Brueggemann on Ezekiel, Occupy, and Good Shepherding

I just came across an excellent piece by Walter Brueggemann over at Huffington Post.

As part of HuffPo's On Scripture series, Brueggemann explicates Ezekiel 34 in connection with the recent Occupy movement. The passage is a scathing condemnation of oppression, especially that of leaders ("shepherds") who fleece their flocks. The clear reading of the passage opposes leaders who exploit their position for imbalanced gain of any kind. Ezekiel takes a dim view of the 1%.


Ezekiel takes the long view though, recognizing that the abundance of abusive and mutton-hungry shepherds points (ironically) to a servant-leader, a "good" shepherd, a priest-king that will pasture the nations well, for the flourishing and feeding of humanity.

Brueggemann recognizes the potent messianic hope that the early church hailed in Jesus' declaration that he is the "good shepherd." He finishes by drawing the principles that society can learn from such an example of sacrificial leadership:

"...the news of Ezekiel is that because of God's resolve, mediated for Christians through Jesus, the Son and regent of God, it need not be so. As Israel need not have poor self-serving kings, so a democratic society need not suffer poor outcomes from an exploitative oligarchy. The promissory nature of Ezekiel's oracles articulates what good leadership looks like -- in government, in corporations, all through the private sector. That rule consists in,

-Seeking the lost,
-Bring back the strayed,
-Binding up the injured,
-Strengthening the weak,
-Feeding the hungry.

"In a word, good leadership consists in the restoration of the common good so that all members of the community, strong and weak, rich and poor, may live together in a common shalom of shared resources. The text is a powerful reminder of what might be; it is at the same time a summons to a political will for leadership that is not occupied, through ideological cant, with feathering its own nest. It is not enough to recite, in pious tones, the 23rd Psalm about "The Lord is my shepherd." What is envisioned (and required) is the formation of a different leadership that has in purview all members of the community. Ezekiel knew that is the only way to have a future that does not replicate the failed past. It is still, among us, the only way!"

It is still the only way. May the lies of the many fleecing shepherds be silenced and swallowed by the peace, the security, the truth of the Good one.

Read the full piece at HuffPo. 


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Social Media Propaganda

Satire at its best-looking, enjoy this collection of social media propaganda from Aaron Wood.

Dystopian alternate history, or slick social commentary? You decide.

Now go do your duty, comrade! Like! Plus!

And remember, RE-TWEET IS NEVER AN OPTION.

via Design Milk

Our "Kill Team" and the Death of Humanity

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Let me begin a difficult Veteran's Day Post by thanking any individual veterans or families who may read this for undergoing difficulty in support of national defense. Though I dissent strongly with America's military philosophy and culture, I do not forget the individual men and women who frequently put themselves in harm's way.

I've been following the trial of Sgt. Calvin Gibbs and his "Kill Team" ever since the story broke some time ago.

Gibbs was convicted of the murder and mutilation of Afghan civilians during a tour of duty with the 5th Stryker Brigade - a platoon described as "out of control" by prosecutors. The evidence bears that description out, with widespread drug use, abuse of Afghan remains, and suppression of whistle-blowers.

Taking the stand in his own defense, Gibbs pleaded that in many cases, after he murdered a civilian and staged their corpse, he cut off their fingers as trophies. Why? In his own words he was "disassociated." "It was like keeping the antlers off a deer you'd shoot."

War creates killers, there's no arguing that. I'm sure that we all can relate stories from family members or friends who have seen combat. But sometimes the violence exceeds even the standards of battlefield ethics. I've heard descriptions many times of sociopathy in war, whether in the Ardennes, Mai Lai, or Baghdad. The pressures of combat encourages the abandonment of social norms and ethics. Even good men do terrible things.

How to Move Your Money Local

 A great how-to article over at Mother Jones is the perfect follow up to my earlier post about why my family banks local.

Read the piece for a helpful FAQ if you're curious about shifting your funds to a Credit Union or other local banking option.

