A question?

Earlier this week I was given cause, by an English friend of mine, to reflect upon an ethics paper I wrote a couple of years ago on the topic of same-sex marriage. Having reflected upon what I wrote, I feel that my approach to the topic was fairly compassionate and, hopefully, in line with the way in which Jesus would have his followers live in this world today.

As I thought about this topic again, it got me thinking about how unfortunate and sad it is that the two hot-button topics (same-sex partnerships and abortion) that seem to define Christianity in the minds of the general public are things that didn’t seem to be on Jesus’ mind as he ministered on this earth almost 2,000 years ago. So my question is this:

Why, as Christians, have we allowed two seemingly non-issues in the mind of Jesus paint a distorted picture of what is supposed to be the greatest message of love ever, ignoring very often the things that Jesus actually commanded us to do?

One week already

Butternut squash

It’s been over a week now since I stopped eating meat. So far so good. As I mentioned somewhere else, it started as something for Lent, but I am now resolved to it being permanent. I’ve lost a few pounds and I’m discovering food that I never knew I liked before. The above picture was tonight’s supper and, in spite of appearances, was quite delicious. It came straight from the pages of ‘Vegetarian Cooking for Dummies’.

Probably the only reason I didn’t do this sooner was procrastination or motivation. The reasons I am going down this particular path are mainly health and ethics. I feel healthier already and have been making sure that I’m not missing out on any nutrition or vitamins, and so on, that are necessary. I’ve researched the whole thing and come up with something that works for me. As for the ethics, I just don’t trust the whole food industry thing any more. This is something for everyone to come to their own conclusion on and I’m not going to get preachy about my ethical reasons for giving up meat, as well as cutting out as much processed food from my diet as I can. At this point I am still eating dairy products and eggs, but trying to make as much ethical choices as I can there.

I know it’s been only a week so far, but I don’t regret things as they have gone up to now. I don’t expect everyone to understand, but then I don’t understand everyone else, either. E-mail me if you are interested in any of my recipes, or send me some of yours if you have any good ones!

Some changes

These are the two books I am working through just now. Both are challenging in their own way and for reasons of change.

‘Vegetarian Cooking for Dummies’ is being read because on Wednesday I will be starting a meatless diet. For some people who know me that may be a hard one to swallow, but it is something I have been seriously considering for some time now. The main reasons are for health and well-being, but  there are also some ethical and environmental reasons for this choice. It was initially only going to be for the period of Lent, which commences on Wednesday, but I’m now moving towards the probability that it will be permanent. It’s a personal thing, so I’m not urging the rest of the family to join me on this particular journey. Also, if you do come and visit us in Elliot Lake, there will still be meat on the menu if you so choose.

‘Pagan Christianity?’ is challenging in the sense that it questions everything that the Christian church does and the origins of these practices. The present group of Christians that we lead/meet with only have five more Sundays in our present location – we close down the old on Sunday 29 March. We had hoped that the first Sunday in our new location would be 12 April (Easter), but that might not happen, due to some hold-ups with material/construction. Nevertheless we will still close down the old on 29 March. We are endeavouring to move towards a more Organic model of church and ‘Pagan Christianity?’ is helping to work out what some of that means.

It’s been a long journey so far, but exciting changes and challenges lie ahead. All prayers would be greatly appreciated!

Ethics

I don’t always understand the way that some people think. I have been with my present church/organisation all my life. I understand how it all came into being and also the past effectiveness of the hierarchical system. I really can’t understand why it is held onto for dear life at the cost of the future. Major decisions are often asked of just one person, or a select few. Some times it seems that either decisions are made in a void or with a sense of detachment from the real world.

Over a year ago a friend of mine received a card that was handwritten and purported to be from me. It was signed with my name, but I had no knowledge of this being sent and never would have unless my friend had asked me about it. It really blew my mind. The whole ethics of it are very questionable. When I asked about it I was informed that it was a common practice. How could such a thing happen without my prior knowledge. I’m not sure, but it did.

Something else happened today that I can’t write about, but it also brings up red flags about the system we serve under. One day a straw may come that will break the camel’s back, but that day is not today. I have been asked on a number of occasions why I stay within this system. The easy answer is that I believe I am where God has called me to be. This is also the hard answer, but that’s another story.

Here’s a couple of things that two writers, who could/can express their thoughts better than I ever could, have to say about ethics:

A man’s real belief is that which he lives by. What a man believes is the thing he does, not the thing he thinks.– George Macdonald

What we are governs how we think, and how we think determines how we act.– John R. W. Stott