Posts Tagged ‘Ethics’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Conversations

June 19, 2009

It’s amazing the conversations you can have just by opening up–and by listening. I travel a lot for business and have had some of the most deep and interesting conversations at dinner. This week I was in Phoenix. There was a dinner for people from the media (I’m a magazine editor) and various marketing and engineering people from the host company. I sat with my journalist friends from Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. Silvia from Brazil asked if I was “how do you say, Protestant”. Then she wanted to know what sect. (Her English is far better than my Portugese.) I told her I was Methodist. She laughed. Her father-in-law is (as close as I can tell) the equivalent of a District Superintendent and her brother-in-law is a local church pastor both in the Methodist Church in Brazil.

She is Catholic, no surprise to me, but we went on to have a fascinating conversation about religion and spirituality, about my favorite stream of Catholicism–the Carmelites.

At other dinners I’ve discussed spirituality with a wide range of Christians and with Hindus, Buddhists and Moslems. If you’re polite, listen, present your ideas with humility, it’s amazing what you learn about people and the seeds you can plant in return.

I’ve heard the phrase frequently lately from Gandhi about “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians.” I’ve also read other people who couldn’t figure out why, when they should agree with people of various Christian persuasions, didn’t–only to discover it was really the people they didn’t like, not the idea.

Lord, save me from being one of those people who turn people off. Make me a better listener. More like a gentle rain than a hurricane in my dealings with others.

— Gary Mintchell

Tags:, ,
Posted in Spirituality | Leave a Comment »

Pointing back at you

June 8, 2009

Recently there was a small group discussion. I should agree with the participants–at least most of the time. But sometimes I am uncomfortable. It’s a rush to judgement thing. And there are a couple of “bogeymen” that just raise their ire. Reading in the first chapter of Romans where Paul lists the many ways that people sin, they immediately jumped on the homosexual issue.  They stopped reading at the end of the first chapter. Too bad. The second chapter begins (by the way, Paul didn’t write in chapters, so he would have expected the discussion to proceed through this next thought):

Therefore, you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.

Have you ever taken the time to be quiet for periods of time every day and let God talk to you? Have you ever used this time to look into your heart and see all the hatred and evil things in there that you are capable of? Have you realized the grace of God that you have either overcome those impulses and desires or the grace that says, “you are forgiven, go and sin no more”?

When I was a kid, there was a saying “When you point a finger at another, three fingers are pointing back at you.” It is so easy to sit in judgment of others. Remember, someone is judging you. And it isn’t pretty. It is a better attitude in life to realize how thankful each of us should be for the grace of God–and to extend that grace in His name to everyone we meet. And how hard it is to live that thought.

Peace, Gary Mintchell

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Christianity, Ethics, Spirituality | Leave a Comment »

Servant Leadership

May 16, 2009

Last weekend I was involved with a youth soccer tournament. It’s the 14th. The last two weeks are always stressful for me, since I recruit and assign referees. Then during the weekend I have to make sure all the games are covered  when refs have to leave or get injured or something. But when things are going well and I don’t have to calm coaches or soothe irate parents, I have time for observation.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years of this and other summer projects is how normally nice people seem to get on little ego trips during these events. If they are on the committee or sometimes even just peripherally involved, some just need a status symbol. In these events, it’s a golf cart for riding around the site. I want exercise, so normally I’ll walk even though I have a cart at my disposal for getting to the scene of controversy quickly or ferrying referees from place to place. Some who have no responsibilities just seem to want to have one to ride around in.

This is not extreme, but it does remind me that Jesus’ example was washing feet. If you want to be a leader, then be a servant. When I watch others, I’m challenged to look at myself and ask whether I’m still fulfilling my roles as a servant leader or as a lord ruler. How about you?

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Christianity, Ethics | Leave a Comment »

Ache Search Rejoice

April 20, 2009

— Gary Mintchell

Now that we are celebrating after Easter, this passage from Luke seems even more meaningful. I’ve been contemplating on Luke 15 for months now, and finally decided to write about it. During my study of Luke, I visited Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago. Founder/Pastor Bill Hybels was concerned that his church had lost a little edge and brought out one of his original “Contagious Christians” talks. The outline is his, other thoughts mine.

It seems that well into his ministry, Jesus heard the grumbling of the church people–those who observed all the laws (so they thought anyway), attended services, hung out with the right people and all that. These are things we can recognize today from “church people.” So he told three stories to answer their question about why he hung out with “sinners and tax collectors.” The first story is about a shepherd who has a flock of a hundred sheep. Upon discovering that he has lost one, he leaves everything to find it. The second story is about a woman who has lost a coin and searches diligently until she finds it. The third story is about a man who loses one of his sons and looks longingly every day until that sons returns.

