According to Isaiah in the 58th Chapter....
Fasting and other spiritual disciplines (prayer, studying the scriptures) are good and bear much fruit in our lives and work.
But there is another kind of "fast" that the Prophets talk about as well as Jesus (Matthew 25): that's the fast of taking action. It's to "loose the chains of injustice and set the oppressed free....to share your food with the hungry."
I wonder if we, as the hands and feet of Jesus on earth should retreat less and advance more? More action, less thinking? Not so many strategy and prayer meetings, but a prayer on the go that God would speak! And he has. Go!
Remember Keith Green? He used to say "what part of the word 'go' don't you understand?" He was crazy eh? Or not...?
That's what I'm thinking about today for Gaza. What does it mean to "go?" What would be the True Fast for the people of God in response to Gaza?
I think I know what it means for me. Do you?
carl
Gaza
I'm reading three books at the same time (as usual). Two by Shane Claiborne and one by Rob Bell. They're not for the faint of heart. Not sure I'd even recommend them they're so radical. If you feel adventurous, they're called "The Irresistible Revolution," "Jesus for President"and "Jesus wants to Save Christians." All pretty wild.
The point of these books - and the Bible in many ways - is that Jesus came to bring a new kingdom. A totally different way of life. That religious business as usual was over and there was a new way, a new king, a new life. And it was pretty much upside down/backwards from all they had known. It still is today.
I am constantly asked what I think the "answer" is in the Middle East. I always say "Jesus" and then people laugh and say "No, but seriously." Hmmmm? How about "The way of Jesus." That's an even better answer. So...what's his "way" in a time like now?
Would Jesus kill the terrorists or root out the insurgents? Would he ask us to do that? Or is there another way?
What did he model? How did he live? How did he treat actual bad guys? What about Occupiers? How were the ones with the power to treat the ones without power?
These are real questions that he actually answered in both his teaching and his life.
So how do we answer those questions? There are answers we just don't like them. But they will bring life! Live or die? The choice is ours for our own lives and for the lives of others. Which do we choose?
The point of these books - and the Bible in many ways - is that Jesus came to bring a new kingdom. A totally different way of life. That religious business as usual was over and there was a new way, a new king, a new life. And it was pretty much upside down/backwards from all they had known. It still is today.
I am constantly asked what I think the "answer" is in the Middle East. I always say "Jesus" and then people laugh and say "No, but seriously." Hmmmm? How about "The way of Jesus." That's an even better answer. So...what's his "way" in a time like now?
Would Jesus kill the terrorists or root out the insurgents? Would he ask us to do that? Or is there another way?
What did he model? How did he live? How did he treat actual bad guys? What about Occupiers? How were the ones with the power to treat the ones without power?
These are real questions that he actually answered in both his teaching and his life.
So how do we answer those questions? There are answers we just don't like them. But they will bring life! Live or die? The choice is ours for our own lives and for the lives of others. Which do we choose?
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