You won't be alone. As Josh Harkinson comments:

"Credit unions across the country have added upwards of 650,000 new customers since September 29 (the day Bank of America unveiled its now-defunct $5 monthly fee for debit cards), according to a survey of 5,000 credit unions by the Credit Union National Association. The group also estimates that credit unions have added $4.5 billion in new savings since then, likely from these new members and transfers from other banks."

Read the full article here.

Pollution, Consumption, Oregon.

An interesting study was recently published by Oregon's DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality).

The inventory demonstrates that higher levels of harmful emissions and pollutants are produced by the buying habits of Oregonians than by our driving or other transit choices.

In the words of Jonathan Maus over at Bike Portland, this shows that what "we buy emits more greenhouse gases than what we do."

The implications of this study (the first of its kind) are wide ranging. Theoretically, the data shows that a shut-in who compulsively buys stuff on Amazon potentially has a worse effect on environmental quality than a daily car commuter. Practically speaking, it should put our buying habits in a sobering perspective.

This study provides helpful nuance to our current thinking on consumption, environmental stewardship, and lifestyle. It shows unequivocally that our production practices carry profound cumulative harm for both global health and local communities that produce the things we buy. It's a compelling reason to produce and purchase locally made, grown, and crafted goods.

The wrong response to this study is to say that "what I drive doesn't matter then." False. Those of us interested in stewarding our communities and land need to continue to advocate for wise production practices in addition to savvy transit choices. Fundamentally, this requires simplification of our consumer lifestyle, local involvement and careful attention to the difficult wheres and whats of buying.

Buy to live where you work. Work to buy where you live. You may be surprised at the impact that your household's choices can have on creating a vibrant local economy and a healthy region. It's worth the investment.

Oregon's study is helpful in framing the discussion. It is also sobering in its implications. In the end, will you and I choose to change the way we view possessions, transportation, and consumption?
I hope that we will.

(Via Bike Portland)

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Top 3 Most Invasive "Patriot Act" Provisions

10 years after the passing of the Patriot Act, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has put together a "Greatest Hits" collection of the Act's most invasive and dangerous elements.

In case you've been living in a bunker since 2001, the Patriot Act is a collection of

"...decidedly unpatriotic principles barred by the First and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution. Provisions of the PATRIOT Act have been used to target innocent Americans and are widely used in investigations that have nothing to do with national security."

Take the time to read the full article at EFF.

Via BoingBoing

Shane Claiborne on Jesus and OWS

Out of Ur published author and activist Shane Claiborne's thoughts on the "Jesus-ness" of the OWS movement. Claiborne's is a refreshing perspective, that grounds the important action of OWS protesters and advocates in a larger - and compelling - theological context.

Shane writes

"One of the constant threads of Scripture is “Give us this day our daily bread.” Nothing more, nothing less. Underneath this admonition is the assumption that the more we store up for tomorrow the less people will have for today. And in a world where 1% of the world owns half the world’s stuff, we are beginning to realize that there is enough for everyone’s need, but there is not enough for everyone’s greed. Lots of folks are beginning to say, “Maybe God has a different dream for the world than the Wall Street dream.” 

Maybe God’s dream is for us to live simply so that others may simply live. Maybe God’s dream is for the bankers to empty their banks and barns so folks have enough food for today."

Maybe, Shane. Well said.

Read the full article at Out of Ur.com

(Photo credit)

The Vatican on Fiscal Theology and Financial Reform

A City on A Hill

Global Money and Human Flourishing

Released today, the Vatican's document on Global Financial Reform is an interesting and inadequate proposal for worldwide financial overhaul.

Phillip Pullella of the National Post summed up some key talking points of the paper:

“The economic and financial crisis which the world is going through calls everyone, individuals and peoples, to examine in depth the principles and the cultural and moral values at the basis of social coexistence,” it said.

It condemned what it called “the idolatry of the market” as well as a “neo-liberal thinking” that it said looked exclusively at technical solutions to economic problems.