These stories have three things in common: aching, searching, rejoicing. And they all describe God. And as we live in remembrance of the Easter events and celebrate the risen Jesus, remember this context.

God aches for every lost person who cannot find the way to salvation and wholeness. Just as we should ache for those same people. Ache is deeper than shallow emotion. It is as if something in us is missing and we won’t be complete without it. Do we care about those who are lost? Or are we comfortable with those around us? Do we always sit an empty chair in our small groups in remembrance that we need to fill that chair with someone who needs to be brought into relationship?

The aching leads to action–searching. The shepherd diligently searches though all the rocks and crevaces until he finds the lost. The woman sweeps the floor, moving furniture, looking under things until she finds the coin. The man goes out to the hill and looks everyday for the return of his son. Do we ache so much for the lost that we search for them? Are we trying to bring wholeness through Jesus to people in need?

Finding leads to rejoicing. In each case the finder is so overjoyed that they invite all their friends over for a big celebration. Just as Jesus was telling the Pharisees and other “church people” (including us) that God rejoices for every person who was lost and then was found, so we should rejoice when a person finds the way and comes to God. As we live in this after Easter celebration along with facing a chenge in pastoral leadership, it’s important to remember we can have Easter celebrations every week that we find lost people and help them find wholeness. That’s what has grown our congregation, and what we need to continue to focus on.

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Christianity, Ethics, Spirituality | Leave a Comment »

Compassion

April 16, 2009

— Gary Mintchell

OK, so referring to a blog called Zen Habits may seem strange in a Christian blog, but bear with me. I don’t think Leo is exactly a Buddhist, anyway. But his post yesterday about “Five Tiny Steps to Quit Being Such a Jerk” really resonnated with me. Wish I had read it earlier in my life 😉

Ever witness a situation where someone else (of course, not you or me) berates someone, yells at a sales clerk or airline ticket counter person, pushes through a line to get to the front? OK, ever done any of that yourself? Leo witnessed an occasion, then had an insight. More than likely that person wasn’t consciously trying to be a jerk. He/she was just only thinking of themself.

What can we do about it? Well, read the post for the full effect. To summarize–try a little compassion toward others. Put yourself in their shoes. Try five times a day to think of others before yourself. Try it and I think you’ll find yourself actually living more of a New Testament lifestyle.

Tags:,
Posted in Ethics | Leave a Comment »

Inspired to act

September 3, 2008

I guess I’ll continue the theme of actions today, because I just read this blog post by Steve Leveen, founder and CEO of Levenger–a retailer of fine pens and productivity tools for thinkers. On a suggestion from a friend, he read “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracy Kidder about Dr. Paul Farmer (MD) who established a medical mission to Haiti even though he is a Harvard physician. The book inspired him (Leveen) to become a tutor at a local school. Interesting how ideas come together. I began my study of Luke this year with thoughts about John the Baptist’s teaching that following spiritual renewal you should go out and help other people. Jesus then began his ministry essentially the same way. Reading, listening to the Spirit, doing. Those three go together. Makes me wonder what I’m doing…

-Gary Mintchell

Tags:,
Posted in Christianity, Ethics, Spirituality | Leave a Comment »

Turn the world upside down

August 22, 2008

It seems as though I’ve been on constant business trips this month. Finally home for a while. My regimen of posting to four blogs while traveling sort of lapsed. Anyway, continuing in my study of Luke, I’m looking at his reporting of the Sermon on the Mount in Chapter 6. “Blessed are you who are poor”; Blessed are you who hunger”; Blessed are you who weep”; Blessed are you when men hate you”. On the other hand, “Woe to you who are rich”; “Woe to you who are well fed”; “Woe to you who laugh”; “Woe to you when all men speak well of you”.

It is probably impossible to overstate the impact of the Roman Empire, the god-like worship of Caesar, the culture of power that permeated society at the time. These words are revolutionary. It’s not so much political revolutionary suggesting the replacement of one government with another. It is Jesus saying that all people need to replace one worldview with another. Replace the attitude that rich people are somehow superior in every way to poor people. Replace the attitude of “if you’ve got it, flaunt it.” Replace the attitude of “I’ve got power over you, do what I say.”

I’m not so sure that humans have progressed all that much from Roman times. We still have a predominant society of “getting mine” and “screw the rest.” Even among Christ-followers, there has recurred a theme of “we’re better” or “we’ll get financially rich because we’re Christians.” On the other hand, perhaps the body of people who truly try to follow the teachings of Jesus (and Paul) is slowly growing over time and may perhaps see the eventual overturning of the Roman worldview replaced by a God worldview. I pray that it’s soon.

