Burma Must Change

shame is a useless but sadly effective tool.

the situation in Burma has been going on for a very long time, and i think it is far more disingenuous to suddenly come off all concerned about it because it has been on the 5 o’clock news for a week and a half than it is to stay true to what your focus is in this space. different blogs have different focuses and purposes. if we endeavored to fill this blog with information and e-activism for every cause around the globe, there would be room for nothing else. the unfortunate back and forth about orthodoxy and heresy and who’s movement is the coolest is troubling, but sadly important. our inability to deal with each other in love and humility makes it nearly impossible for us to deal with anyone else in love and humility. can we really help Burma if we can’t even walk side by side in love? i don’t see how we can.

obviously, we need to get upset about what happens in the world around us and we need to get involved. but i see no point in suddenly trying to out-missional each other with who can be the first to post the most entries about all the world’s tragedy.

isn’t that just another form of arrogant orthodoxy?

I prefer to view it as another form of loving my neighbour.

Let me suggest we take the opposite approach. First, reach out and stand with those suffering. Get to know them, their situations, and maybe even how we contribute to those circumstances. Then come back to these unfortunate back and forths about orthodoxy and heresy and who’s movement is the coolest, and you’ll find that rather than being sadly important, they’re just sad.

Peace.

i am in no way suggesting we do not reach out to or stand with those who are suffering. clearly, that is our mission.

but i find it very difficult to accept the idea that trying to learn how to have a loving discussion with those we disagree with isn’t important or that those disagreements themselves are also unimportant.

i am confident G-d is much more interested in the condition of my heart than the condition of my theology. but i am also confident that the condition of my heart will be shaped by the condition of my theology.

and i am also confident that there is a time and a place for each thing, and that not each place must be the place for all things. simply because one thing is more important or more urgent than other does not render the purpose of other things and places useless.

Well stated, Jhimm. I’m not sure I’m there with you, but I get what you’re saying. Call it my theology, but I’m coming to the conclusion that life is too short for trying to have the loving discussions with those we disagree with. Love them, yes. But spend time and energy trying to discuss what we disagree on, I’m not sure.

The Jesus model shows me something different, come to think of it. It seems he generally ignored those who “disagreed” with him, or he told them off, then split. Quite frankly I want to pursue Jesus, not polite conversation with those who don’t think much of my method and path of pursuit.

Peace.

the conversations have to happen before we know who we do and do not agree with. i’m glad your journey has you so far down the road you’ve got it all worked out and you know what you need to do. most of us don’t. i’m sorry that frustrates you, but frankly, you need to work that out for yourself, not put it on us. i think it is a waste of time and energy to “shame” us into abandoning the process that got you where you are so that we can simply join you straight off without a sense why we’re doing it. that’s just a new kind of mindless orthodoxy to replace the old kind.

all i’m saying is, don’t turn your journey into The Journey. some of us had wandered very far away before we heard there was a reason to come back and we’re a bit late and need time to catch up.