american values.

a community health nursing textbook says something like this:

There are only two values left in American Society:

1)Materialism: you are what you own

2)Individualism: you put yourself first and let the rest of the world worry about itself.


Reference.com says this:

1) Materialism (noun):

preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.

2) Individualism (noun):

1. a social theory advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual.
2. the principle or habit of or belief in independent thought or action.
3. the pursuit of individual rather than common or collective interests; egoism.
4. individual character; individuality.
5. an individual peculiarity.
6. Philosophy.
a. the doctrine that only individual things are real.
b. the doctrine or belief that all actions are determined by, or at least take place for, the benefit of the individual, not of society as a whole.

I say this:


These American values = the death of community

There is no room for community when we form attachments to "things" instead of people.

There is no room for community when in your life, there is only room your yourself and your personal gain.

that's why we (we representing society as a whole) spend more time taking care of our cars, our yards, and our homes instead of making sure basic needs are met for our neighbors.
that's why we spend more time in strategy meetings to increase sales and productivity at work instead of listening to our children's stories at the dinner table.
that's why we have forgotten the dinner table altogether and instead opt for family meals around the television set.
that's why we have "homebound" ministries at church that send a taped sermon to the house of the elderly or disabled each week so they feel a part of the congregation. What if we just sent the congregation to the homebound insead of a VHS?

What if the American Dream no longer included picket fences?

fences = exclusivity anyway

What if we appreciated the cultural feast of The Melting Pot instead of fearing diversity?

What if the Land of Opportunity and Promise actually meant that it promised opportunity to all instead of just to those who can afford it?

materialism.
individualism.
the noose of community.

the agape call

Sin can be defined in many ways, but to me, it's best defined as an act in which one separates himself or herself from God. This can be a blatant offense against God, an offense against one's self or against others. As we are all created in the image of God, every act of sin is against God.

If God is love, as the scriptures say, then what we are committing in sin is an act against love. We are separating ourselves and others from love.

I heard these words today:

"Sin is the belief that there is not enough love in the world for everyone"

When you believe that love from your Creator or life force is only afforded to you for a particular reason, so you therefore keep it to yourself or give it only to those who you deem worthy, you engage in sin.

Or, in turn, if you do not love yourself, you engage in sin.

However, the Gospel message is that the Son of God was sent to earth to die in exchange for our sins. His was called Emmanuel or "God with/in us"

What does it mean that "God is with us"? As I mentioned before, the scriptures tell us that God is love. (1)

So, the "good news" of the Gospel is that there IS enough love for all of us.

It is our job, as followers of Christ...love that came down to earth...to engage ourselves in this love. We are not to confine it and keep it to ourselves, but share it, so that we are no longer chained by the shackles of sin.(2)

1st Corinthians 13 gives an account of practicing this type of love (3). The Greek translation of the word for love used in this passage is agape. Agape is defined as the love that God has for his people. The word agape was later translated to caritas in the Latin language which is the root word for the English word Charity.

Therefore:

We are called to live charitably.
We are called to love selflessly, benevolently, giving everything away and expecting nothing in return.
We are called to love all of humanity regardless of creed, color, sex, or orientation.
In loving, we find worth in something.
In loving, we give each other value.
In loving, we save each other from sin.

The agape call.

------------------------------------------------------------
(1) 1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

(2)"The wages of sin is death" -Romans 6:23
The result of being unloving, hateful, unkind, selfish...is death of the spirit.

(3) Love
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.