Gary Mintchell

Tags:, ,
Posted in Christianity, Ethics, Spirituality | 1 Comment »

Prisoner?

July 28, 2008

Still in my study of Luke..

Luke records two stories (early in chapter 6) where Jesus confronts the Laws of the Sabboth. In the Ten Commandments, Moses records one of God’s Laws as “Remember the Sabboth Day and keep it holy.” Believers are instructed not to work on the Sabboth. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Well, hold on there. What is work? This thought occurred to ancient law makers just as it would today. So for hundreds of years Jewish lawyers set to work defining work. Therefore, when the followers of Jesus were walking with him on the Sabboth and picked some grains of wheat, rubbed them between their hands and then ate the kernels, they were accused of “working” that is harvesting and threshing grain.

There was a 13-week television series that aired on Public Television in the late 1960s called “The Prisoner.” It starred Patrick McGoohan, whose previous credit was a low budget spy series called “Secret Agent.” McGoohan (Number 6) found himself in a perfect little city. Trouble was, he wasn’t allowed out. For twelve weeks, we followed his exploits as he sought to break out of prison, constantly looking for Number One. He talked with Number Two, but never Number One. The last show of the series gave the “punch line.” In fact, Number Six (McGoohan) was really Number One. He had imprisoned himself!

As I study Jesus’ story in Luke for the umpteenth time, it becomes ever more clear that one of the dangers Jesus warns us about is the human tendency to make rules. When you are dieting, do you want to hear “just eat well” or do you want a list of foods to eat and a list not to eat? Similarly, when Jesus asks you to live in the Spirit, can you just do that? Or do you need a list of what to do and what not to do? There are many problems with lists. They can serve to divide the “good” from the “bad.” But later on we are admonished not to do that work of God. We’re all bad, right? Lists (rules) make it seem as if we can earn our salvation by following the letter of the law. That’s wrong. We can’t earn anything.

What did we learn from John the Baptist, and increasingly then from Jesus? First, get right with God. Then, do things for others. That’s it. Live in the Spirit, then always be aware when a brother or sister need a little help and give it. I guess that’s too simple for some people. Either that, or it’s too hard!

Gary Mintchell

Tags:,
Posted in Christianity, Ethics | 1 Comment »

Rules

July 23, 2008

After Luke records Jesus’ dealing with temptations, he proceeds into a compilation of events and sayings. Luke was a physician, and you’ll see more healing stories in his book than anywhere else. Significant among the early healings and other stories was the way Jesus dealt with the Sabboth. I was taught (and have never seen anything to contradict it) that Jewish Sabboth observance really caught on during the Babylonian Captivity as a way to keep their heritage alive. Over time, thinkers kept trying to define what it meant to “keep the Sabboth holy.” If you are to do no work, then what is work? So began a long process of writing definitions–otherwise known as laws or rules–about how to keep the day holy.

Jesus realized that the problem with rules is that they become a burden on the people. They forgot about concentrating on being holy and started concentrating on not breaking the rules. Today psychologists have verified Jesus stance that what you think about determines what you’ll do. When Jesus healed a man’s withered arm on the Sabboth in full view of everyone, he asked whether it was God’s will to do good or to do evil on the Sabboth.

The lesson for us is to reflect on our thoughts and actions and see where our concentration is. Are we more concerned with rules, and not breaking them? Or, are we concerned with God and what He wants us to do in every situation, with every minute? I know which one Jesus picked. Wish I could be as perfect as He!

Tags:, ,
Posted in Christianity, Ethics, Spirituality | Leave a Comment »

Heeding the call

July 14, 2008

I could almost see John the Baptist smiling last Friday (OK, I can’t imagine him smiling, either). Considering the challenges he laid out to believers that I discussed last week, I shared in a celebration of great love and ministry. The dinner was a celebration and thank you to the volunteers who have helped make the local free medical clinic, Compassionate Care, the success it has become over the past year. But even more was the story of one person of faith who asked what she could do to use her talent and faith in service of the poor. I was there because my wife volunteers, but the story is too important to let go unmentioned. There must have been at least 50 people involved. What a great example to those of us who serve less than we could.

So when people asked John what they should do after they believed (had a spiritual experience with God followed by commitment of their lives), and he said, “If you have two shirts, share with the person who does not have one. If you have food, share that also.” Thanks to Theresa Ditmer and the large band of followers who show that this teaching is still important today.

posted by Gary

Tags:,
Posted in Christianity, Ethics | Leave a Comment »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »