on a large scale to be affective. It doesn’t have to happen quickly.

Perhaps the best definition of change that I have heard comes from the film Life as a House.

“You know the great thing, though, is that change can be so constant you don’t even feel the difference until there is one. It can be so slow that you don’t even notice that your life is better or worse, until it is. Or it can just blow you away, make you something different in an instant. It happened to me.”

…

In summer ’05, I read this article in Relevant Magazine (now available on RelevantMagazine.com) which followed photojournalist Scott Harrison as he experienced change on a Mercy Ship.

From the article:

“What started out as an exciting and easy way to earn back college money I’d blown in the stock market, (shorting YAHOO! of all things) turned into a decade of world travel, social climbing, selfishness and materialism, and left me with an appalling value system and skewed world view.”

This is the realization that sparked a change in Scott — his journey of redemption and compassion.

He spent the better part of the next 2 years photographically documenting life on a Mercy Ship before founding the non-profit Charity:. Charity:’s first project, Charity: Water, seeks to provide clean water to the people of Africa. Though not the first (and hopefully not the last) to do this, Charity:’s approach is a little bit different. They are selling bottles of water for $20, all proceeds of which go directly to digging wells. They are able to do this through the help of donors who cover costs of bottling, packing, and shipping each bottle of water (about 45 cents per bottle).

But it doesn’t stop there. In celebration of Scott’s 32nd birthday, he is asking for $32 donations to provide clean water for at least one hospital in Kenya instead of presents, and he is encouraging other’s to join him. 12 years old = $12, 64 years = $64, and so on. “If 1,000 people gave just $32 each, we could build a water system for this hospital and help thousands of people” (Scott Harrison, from the website).

Why would we do this? Put simply, because we can. Like Scott’s experience on a Mercy Ship, Charity: is all about exploring how to live differently.

Change.

…

I find myself both inspired and humbled by Scott’s personal revolution. Granted, the contrast of his former and current lives is much greater than mine, greater than most, but even the smallest of revolutions are still revolutionary. As my friend Jake says, we might not affect change in the world, but we do affect change in ourselves (in so many words). Scott’s perception changed when he asked, “What [does] the opposite of my life look like?”

And that’s what it’s really about: changing the world, one perception at a time.

Megan Takes On the (Wal*Mart) World

Two weeks ago, my sister and brother-in-law kicked off one full year without Wal*Mart with this post on my sister’s blog, That’s Swell. It seemed like smashing-good idea, so I decided to join them (shouldn’t be too difficult for me, as I generally try to avoid Wal*Mart as it is).

Now, this particular post created quite a stir, with all sorts of questions popping up over what this was all about and whether it would make a difference, etc. In response, Megan started a series of posts explaining the motives behind this particular exercise. She cites Sam Walton’s autobiography, Sam Walton: Made in America, and an episode of PBS’s Frontline entitled Is Wal-Mart Good for America? (Google Video) as sources, basing her and David’s decisions reasonably and responsibly.

I could get into my reasons now, but I’ve already commented on the post here, so read that for my thoughts on the matter.

Admittedly, the reasoning that goes into something like this isn’t instantly formed and thus can’t be easily explained, even over a series of blog posts. It is seeded in a gradual realization that the so-called American Way isn’t necessarily the best way, that like the Romans and Brits, American capitalism is very much an empire.

Given that neither Megan and David, nor myself came to this realization all at once, I don’t expect anyone to be instantly converted by a single blog post, or a series for that matter. But what amazes me is just how far off people are from getting it.

From the comments:

“[...] WalMart is no different than any other major retailer. The name of the game is profits and that’s the beauty of free enterprise folks.” (full comment)

“[...] With regards to a boycott, honestly, WalMart is such a retail giant it won’t make a bit of difference.” (full comment)

Sure, it would be great if something like this made changes on a large scale, but that is not the point. The point with any exercise is not to feed the machine, so-to-speak; to point out in justice, and maybe open a few eyes in the process.

In addition to the handful of folks who aren’t getting it, I am also amazed and impressed by the number of people who are following this whole thing. On top of the regular readers commenting (whether affirming or dismissing), there are a few blogger’s following Megan and David’s “journey” (as they call it) on their own blogs (Maté Tea for the Mind, The Writing on the Wal).

What can I say, I’m proud of my little sis, the swell revolutionary.

Note:

To change your perspective, check out Irresitable Revolution by Shane Claiborne, and the documentary film The Corporation .

I Love You

Three little words that I have found myself saying a lot lately — and not to a girlfriend (I don’t have one). To friends. To guys. To girls.

And it dawned on me that it is a little weird. Weird in the sense that its not something that is thrown around much. In fact, it is usually reserved for family or really close relationships, not just for anybody.

The funny thing is, it shouldn’t be, at least for those down with JC….or hippies…or any human being for that matter.

Love is the focal point of the most important commandment. Love, both for God, and for our neighbors. Why do we reserve love only for those who are close to us? Why can’t we love everyone, and tell them so? Sure, there are some people who make it really hard to love them. I can think of a few right now. But the point is, regardless of whether or not we find someone is easy to love, we are called to love them.

Unconditionally, and unabashedly.

And not just to love them, but to tell them you love them. I guess what I am driving at is that I love you. Nothing funny, just love.

So go ahead — tell a friend…tell your mom…tell a stranger… but please tell someone that you love them.