As part of my pursuit towards a Doctor of Ministry degree, I am researching information for my Dissertation/Project.  The topic is, “Being Real: San Francisco bay area men discovering their authentic identity before God and each other through Spiritual direction. 

     I chose this topic, because I believe that many men are unable to be real before God and one another.  This stems from a distorted image of themselves that keeps them from becoming the people that God intends for them to be.  It affects all their relationships by limiting the depths of intimacy which can be experienced.  This distortion may come from family of origin, their culture, or what is perceived to be acceptable within society.  Examples of this would include ideas that men are not to show feelings or emotion, men don’t cry, or concepts of pecking order and superiority.

     When thinking about masculinity and femininity we have stereotypical roles and definitions of what men are to be like and what women are to be like.  Because of these ideas, we as men many times keep women in places of inferiority by not letting them be fully as they were intended to be.  We also limit ourselves by not allowing men to show the traits that we consider to be feminine.  The scriptures tell us that we were made male and female and that we are all made in the image of God.  The apostle Paul tells us that we are neither male nor female, slave nor free, but that we are all one in Christ Jesus.  Yet, Christianity still maintains these definitions.  We speak of social justice and are involved in many ways, but this area of justice still is in want.  Because of this message women have bought into the lie, just as men have.  Each in our own way perpetuating the injustice and suffering consequences.  None of us living out the truth of who we are before each other and God.  God help us to move out of this brokenness for the sake of ourselves, our world, and his kingdom.

Picture: Human Rights, by tao_zhyn

     Lately, the domination and oppression of others has been on my mind.  When I follow current events regarding the matter, I become both angry and saddened at the same time.  I don’t know if you noticed but it is a horrific problem in our world.  When I read the scriptures and follow history it seems to be nothing new.  It has been around in many forms for centuries.

    This exploitation of others in our world comes at us from many fronts.  From slave labor on construction sites, in the fields, and in sweat shops, to sexual slavery even within our cities and suburbs.  With the fall of governments and the global down turn in the economy, slavery becomes more prolific every day.  People in desperate situations are being promised one thing and then put into places and situations where they are they are being forced into service for the advantage of others.

     In the book of Amos, we hear God speaking through the prophet, who shows the people how they have been oppressing others for gain. In the process God expresses his displeasure and imposes judgment on those who are carrying out these deeds.  God Sent Jesus to set the prisoners free.  He cares deeply for those who are suffering in these situations.  I believe that as part of his redemptive plan, we as a church are supposed to be involved in his plan.  Perhaps it is by continuing to shed light on the problem.  Maybe it is to be there to free someone from their imprisonment or to provide sanctuary and safe haven for them.  These are but a few of the ways in which we could stand in the gap, and assist those in need.  We need to pray and ask God to help us discern where he would have us become involved both as individuals and as church communities.

  How have you seen this problem in your world?  How is it that God has shown you to be involved?

Picture: Prison Planet, by Azrainman

     The responsibility for us in the church today is to continue his message and ministry to the world.  Jesus told us that “the poor we would have with us always” and this remains true to this day.  So how do we as a church navigate the different circumstances that the poor and oppressed of the earth suffer?  With our current world economic situation poverty is on the rise, people are being taken advantage of, and are being exploited by others.  Nothing seems to change, Just as in Jesus’ day. 

     Poverty and oppression has many faces and many facets.  It is not just a physical issue, it is much more.  People are much more than physical beings.  Jurgen Moltmann writes of the expression of the poor in the gospels.

     “The poverty meant extends from economic, social and physical poverty to psychological, moral and religious poverty.  The poor are all those who have to endure acts of violence and injustice without being able to defend themselves.  The poor are all who have to exist physically and spiritually on the fringe of death, who have nothing to live for and to whom life has nothing to offer.  The poor are all who are at the mercy of others, and who live with empty open hands.  Poverty therefore means both dependency and openness.  We ought not to confine poverty in religious terms to the general dependence of men on God.  But it cannot be interpreted in a  merely economic or physical sense either.  It is an expression which describes the enslavement and dehuminization of man in more than one dimension”.

     According to Moltmann, the expression the poor is far more reaching than the physical needs. We as Christians can minister in a variety of ways based upon how the Spirit may be calling us.  But if we are to follow Christ our involvement with his mission is not an option, it is a privilege.  Filip Spagnoli writes about the extent of our duties towards the poor and how the individual should intervene.  We as believers are commanded, encouraged, and filled with the Holy Spirit to do these good works.  I have been thinking about my part in God’s plan and the poor, each of us have a part.  Have you discovered yours?  Any thoughts?

Picture: Ethiopia by babasteve

Quote: JurgenMoltmann, The Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit, pg. 79