“In fact, the crisis has revealed behaviors like selfishness, collective greed and hoarding of goods on a great scale,” it said, adding that world economics needed an “ethic of solidarity” among rich and poor nations.

In addition to this, the paper articulates a strong ethic of Christian involvement for the common good:

Coffee Break Commentary: Why I Bank Local

Safer than a sock under the mattress!

An ancillary benefit of the Wall Street occupation has been to bring attention to the benefits of keeping your money local.

Though attention was given to the "move your money" concept during the 2008- 2009 meltdown process by the HuffPo and others, we're hearing it again as protests and general grumpiness about our fat and shattered system continue.Now may be the time for a personal exodus  from Wall Street finance to community banking.

My family switched to a local credit union several years ago.  

We've experienced several benefits after moving our money from one of the Big Six banks to a local credit union:

OWS as "Post-political" Movement

Party on?

Occupy Wall Street's recently released survey data/overview of their supporters observes that over 70% of respondents self identified as politically independent.

Whatever your view of the movement - supportive, opposing, or apathetically cynical- the data reflects the fact that whatever the long range impact of the OWS movement will be, it is safe to claim that it is a major milestone in the breakdown of American two-party politics.

Gaddafi Dead, Sirte falls to Libyan Rebels

From Al- Jazeera English, the end of the beginning of the Libyan Revolution. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Libyan people, during a time of  violence, victory, and vulnerability.

May this crossroads lead them down a road to peace, justice and a free Libya. The fall of a regime does not guarantee that. The real work begins now.

PLEASE NOTE: GRAPHIC IMAGES

Lunch Link: "Occupy My Life"

As the Occupy movement begins to come into its own, the myriad human stories of Occupiers are fascinating, heartbreaking, and occasionally very sweet.

A favorite moment from the movement so far.

Occupy!

(via Boing Boing)

Whispers of Innovation

This year's CCDA Conference focuses on the theme of innovation, especially as it connects to creative solutions to the broken American educational system.
Last night we heard from pastor Thurman Williams of Baltimore, MD as our plenary speaker.

Williams expressed theological and biblical foundations for innovation and creativity in ministry, connected with the concept of God as a profoundly innovative doer of new things.

Wind, Fire, Whisper

Williams grounded his call for innovation in 1 Kings 19, where the discouraged prophet Elijah encounters a difficult question from God while on the run from the powers that be.

The text is an interesting one. God asks the fleeing prophet: What are you doing here, Elijah?

Paraphrased, his answer is "Running for my freaking life because I'm the only one in the whole wide world who gives camel spit about you and your justice."

God's response is to tell him to go outside the cave he's squatting in, onto the side of the mountain. You know what happens next:

Occupy Indianapolis

I walked a bit around Indy yesterday with the men, women, and kids of Occupy Indianapolis. They marched from the state Capitol building to the Columbia Club where Gov. Rick Perry was speaking.

"We have a question for Gov. Perry" they shouted at the side of the building.

"Why is he speaking at the most expensive club in Indy when he could have spoken at a free public venue?"

Though Perry didn't answer (or likely hear) the question, it's a good one.

Paul writing from CCDA, Indianapolis

I'm honored to be attending the Christian Community Development Association conference in Indianapolis, Indiana today through Saturday.

The schedule of speakers and workshops is out, and it looks like an incredible list.

I'm looking forward to connecting with friends old and new, as we ponder together the communal and social implications of the Kingdom of Heaven and grounded holistic ministry in varied contexts. I expect conversations relating to reconciliation, social justice, advocacy and policy, and robust theologies of community, vocation, and cultural engagement.

I'm sure that I'll be posting thoughts and updates as the week progresses, so stay tuned.

Will you be attending the conference? Please comment so that we can connect.

(photo credit)

Holy Vandals and Heavenly Subversion

 

“We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?”

