McChurch

Lately I've been reading the books of Rob Bell. For those of you who don't know him, Bell is a pastor. Now, before your eyes glaze over, let me assure you, he's not like that. Really.

I am a Christian. I believe and hold to the old tenets of that faith: Jesus was who he claimed to be, namely, I AM. I also believe that the way he teaches us to BE in the this world is the best Way. Beyond this, things get pretty fuzzy with me. Beyond this, we get into the realm of religion, which you can shove. I'm full, thanks (and yes, I know this is the trendy thing for Christians to say. Tough.).

I mention this only because I have come to the conclusion that American Christianity is getting things very wrong in a lot of different ways, and here is a pastor, Bell, who seems to agree with me.

For example, America is rich. Really really really rich. Really rich. How rich? How about this: According to the United Nations Environment Program, Americans spend more for trash bags than 90 of the world's 210 countries spend for everything. We spend more on shoes, jewellery and watches ($80 billion) than on higher education ($65 billion). We spend $20 billion on ice cream every year, which is more than it would cost to provide basic sanitation, health care, and nutrition for the 3rd world.

Being American myself, I'm rich. Mostly though, I don't feel rich. I am awake enough to know, however, that in global context, I'm quite well off.

Where I get hung up is when I start examining what I am doing with those riches. Or not doing...

(to be continued)