Moderator’s Musings

by Blaine Miner

One of the ‘joys’ of working for an institution or bureaucracy is that each has its own logic. Many times when discussing an issue and the possibility of a solution, I was reminded that I was thinking logically and that would not fit this particular system.

Sr. Joan Chittister in her book, ‘The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage’, describes the role of the prophet. The prophet speaks for God. The prophet, when speaking on behalf of God, is telling the listeners God’s expectations. Then, as now, the logic of the world responds negatively to the Word of God. Sister Chittister references Jewish philosopher Maimonides. The idea is that our human thought process can only take us so far. To become fully human, we need ‘holy irrationality’ to make up the difference between what we as people can comprehend and the world which God calls us to be part of.

I immediately thought of Isaiah 55 as the holy irrationality moving us beyond our human logic. Hear these words:

“Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price…(Isaiah 55:1. NIV)”. Isaiah continues with the absurdity in the following verses.

Extending charity is challenging. When our society and culture define successes economically by having money which in turn can get food, water, and housing, what happens to those who cannot feed their families, provide shelter, and find a job?

We look at this passage of Isaiah and we see the opportunity for abuse. In our twenty-first century mindset, we see the impracticality of such a practice. Yet, God reminds us that relationships are important. Compassion is what ought to drive us.

As I read the chapter, “Insight”, I read the outcome of being a follower of Jesus. When we agreed to be baptized, when we said yes to the calling to belong to God, we thought we were doing the cultural norm of belonging to a church. Sister Chittister writes that belonging to Christ, claiming to be a follower of Christ, means we accept the Holy Madness, the Irrational Gospel implied by Isaiah 55.

It could be said that those who heard the stories of a decimated Europe from ‘Brethren Prophets’ (M.R. Ziegler and Dan West) sparked the call for the development of Brethren Volunteer Service. Those volunteers then and today continue to go to places to promote peace and to work for justice. They went to proclaim the good news. They brought light to a world where darkness was encouraged.

Extending charity is foolishness. It does not meet the logic of a world based on a profit/loss ratio. If we do these things taught by the prophets and by Jesus, what will our churches look like? How will we be changed if we allow ourselves to be changed and act according to the spirit and will of God?

Sr. Chittister reflects on the encounter between Jesus and the man at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus asks the man if he wanted to be well. The man responds that others get in before he can even move. Jesus commands the man to pick up his mat and walk and thus Jesus provides the cure.

Sr. Chittister asks questions of our giving. Do we think about those modern-day people unable to get to their healing pool of Bethesda? Who do we see who needs assistance? Does the local foodbank receive calls asking if they deliver? Do people need rides to a oup kitchen? What needs are being expressed, but not met because of an inability to get there?

Can we extend charity and be involved? It becomes more personal if we do so.