Empire FAIL: Surely We Can Change

Of the many memes the interwebs have unleashed, none is more widespread or fertile than FAIL. It's pretty self explanatory... funny picture (often of someone hurting them self or failing in some way) with the text 'FAIL' written over the image.  The FAIL blog and Shipment of Fail both offer a growing collection of 'Fail' images.

This image captures, for me, where the U.S. empire is from an economic POV:

Conor Friedersdorf has a great summary of how we got here in his C11 post 5 Easy Pieces, including a link to a spectacular This American Life piece on the (then looming) housing credit crisis.   Some see this as just a blip, other as a by-product of rich, white guys being stupid or non-white people being uppity as they actually want a home of their own.

As usual, Jon Stewart and the Emmy-winning gang at THE DAILY SHOW nail it:

Naomi Klein is right when she observes:

So let's be absolutely clear: there are no saviors who are going to look out for us in this crisis. Certainly not Henry Paulson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs, one of the companies that will benefit most from his proposed bailout (which is actually a stick up). The only hope of preventing another dose of shock politics is loud, organized grassroots pressure on all political parties: they have to know right now that after seven years of Bush, Americans are becoming shock resistant.

Devinder Sarma frames the contrast in priorities in STWR (Share The World's Resources):

The one trillion dollar bailout package that President Bush is promising could have wiped out the last traces of poverty, hunger, malnutrition and squalor from the face of the Earth - if only our global leadership prioritised the poor with the same level of urgency as the financial crisis

It is shocking to me how silent American churchianity has been in the midst of this collapse.  America's Pastor  has not said one word in the last 20 days about what is happening to people's homes & their retirement, as well as the $1 trillion plan for financial PEACE.  Mainline leaders have been silent as well, ironic given how much of their funding comes from the very investment bankers who drove this collapse.  Those who tout themselves as traditionalist or orthodox have been fairly silent, despite their emphasis on free markets as an idea that is almost Biblical.

Think about how many sermons were preached in all types of pulpits after the attacks of 9/11.  Whatever end of the pew you sit on, your probably heard a preacher talk about America, security and faith after that fateful day in 2001.

This past Sunday, how many preachers talked about the crisis the world finds itself in right now ?  How many talked about security and faith and priorities ?

People of faith who have talked openly about the risks of this prosperity system have been labeled Marxist, liberation purist, even Commie pinkos.  There is some bitter irony in seeing good folks belittled when they warn of these clouds on the horizon.  But when the storm comes, look at the solutions - shock therapy, with no questions allowed.  Losses underwritten by big government, with the business that made these decisions allowed to progress on.

A little more than a year ago, Brian McLaren published his bravest book yet, Everything Must Change.  I suspect it did not sell as well as tales of Neo or new idea of evangelism or faith.  McLaren spotlighted the crisis we face in prosperity, equity and secuirity, all springing from a crisis in the way religions frame their stories.  This book was met with scorn, personal attacks and a level of push back that makes emerging church battle look like pre-season football.

It grabbed me so hard that for a few weeks, I basically turned my blog over to the book.

What fascinated me was not how McLaren framed these problems, but rather the manner is which he stayed with it as something that God and all of us care about passionately.  He channels some of the energy that a woman who blogs at the Feminary picks up when she recently wrote:

"The address of the kingdom of God is the here and now. The Kingdom is now or never."

Given this crisis in the prosperity system, McLaren does not suggest that Jesus calls us to unplug the system or wallow in guilt.  Instead, he suggests that Jesus calls us:

“to seek the common good, not simply the selfish interests of our ego, family, religion, race, nation or species “

The common good only makes sense if we are living in a kingdom of God that is here and now, not some getaway vacation after our death.  If all of this is only rehearsal or a life-long exam, then the common good is an altruistic after-thought, an extra credit assignment that we rarely get to.

It is tempting as Jesus followers to opt out of grappling with the complex issues that face us.  It is easy to claim that smarter people must have the answers.  It is comforting to go back to daily Scripture reading or some "approved" activity of faith.  But the choices we make right now are how we are faithing our lives - and McLaren challenges us in  a way that I yearn to hear from more people of faith (heck, maybe even a pastor or two):

1. Without faith, our action won’t be sufficient or sustainable.
2. Required actions will vary based on context, but the faith issue is universal.
3. True faith will be expressed in action … and that action flows naturally when the faith issue is dealt with.

Next week, many faith traditions will remember Francis of Assisi.  In his day, Francis spoke out against the "suicide machine" that he saw in the what creation and resources were mis-used.  Francis read the command to the rich young man to sell all his good and give to the poor, the order to the apostles to take nothing on their journey, and the demand to take up the cross daily. "Here is our rule," Francis said -- as simple, and as seemingly impossible, as that. He was going to do what no one thought possible any more -- live by the Gospel.   Francis was a man of action. His simplicity of life extended to ideas and deeds.

My prayer is that as the American seems to be in almost complete FAIL, surely we can listen to the words of Jesus, surely we can follow in the steps of saints like Francis & Claire - surely we can change:

When all the love in the world is right here among us
And hatred too
And so we must choose what our hands will do

Where there is pain, let there be grace
Where there is suffering, bring serenity
For those afraid, help them be brave
Where there is misery, bring expectancy
And surely we can change, surely we can change,
Something

And the problem it seems is with you and me
Not the Love who came to repair everything

Comments

[Trev]

Started well, but devolved into glurge. Pity.

[Nike Shox Turbo]

From heaven, known from sincerity, true friendship from caring, blessing from the heart, busy, don't forget to greet friends, your life is safe happiness!

[Joe Six-Pack]

Great post.

[FAIL]

Some seriously thick writing right there. It is truly sad that we are getting screwed by people and companies that are only in it for themselves.

[jim justus]

great work,godspeed

is it the preacher's job to call down medical problems that are lifestyle related....how about the impression we make on others as a result of what color clothes we wear....America is a nation like any other- if Ron Paul or Ralph Nader doesn't get pulpit time, why should Paulson or Bernanke, or WAMU or AIG, or $7ooB or the predicted Social Security failure....thank God that God is bigger than all life- contentment is the key....knowing how to be OK with life when it's going good or not going at all- let's all pray that our fellow citizens are not destroyed by the rich planters...James, in the Bible, called down the rich in righteous indignation- reading that passage does communicate the ire of our times

[Jennifer BB]

Hey Bob,

My sermon last Sunday (the 21st) was all over this issue--I'd be happy to send it to you if you'd like. We cannot be silent in the midst of this latest crisis.

[Andy]

This is a great post. Thanks for taking the time to say this all very well. I've also been wrestling with my response to these troubling times although for different reasons. We need to hold onto hope, and I think you are pointing in a good direction.

[kristen]

thank you thank you thank you.

my post will be so much more angry than this.