How important is an individual human life?

This morning, I woke up, had breakfast and went to work. I worked for 7 hours, came home, had dinner and then jumped online . That was my existence. However, I visited the World Pres Photo Exhibition on Thursday night, and I was reminded of the reality of the existence of people throughout the world: one that is frequently faced with suffering and death. As I looked through some of the photos, I was struck by the fragility of an individual human life. And not just the fragility but the pure insignificance of a single human being. Its worthless! 1 individual human life among 6,697,254,041...? How important is 1 individual life...?

What I just said is politically and socially incorrect. Many people would be outraged at what I said. But I'll describe some of the photos I saw at the exhibition:

1. A man being stoned for adultery in Somalia. Some of the men are smiling as they throw rocks at the mangled body.

2. A girl shot dead during protests against the government in Madagascar.

3. The head of a little girl. The only part of her that is not buried in the rubble of a collasped building in eastern Gaza city. It was the target of an air-strike.

4. A youth lying dead on a street due to clashes between rival drug gangs in Columbia.

5. The scene of the assassination of the president of Guinea-Bissau, a country over-run by drug cartels.

Did any of the people who were behind these deaths stop to think whether the life of a human being was worth anything? For the leaders of men who send their armies to wage war against another, for those who order long range attacks on urban settlements, for the drug lords whose goal is to make as much profit for themselves as possible, what did the the life of an individual human being mean to these people? Not much. If people got in the way of their plans or their interests, just take them out of the picture. Assassination, murder, deposition: these are the many tools that we can use to get people out of our way to further our interests.

Its disgusting isin't it? That these people would see a human being only as pawns or obstacles to their own goals. But before we begin pointing fingers, what about us? For me who spends half of my waking hours working in an office, and the other half living in recreation, what does the unneccessary death and suffering of millions of people mean to me? Not much. For those of us who contributed to spending 1.7 billion minutes on Facebook, how important is an individual human life? Important for us to be stirred to action: to do something, anything, anything at all? Or are we too busy? Too busy, like the drug lord, trying to make the most of his life for himself?

I don't know if unneccessary suffering and death happens in Sydney. What I can say for certain is that Sydney is by far not a perfect city. And though there might not be the same occurances in Sydney as I saw in the World Press Photo Exhibition, there is plenty of need for people to help those who are victims of injustice and ill-fortune.

Is an individual human life that important? Is it really worth that much? Its easy to give a resolute 'Yes!' when we live in our comfortable houses with enough food and face no restriction on our basic liberties. Its easy to say that people should stop killing other people, that no child should go without food and education, that an individual human life is significant. Its also much easier to condemn the injustice that occurs half the world away, then that which occurs within your own backyard. Isin't life just too easy...

I'm going to go on Facebook now.


The World Press Photo Exhibition is on at the NSW State Library Mitchell Wing till 25th July (one week left!). Its FREE entry and is open to 8pm on Monday to Thursday. I highly recommend it. Alternatively, you can see the photos online: http://www.worldpressphoto.org/index.php?option=com_photogallery&task=blogsection&id=20&Itemid=257&bandwidth=low2high . Its not the same as seeing it in real life...

Encouragement

Last Sunday, I was encouraged by the sermon at church. It is probably the first time, since arriving back in Sydney, that I have been encouraged to be Christian.

I've come to be convinced that the church is not dis-similar to any other social/sporting clubs that are out there. I play frisbee and there is an organisation of volunteers that admister the running of the sport and it is not just an organisation of volunteers. Its a social context that people spend their after-work lives in. There are regular frisbee games, and after the structured activities there are the times you spend with the friends you have made at the regular games. One thing can found in almost any social club, the members are primarily concerned with furthering the agenda of the club. Consequently, nearly all clubs have it part of their agenda to grow the club. Church isin't that dis similar.

