Epistle of Strawolution 1

James continues to write and lead the gathering of the Way in unique political-religious times in Jerusalem.  Rome is plotting the retaliation, but this small gathering of followers of Jesus of Nazareth exists within the synagogue system with Zealots; Essene (okay they are a bit more secluded by themselves, but you get my point); Pharisees; Sadducee; and other sects within the Judaic tent.

Yet through things like the opening teachings around testing of belief, show the tension within the early movement, and the established religion (much like with any new movement trying to prove its wings). Think about it. This is a movement of Messiahship that was not what was expected. Jesus of Nazareth had been 1 of hundreds of active “Messiahs” at the time of his crucifixion. Choosing his Way, could very easily be seen as a kind of heresy, and more to the point may create some tensions within family units already struggling under occupation and then the new reality in Jerusalem with Rome held at bay.

Interesting enough though, in chapter one, James calls forth the most ancient of tales from the Hebrew Bible, can you see it within these words:

Count it all joy, my brothers,^[b] when you meet trials of various kinds,³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

⁹ Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass^[c] he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

¹² Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.^[d] 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

-James 1:2-18 (English Standard Version)

What images or story archetypes are emerging with these words?

No it is not from the Torah (Pentateuch); rather it is from the Wisdom writings. Think of the ancient theatre of Job. Seen as God’s most beloved, he becomes the target of a cosmic wager between the angel tasked with testing- Lucifer- and God. It becomes then Job’s friends that try to convince him to walk away.

Why would James write to bring this story to mind for his gathering?

Testing will happen. There will be those seeing the loss of relationship, or work or material goods and try to convince you to walk away, but like Job you need to see deeper. The cool part about calling forth this story to the hearer though, is that it also has a point where Job rages against God, and God responds.

Think of the solace in that? You can feel disconnected from source, yet easily fight back in. Denial works in releasing that which keeps the Holy Spirit locked away inside you. Step into the light.

That is, know that testing happens in life, as it refines beliefs. It is challenges, and relationships that allow us to grow, understand ourselves, each other and our world.For the biggest challenge in life is stepping into the new day, knowing that you do not know or control the outcome…

but that is okay.

 

 

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The Falsity of Deserving/Undeserving Poor Narrative

Anyone who has lived in North America throughout their whole lives, and taken any subtle interest in the social safety nets can attest to one thing over the past 30 years. That one thing: The rise of the narrative of deserving/undeserving poor. It was seen most sharply in Canada during the Ontario Harris’ years and Klein years’ here in Alberta where social services (i.e. welfare, disability support; etc) were designed to be exclusionary, not inclusionary for those needing the services.

Why does this matter?

Simple, it becomes a narrative of understanding when those who are on the lower end of the socio-economic scale vote for wealthy elites who do not hold their voters interest or care at the forefront? In simple terms, why do those who would be seen by the outside as poor vote for the billionaires who only care about supporting their wealthy friends and dismantling the safety net designed to aid them?

Because in the narrative of deserving/undeserving we create a falsity–a lie (of the kind that would get one’s mouth washed out with soap when I was a youngster) that people choose their economic class. That if they just worked harder they could have a better life. That in true independence it is up to each person to always be healthy, never be injured, addiction and disability are a choice; living in shelters or social housing-choice…getting the vibe yet? That’s right, if you are seeking aid of the state then it is because of poor choices on your part, not because of intangibles in life. As such, you should be happy with what ever form and rules the hand out takes, no matter how dehumanizing it can be (think the drug tests for welfare) or to qualify in some cases for social services all assets have to be liquidated so that you can qualify for a below the poverty line monthly amount, in essence the system not being a hand up or a bridge to sustain while the next opportunity comes, but a what can be a punitive measure to create a poverty cycle.

Why does this system issue matter? If you cannot see the simple ethics, for my preponderance today it is how many of these “fiscal conservative” policies (sorry folks, Tommy Douglas was a socialist, and kept balanced books and built a social safety net that included public health care, but I digress) come from a social conservative value set. Not saying it is right or wrong, but with this “Religious Right” they may have missed the point of another narrative.

Now before I take this path and people just set me aside as another non-religious progressive, what I want to point out is both my B.A. and M.A. that equipped me in theology come from conservative bible based schools, and y’know what I learned there?

Much what Ecclesiastes wrote:

What has been will be again,
    what has been done will be done again;
    there is nothing new under the sun.

(Ecclesiastes 1:9, New International Version)

For what has been seen, and supported by a certain meta-narrative, has missed the point of the cultural narrative/value set that is clung to in Judeo-Christianity. It is the story of the rise and fall of the Davidic-Solomic Kingdom. Where wealth and greed corrupt the monarchy…that split the kingdom, caused the exile. In fact for real Biblical geeks it is the driving force behind the stories of the Judges— people on track in a just society taking care of all–sin/ego/greed (insert your term here) disrupts causing catasrophe and lack of community-judge inserts gets community back on track. In the prophetic books, it is not about the future, it is messengers bringing this focus of community and justice back to the people, so that crass independence does not supplant communal care.

So…the lie of deserving/undeserving poor is nothing new, back in the day it was much more spiritualized as those blessed/cursed by God…and time and again it was shown that was not the case rather it was a false system designed for the power of a 1%…that is the story of the Hebrew Bible (and taken further in the Christian Testament, but that is a post for another time).

So dear readers, for those of you that espouse the biblical story being a staple of your life, truly embrace what it means to be in loving community with one another, and speak out to end this lie…for all deserve the simple things in life: home, food, belonging, purpose, good health, education…and we as a society can make the choice for that to be our reality.

Which story do you choose? The lie or the one of love and belonging–the one of community?