Peregrinati Way or The Voice of Poiema

“The habit of thinking about work as something one does to make money is so ingrained in us that we can scarcely imagine what a revolutionary change it would be to think about it instead in terms of work done. To do so would mean taking the attitude of mind we reserve for our unpaid work–our hobbies, our leisure interests, the things we make and do for pleasure–and making that the standard of all our judgments about things and people. We should ask of an enterprise, not “will it pay?” but “is it good?”; of a man, not “what does he make?” but “what is his work worth?”; of goods, not “can we induce people to buy them? but “are they useful things well made?”; of employment, not “how much a week?” but “will it exercise my faculties to the utmost?” And shareholders in–let us say–brewing companies, would astonish the directorate by arising at shareholders’ meetings and demanding to know, not merely where the profits go or what dividends are to be paid, not even merely whether workers’ wages are sufficient and the conditions of labor satisfactory, but loudly and with a proper sense of personal responsibility” “What goes into the beer?”

What are the implications for us? How should we then work?

So my question seems to be running in two streams here…We are the ones begging God to move, act, save, heal, mend, both in secret and in public and yet we could be/perhaps ARE the veyr means we are asking God for, eh? I think on a number of occasions I have prayed for God to move, act, in a way where He would get Glory precisely BECAUSE I didn’t want to continue walking in love with this person, or pursuing them, b/c of my lazy sin. Could i be using this language precisely b/c I am subconciously looking for a justification for my own apathy/inaction/indifference/un-love! O the depths of my creative depravity! How far do I balance knowing my actions are bringing Christ glory versus stopping, praying, and believing God will use super-natural ways (like He has many times) to bring about His beautiful perfect Will? Anyone get what I’m asking?

I think recently I realized, on my own and with the help of others, that I might have a bit of a martyr complex. Now this has traditionally been understood as someone who seeks out events and circumstances hence provoking persecution, torture, misunderstanding, and the like. But I am beginning to wonder if those aforementioned things actually should/are the norm in the sense that they are (to a degree) the appropriate response to the Gospel at times. Maybe I don’t have to seek it out, maybe it should (If I am obediently serving the interests of Christ at all times) seek me out.

What then is the difference between “hard living” as is so quickly shirked as our right as prospering Americans and rightful suffering as Christians who happen to live in America? What is a proper definition of entitlement from a Christian perspective? As my friend Bob always talks about, Where are the people who live not as a function of their income but radically different due to the stringent demands of the Gospel?

Originally martyr simply meant witness, only later did that include witness by dying. We are all dying. Does the question then become to what or whom are we witnessing? If so shouldn’t every Christian be a martyr? What’s so complex about that?

Interestingly enough in the NT the same idea/word is only used to describe the substance (1 Cor 1:21) of what we preach and the effect it will eventually have on the audience to whom we are preaching (1 Cor 2:14)

Oh! teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God, thy Spirit is good, lead me unto the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake, and perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever, forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Infinite and eternal Majesty, author and foundation of being and blessesness, how little do we poor sinful creatures know of thee, or the way to serve and please thee! We talk of religion, and pretend unto it; but alas! how are there that know and consider what it means! How easily do we mistake the affections of our nature, and issues of self-love, for those divine graces which alone can render us acceptable in thy sight!
  It may justly grieve me to consider, that I should have wondered so long, and contented myself so often with vain shadows, and false images of piety and religion; yet I cannot but acknowledge, and adore thy goodness, who hast been pleased, in some measure, to open mine eyes, and let me see what it is at which I ought to aim. I rejoice to consider what mighty improvements my nature is capable of, and what a divine temper of spirit doth shine in those whom thou are pleased to choose, and causest to approach unto thee.
  Blessed by thine infinite mercy, who sentest thine own Son to dwell among men, and instruct them by his example, as well as his laws, giving them a perfect pattern of what they ought to be. Oh! that the holy life of the blessed Jesus may always be in my thoughts, and before mine eyes, till I recieve a deep sense and impression of those excellent graces that shined so eminently in him; and let me never cease my endeavours, till that new and divine nature prevail in my soul, and Christ be formed within me.

From Alexis de Tocquville’s visit to America in the late 18th century speaking of the preachers he encountered…
“It is often difficult to ascertain from their discourses whether the principal object of religion is to procure eternal felicity in the other world or prosperity in this”