I like to keep busy just like everyone else. In the midst of my stress a friend sent me a link to this article by Darrin Patrick called “Our Hectic Lives.” It really hits on some good questions: to what are we working towards? Is the western model of busier is better really a good one?
Take a look at the article and post what you think.
THE SEMINARIAN WAGER
Everyone has faith. Regardless of how
our faith developed, we should be
willing to critically analyze those
beliefs. While analyzing the validity
of our faith, we should also be willing
to analyze the validity of our doubts
and cultural preconditions. If we are
willing to do this, we wager that over
time, the roots of our faith will
strengthen toward truth, and will not
be uprooted during challenging times.
This site aims to provide worthwhile
discussion regarding a critical
evaluation of both religious belief
and modern doubts.
Posts
That. Article. Is. Awesome. Talk about exposing the flawed thinking of consumerism…
While it is of course over-simplified in many ways, it certainly makes you stop and think.
Mark Driscoll (ironically, a friend of DP’s) has an awesome sermon/lecture called “Reverse Engineering Your Life.” I highly recommend it as a practical application of the principle Darrin Patrick writes about.
Excellent stuff. I haven’t had a day of rest in… well… probably 4 weeks, and I won’t get one for another 2 weeks. Very convicting.
Sounds like the most forgotten of commands: number four…
I can’t agree more with the message against consumerism, but there are other professions besides business. What if someone’s furture or even life depended on the fisherman in a way bigger than the role of a father or husband? For example, the ancient professions of medical, law and military require a tremendous amount of study and preparation so that, when the time comes, they will be prepared to do what is necessary.
I am reminded of the Simpsons’ Dr. Nick who is going to perform an operation on Homer. He nervously takes the scalpal but clearly has no idea where to make the insertion. Thinking back to his medical school days, he can only remember a fraternity party where he is trying to impress a girl. While Dr. Nick may not have been geting at the finer things in life that the story gets at, the point about responsibility in certain professions is certainly clear.
If we want to talk about professional responsibility, then Christains, especially, fall under this umbrella. Jesus even told one disciple to let the dead bury the dead (Matt 8:22). Talk about no rest for the weary.
Anyway, I think the story has great value in that it gets at a big problem in our society: consumerism. But we should qualify that the story should only be used for its intended use.
J.O.E.-
Good point on professionality. Although it may be true that if the fisherman could bring in more fish the economy might grow more, I think there are more important issues to look at. Who is the fisherman immediatley responsible for? I would answer his family. Although there are times when we need to push (I am in one of those times right now) the “American Dream” is a farse. The idea that if we kill ourselves with preparation for the future we will be rewarded with rest and security in the end is foolish. We need to do that which we need to do (this is where Dr. Nick got into trouble). We don’t need to take care of needs down the line (Matt 6:25).
Interesting you bring up Matt 8:22. Jesus is calling people to let the dead bury the dead so that the living could follow him. Jesus is calling these people to rest.
Although I think we might all agree Christians do not (often??? generally???) model rest well.
Josh, I heard a speaker I think a lot of say (in 2004 when security was an even bigger “farce”) that we see the world through a lens of technological, therapeutic, militaristic, consumerism… To keep us safe and happy…
Joe, I had always heard the classic professions were: law, clergy, and medical. Not to marginalize the military, but because the other three are similar in educational requirements.
Funny that doctors, who presumably know the most about the physical benefits of good rest routinely annihilate their rookies with hours, doubles, etc. Furthermore, that pastors, who generally agree that the 10 Commandments are good things… don’t rest well in my very limited experience…
However, this blog contribution has been a terrific study break for me…
Josh - As I understood it, Matt 8:22 shows Jesus commanding his disciple to follow him and let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead. Then the disciple gets in the boat with him and they head off to sea. This is why I brought it up to show that Jesus was commanding his disciple, presumably one of the elect, to follow him even though he wanted some time off.
Matt - Yes, I too was taught that the three traditional professions were law, clergy and medical. I just had a brain fart. The military thing is just a reference to the western professionalization of armed forces since Gustavus Adolphus. Of course, you and I were probably taught that there were three elements that linked the traditional professions: 1) society depends on them in some way 2) they require an ongoing education 3) they choose competency for advancement from within themselves. With the idea of bureaucratized society in mind, there are a lot of professions out there that meet these elements. With the idea of bureaucratized society, many of the technical fields that would not have met these criteria in the last centuries now meet them perfectly. Only one of them is the military profession. Of course, this broadens the scope with which we would need to qualify the story in order to make use of it.
Um… you were probably taught better than I was… Where did those three points come from? They sound vaguely Marx… But, the third one just sounds functional (neither Marx, nor anti).
One of the many problems with Jesus’ life is that we have 52/1000 days. So, we have him observing the Sabbath (and saying he is Lord of it - Blasphemy, connecting him with creation), making use of it to push for greater egalitarianism, using it to display a legalism that has left out the healing of people (even though technically it hasn’t - “which of you wouldn’t pull out your horse…” Referencing a more crazy sect that the Pharisees differed from)… Anyway, I only mean we can’t say he wasn’t interested in rest because of that reference.
Man, who taught you Joe?
Maybe I should read the story I’m technically referencing…
Matt, that’s a fair point about referencing Matt 8:22 in that context. I’m personally unsure if there is a scripture reference that explicitly speaks to this subject. I guess I’m kind of wondering if there is scriptural evidence for or against the idea that we should ‘look for horses to pull out of a ditch’ on the Sabbath? By this I only mean to differentiate the idea that if we stumble upon something that should be done, or if we should anticipate things that might need to be done, or go looking in all the local ditches.
Okay, yes, being centered and powerful through peace and calm within oneself is important and good.
But one of the most amazing (not necessarily good; just amazing) things about capitalism as an economic AND social model is that it is absolutely the most revolutionary system of operation there is. Capitalism forces that which does not work or people do not want out the door and demands bigger, better, more effective results.
There’s something to be said for those who take the reins of destiny and ride them hard, maybe even to their own ruin. Frida Kahlo, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gallileo, Niels Bohr: they shaped the future and destiny of mankind and died or suffered for it. It doesn’t make their approach to life less valid, right? And the enigmatic and powerful thing about these kinds of people is that they can’t stop doing it. EVER.
I’m not knocking the proverbial fisherman. He is important, too. Super important. And that point of view is certainly important.
It’s very fashionable to speak against such flourishes and point to a life of simplicity and moderation; and while those with insatiable appetites run themselves into the ground, those with little appetite often seem to stand around and shake their heads at the world as it passes by them.
The donkey thing is a difference between the Pharisees and the Essenes and had to do with raising the bar on the Jewish Laws concerning the Sabbath (Based roughly around the 39 rules about the Tabernacle)… So, here Jesus is actually siding with the Pharisees… I don’t know if I was making a point, and i certainly don’t think Christianity explicitly condemns any economic system.
Kyle, bring it home for me and explain a bit more…
I think I was just being misanthropic when I wrote that…
But I was also just saying that it’s good to simplify and examine the “thingyness” of our society, but people who do that don’t necessarily lead better lives. In fact, by most statistical standards, they lead much worse lives than those who “prosper.” I’m just saying.