—Steve Jobs

This weekend, I've been on retreat in Yelm, WA with the Murdock Trust - the organization that provides the funding for my current Editorial Residency at Leadership Journal.

For those of you unfamiliar with the trust, it's a foundation dedicated to spending the money of M. J. Murdock (inventor of the oscilloscope), for the common good of the citizens of the Pacific NW. Their pockets are deep, their generosity is legendary, and you would be surprised at the many many wonderful things they support in our region.
I can almost guarantee that if you're a citizen of Cascadia, then you owe these guys a thank you note for something.

The retreat has been a very positive experience. Aside from some kayaking and pesto covered prawn skewers, I've enjoyed interacting with Steve Garber of the Washington Institute.

Garber is a key contemporary thinker on the intersection between faith and vocation, and the radical application of "common grace for the common good." He's very interested in helping people make deep dents in the universe, and he has a powerful reason for doing so ... a reason that I wholeheartedly share.

The Assassination of al-Awlaki and Citizen's Rights

Image via Wikipedia.com

Salon.com has an excellent piece commenting on the recent murder of Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen by US forces. A known leader of al-Qaeda (and a legitimately dangerous man), al-Awlaki was nonetheless a US citizen who had not been indicted for any crimes, and was far from any fighting on the ground.

Cory Doctorow over at Boing Boing comments:

"Whether or not al-Awlaki was a terrorist (something no court can determine now), this sets a new precedent: the US can assassinate its own citizens on presidential order without any due process or accountability."

This really is the "new reality" for American citizens, setting unequivocal precedent that a presidential order is all that is necessary for the execution of an American.

With the tremedously FUBAR implications of that new reality aside, al-Awlaki's death highlights a stark fact: it is the difficult choice of our time that we may need to be forced to decide between "better" security and the the very freedoms and protections that American citizens enjoy.

Are we willing to resist the justified fear of further terrorist attack and choose instead for a society that protects (or justly punishes) its people? Are we willing to be more vulnerable in exchange for doing the right things the right way?

Legality can be cumbersome sometimes. So can morality. But those difficult choices are the most important by far, because they are the ones that define us.

In al-Awlaki's case, it's too late. With one missile in the desert, we have made a martyr of a man who was by all evidences filled with hatred for the country he belonged to - a country that should have prosecuted him according to the laws that he broke.

Justice is not served by murder outside the law. We needed to do the right thing the right way, and we didn't.

Yes, it's too late for al-Awlaki.
Let's hope though, that it's not too late for you and me.

Alston and the Ethics of Representation

A Interesting article was published today over at Mother Jones referencing the unenviable dilemma faced by local lawmakers who are torn between personal convictions and accurately representing their constituency. Though Maryland delegate Tiffany Alston may not be a prime example of upstanding campaign behavior (given the cash skimming for her own wedding referenced in the article), her situation - waffling on a bill she believed in to reflect the expressed will of the citizens she represents- is nothing new.

"I had no idea what to do," said Alston (D-Prince George's). "I feel really strongly that people who love each other should be able to get married, no matter what their gender. But I also realize that that's not my function here. I'm here to represent the 110,000 people back home, many of whom had called and e-mailed and said, 'We don't want that bill.'"

If you were an elected official, would you support a bill you considered morally right if it was opposed by a majority (or the vocal majority) of your constituents? What is the elected official's responsibility for the good of their district? What philosophy best represents our form of government? It's a tough call.

Though the choice is one few of us will have to face from that perspective,will you support a candidate who votes her conscience - even if 51% of your neighbors oppose it?

Whatever your opinion, this question will only become more important as the regrettable polarization of our current political climate increases. People are just being forced to shout louder in a political system that is too large, corrupt, and ethically bankrupt to hear their voices.

Until we find the platform and patience to reject vitriolic, long range politics in favor of increased local engagement and advocacy, even local politicians will be forced to make tough calls from their conscience...or else just settle for re-election. And maybe a couple unreported "bonuses" from their campaign account. After all, it's a tough job.