January 22 Evolutionary christians

January 22    Evolutionary christians

“Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well with others.” 
― César Chávez

“When the man who feeds the world by toiling in the fields is himself deprived of the basic rights of feeding, sheltering, and caring for his own family, the whole community of man is sick.” 
― César Chávez

If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.
--Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
--Francis of Assisi

“To you who hear me, I say: love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.  When they slap you on one cheek, turn and give them the other; when they take your coat, let them have your shirt as well. Give to all who beg from you. When someone takes what is yours, don’t demand it back. “Do to others what you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit does that do you? even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. If you do good only to those who do good to you, what credit does that do you? even ‘sinners’ do as much.  If you lend to those you expect to repay you, what credit does that do you? even ‘sinners’ lend to other ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full.  Love your enemies and do good to them. Lend without expecting repayment, and your reward will be great. You’ll rightly be called children of the most high, since God is good even to the ungrateful and the wicked. “Be compassionate, as your loving God is compassionate.
--Jesus of Nazareth  (Luke 6:27-36)

Anchor: We are Artistic, Evolutionary, Revolutionary christians

Frame: Christ invites us to transform and heal our world

Thread: Never place a period

Question: How am I changing the world for the better?

To be artistic means bringing passion to what we do; we reflect and engage the image of the Creator in which we are made. Being evolutionary means trusting that we are growing and developing and that our (scientific) understanding of the world is reliable and accurate as we know it today. To be revolutionary does not mean taking up arms, it means acting in our own life in ways that bring love, compassion and justice into the world. How we live, the choices we make, the energy we put into the world affects the world. Jesus’ teaching had an emphasis on this reality. the Kin-dom of god that Jesus proclaimed was about how this world would look if we really let God be in control. I, for one, follow Christ because I hope to help make the world a better place.

My thoughts for the studio experience are about Fair Trade products. We could start by making a pot of Fair Trade coffee up front. Later, after the coffee is brewed, we can talk about Fair Trade coffee and how the choices we make do make a difference in the world. Here is a link for a rather lengthy video about Fair Trade and how it affects the lives of real people. I’m sure the video can be edited down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ7G66vStx4&feature=player_embedded#!

These days there are many fairly traded products, giving us a positive option for our consumer choices. There is chocolate, clothing, houseware items, tea, and more items every day. SCUCC has supported this in the past with the Christmas WHEAT store and using fairly traded coffee (I do not think our current coffee is FT).

The point of this discussion is that we have each have even small choices whereby we can help change the world for the better.

The quotes by Cesar Chavez, Francis of Assisi, and yes even Jesus point to how we each participate in the transformation of the world. As we evolve as christians, we pray that the changes we participate in are transformations of healing and grace.

Song idea – Revolution by the Beatles

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
All right, all right

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money 
For people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
All right, all right
Ah

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
All right, all right
All right, all right, all right
All right, all right, all right