In Matthew, Jesus says "You are the light of the world...a city on a hill cannot be hidden...let your good deeds shine for all to see". If you know the context of Matthew, you woud actually realise that Jesus is NOT speaking to Christians here. Matthew wrote his book to a Jewish audience. Jesus at the sermon of the mount was speaking to Jewish people, not Christians. Jesus is saying that the Jewish people, God's chosen people, are supposed to be a light of the world, a city on a hill. God expected the Jewish people to be a light to the world. How were they supposed to be a light of the world? Jesus says it later, by having their good deeds shine for all to see.

Many people think that only in the New Testament does the loving and caring God come about. Thats not true. The call for the Israelites was for them to worship God. Through the sacrifical system yes, but also through letting their good deeds shine before men. Not is Jesus only talking to Jewish, and is it limited to the Old Testament? No, its a call for ALL of God's people. All those who are called by God, are called to do good works. It is a theology that is found in both the Old and New Testaments.

The churches in Sydney, the ones who term themselves 'evangelical Bible-believing', are shining their light very brightly as they can. The problem is I'm not sure if its the right light. Because if Jesus defines shining the light as doing good works, then we've got to wonder about what type of light we are shining? We shine a light of Bible studies, conventions, evangelistic events. Are these works any different from that of a social club in furthering its own agenda? Just ask non-Christians what they think of zealous Christians who spend heaps of time in church activities? Shining a light such that even the unbelievers praise God as Jesus says in Matthew 2:16? Or do they see such churches as on the same level as a cult? Some might say, that this is God's agenda. Perhaps yes, but as far as Jesus has just expounded on, it seems like we might be missing out on God's agenda. What type of light does this really shine?

I've personally felt this. I've tried to distance myself from bible studies and I've told people that I am keen on getting involved in community service. Many people have told me how important it is for me to be in a 'fellowship' group and tell me that I should get involved in a Bible study. More importantly, no one (barring one person) has encouraged me in getting involved in community service, to help those who are not as blessed as I am, to help those who Jesus would have spent time with should he have arrived in this present day. Now I'm not frustrated at any person or people. I'm just stating the objective facts. While many people gently rebuked me for not joining a bible study group, only one encouraged me to be involved in community service. If there is something that I am emotional about, it is the extent of religion within our church: where what is being taught and modelled to the large majority in churches is more concerned with advancing God's 'glory' and not obeying his instructions.

Last Sunday, I was encouraged by the sermon at church. It is probably the first time, since arriving back in Sydney, that I have been encouraged to be Christian.

The Wittenburg Church Door

'He who has ears, let him hear'

-1st Century Jewish teacher

I am no longer a good example. In fact, I might be a bad example now. Some people may have noticed that since being away for more than a year, I've changed. Before I left I was actively involved with many things at church, 'min-is-try' as people say. People might have described me as 'switched on', 'on fire', 'zealous'. I was a 'good example' for others. I've come back and I'm not doing half as much as I used to. The truth is that over the course of last year, I've grown to become tired of the religion of Christianity. Believe it or not, its not a position that has emerged suddenly over the past year. My present position stems from underlying sentiments that I had begun to feel and think about even before I left.

Honestly, I've lost some confidence in the leadership of our churches. Not any one church in particular, but churches in general. Its not because of anything that a leader has done to me. I have not been wronged in any way. Rather than because of the way others might have treated me, its because of the way that I have treated others. Its because of the way that I have acted as a leader in the church as a good example.

Its not that I have wronged anyone (at least as far as I know). In fact, I've done all the right things. And therein lies the problem... I have led bible study groups on campus, at church and at youth group. I have met up with guys on a weekly basis to read the bible together and 'dis-ci-ple' them. And yet, the truth is I really didn't care that much about many of these people. I didn't. I might have asked for prayer points at the end of a session, but I sure didn't care enough to spend much time praying about this. And even now, I haven't continued to keep in touch with them to see how they are doing. Its akin to a therapist or social worker whose responsibility to a child only goes as long as they have been given that charge. Once the charge has been fulfilled, then the relationship is gone. I wouldn't say that a social worker truly loves all the children under their care. I wouldn't say that a doctor really cares about all the patients under him. I wouldn't say that I as a leader was genuinely concerned about the people who were under me.

