"Do I feel bad about betraying Jim? Not at all. That was the game-convince him we’re in an ‘alliance’ together, use him for info, then toss him to the wolves… It’s called politics, baby. It’s about getting what you can out of people and then destroying them."
Dwight Schrute
Assistant TO the Regional Manager
Dunder Mifflin, Scranton Branch
Politics: It’s about getting what you can out of people and then destroying them. It seems as though the writers of The Office have been paying close attention to recent foreign policy decisions. Since the "church" by and large has dropped the proverbial ball on caring for people, the government has implemented tax funded initiatives such as Social Security and welfare. Could it be that under our current systems of political functionality that the church must operate in cooperation with the government to care for people? If "followers of Jesus" don’t take care of the poor then should one be in favor of higher taxes so that said provision may be allocated by legislators? How should a follower of Jesus actively engage the public square so that money taken from people may be used in a life-giving manner rather than for destruction of a "lower class" or "other nation" (emphasis on quotation marks to distinguish language that represents something that doesn’t really exist)?
WARNING :Spoilers ahead. If you have not yet experienced The Dark Knight [now playing in a theater near you] then forgiveness may still be imparted and you may not want to read any further so as to avoid disclosure of the unveiling story that is the saga of Bruce Wayne and a nameless, unhuman.
Yes. Unhuman.
My favorite scene (currently) in The Dark Knight is when the man called "The Joker" is sitting in the Gotham City jail cell. When Police Commisioner James Gordon enters the holding area one of the GCPD officers informs Gordon of "The Joker’s" identity. He is… well… mmmm… no one. He has no name. He has no fingerprints. No DNA matches. Nothing. Even his clothing and shoes have no tags or identification. Though found in the form of man he doesn’t really seem to be… a man, a… hu-man. In addition to having no physical identity, the character doesn’t act or think like a human. His behavior and thought patterns caused me throughout the film to think of him as a genious, psychotic lunatic who can’t be… a man. So what is it that has stripped this man, now called "The Joker," of his humanity?
The evil in our world has quite tragically succeeded in the process of dehumanization. I must confess that, even in an attempt at good, I have been engaged in the dehumanization of others. In my poor attempts at "ministry" I have objectified people by seeing them as "projects" rather than as human beings loved deeply by God. I have been consumed by consuming "works of righteousness." I the more "good" I could feed myself, the more satisfied I thought I was from "helping others." When will I cease to pridefully desire the satifaction that seems to come from suppossed "good works?" When will serving others be something more than my very own Wayne Enterprises? How may I be a part of a community that goes about restoring humanity?
An extremely valuable response to the concept of community came to me via e-mail (many responses actually are via e-mail or phone calls from friends). A friend and mentor who shall remain nameless for the time being granted me the permission to use his response to my question, "What is community?" in any way that is "helpful to the conversation." He included the following concepts which I have adapted for consistent language and clarity. In my attempt at revision I was able to process to a greater degree what I hope to be interpreting correctly as the genuine thought of my teacher.
// Story ::
Stories preserve wisdom, share meaningful traditions, warn of impending problems, and create the back-narrative for moments which are "rights of passage. Without stories community is unattainable.
// Place ::
Even nomadic communities have a place. A place is a physical area with which to be concerned and for which a community is responsible. Followers of Jesus might understand the birthright and inheritance of responsibility (not to be confused with ownership) for place as stewardship. If a community loses its responsibility for place then it sacrifices that which keeps it grounded both literally and metaphorically.
// Connectedness ::
Community is relational thereby requiring purposed connection.
// Values ::
It is not necessary for those living in community to agree completely on an assorted number of issues; however, basic values are needed to retain trust in one another. A good question to ask is, What are the values of the community concerning economic development?
DISCLAIMER: The language of values may be burdensome for some as it carries negative perceptions and connotations due in large part to the tainting by political rhetoric.
// Conversation ::
Honest and open dialogue of a spiritual, political, academic, agricultural, and/or economic nature is critical to community.
// Commitment ::
Longevity in a place and with a people provides the fertile ground in which community can grow.
I had the pleasure of meeting with Dan Merchant briefly this evening at the ACSD conference. Dan is the writer/director/producer of the documentary, “LORD, save us from your followers.” I also attended the viewing of the film. I was entertained, confronted, and reaffirmed all at the same time. I am definitely going to be purchasing the film and hosting a screening as a part of the film forum of Oakwood Hall. I will also be meeting with Dan hoping that he may visit our community at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
The following trailer is somewhat vague and does not come close to providing a full representation of the movie. Please visit the website to watch more video clips and read more information.
A week of interviewing 64 candidates for Resident Assistant and Spiritual Life Assistant positions caused a brief hiatus in my posting. It is intriguing to experience different personalities communicating and expressing themselves in both individual and group interview settings. Psychological and sociological observations could be conducted in the setting of an interview. I was fascinated.
I was also highly encouraged to be reminded of the energy and passion that college students have to be servants and to love incoming students so that they may experience the love of Jesus.
I was just browsing Shelfari and came across a member whose screen name is “nonconformist.” Isn’t it somewhat conformist to claim oneself as a nonconformist? There are enough people claiming the label of “nonconfirmist” that it is now conforming to do so. The pattern toward which conforming is really taking place is that of arrogance. There exists a certain connotation toward pride of self when one labels oneself as a person who does not “conform” as if everybody else does conform to some measurable standard or cultural norm. So to all self-proclaimed “nonconformists,” I say, “Quit conforming” to the patterns of this world. May we seek humility.
"Do I feel bad about betraying Jim? Not at all. That was the game-convince him we’re in an ‘alliance’ together, use him for info, then toss him to the wolves… It’s called politics, baby. It’s about getting what you can out of people and then destroying them."
An extremely valuable response to the concept of community came to me via e-mail (many responses actually are via e-mail or phone calls from friends). A friend and mentor who shall remain nameless for the time being granted me the permission to use his response to my question, "What is community?" in any way that is "helpful to the conversation." He included the following concepts which I have adapted for consistent language and clarity. In my attempt at revision I was able to process to a greater degree what I hope to be interpreting correctly as the genuine thought of my teacher.