Why then might I be considered an example? Maybe its because of my repentance and works. Well only one person can really say what goes on inside my heart and I have to say, that person isin't too impressed. Blessed are those who are meek. Blessed are those who are poor in Spirit. Blessed are those who are merciful. I am none of these things. Nothing exemplifies this more than my attitude when I am wronged, or when I been done a diservice. I am not meek, poor in Spirit, merciful. Instead, I think highly of myself, I do not forgive easily, I do not see myself as in need of repentance. Am I repentant as a result of the work of Jesus? Yes I am, but barely. I'm only as good as good circumstances allow me to be.

Why was I previously considered a good example? It was because I was doing all the right things. And one would think that means being loving, self-sacrifice and repentant. But in real life, it translates to the amount of 'min-is-try' that one gets involved in. In fact, the religion I had become caught up in was that of pursuing theology. I was a Pharisee, propagating a form of religion that I personally enjoyed, which I was personally quite adept at. And rather then leading to repentance, it led me to religion. I barely loved and I was minimally repentant. This is the form of religion that I've become tired of.

I've been back in Sydney for a month and a half now. 45 days, for which I haven't had a mobile phone. The reactions from people have been quite varied. At best, the person expresses surprise but doesn't say much. They probably think I'm retarded (they might be right). The most striking responses are from people who seem offended by me, as if having no phone is akin to me making fun of their mother. Not only offended, they are also quite outspoken in trying to persuade me to get a mobile phone.

I have my reasons for not having a phone. But honestly, they're not that convincing. I'm sure many people will read what my thoughts and think me an idiot. I can't blame them. The truth is, I'm throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Over the past year, I spend a lot of time thinking about what it means to be faithful. God is faithful, and I'm called to be faithful. But what does that mean? As I look at the way that we relate to one another, its striking that we are far from faithful. We agree to meet at 3 but we make no make little effort to be there at the time agreed. Too often, people don't show up to things they say they will. There has been many times I've not done, what I would say I would do. Our words have ceased to hold meaning. Their not trustworthy.

On top of being unfaithful, we're also noncommital. Its what Generation Y are infamous for. With the wealth of opportunities before us, we don't want to commit to anything in case we miss something better. I first heard this a few years ago and thought it was a harsh assessment of the generation of which I am a part of. I now realise it to be a sad reality.

Why is Generation Y like this? The problem lies in a dirty little C-word: convenience. Convenience is defined as: "suited to your comfort or purpose or needs" or from wikipedia: "anything that is intended to save resources......frustration". Technology is convenient. It suits our comforts, our purposes and our needs. It saves us from frustration. It helps you to live your live as comfortable, and as burdenless as possible. Why arrive on time when you can let the other know that you're coming late? Why commit to something when you don't have to? Why would you possibly deprive yourself of something better?

Being faithful and committed would be far too inconvenient for us. After a certain point, convenience just becomes plain selfishness. Its far easier to just act in our own convenience as opposed to being commited and faithful to our words.

Now I wouldn't say that technology neccessarily leads to our current predicament. But it certainly doesn't help. If one intends on budgeting and saving money, getting a credit card isin't neccessarily going to mean that one goes over budget. The credit card doesn't preclude one from achieving their goals. However, it doesn't lend itself well to that direction. Of course, should the person be responsible and self-disciplined, then such a problem would not exist.

I am intending on being faithful, committed and intentional. This doesn't mean that I need not neccessarily exclude myself from getting a mobile. However, the problem is exactly that I am not responsible and self-disciplined. I don't like to commit to things until all other options are exhausted. I like to optimise my time towards my maximum utility. Getting a mobile isin't going to prevent me from changing, but it certainly won't help.

You pay for what you get!

I stumbled across this article while doing some research on busking.

Its taken from http://thewishingwellband.com/food-for-thought/one-busker%E2%80%99s-story/

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November 8th, 2009
Many of you have met us somewhere along way busking outside a train station, in a mall, outside of a church and we found this story about a very talented violinist and wanted to share it with you:
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later:
the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

Joshua Bell playing incognito
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made…. How many other things are we missing?