Jeremy L. Berg

Let me preface the following post by stating how important I feel it is for Christians to be open-minded and unafraid to generously engage and learn from people of differing viewpoints.  I am a better person and a stronger, more committed follower and teacher of Biblical Christianity precisely because I allow my convictions to be challenged and sharpened by differing views.  Now, what can this Green Economy organization contribute to our understanding of the mission of the local and global church?

The Wide-Eyed Vision of BALLE

My friend works for The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) which is “the world’s fastest growing network of sustainable businesses committed to building local economies and transforming the community economic development field.”  What I have always loved and respected about my friend is her passion, convictions and commitment toward the causes she holds dear.  She exudes life and determination and inspires others to get off their buns and into the game, making something of themselves and a difference in the world.  A good bumper sticker for her might be something like: “Life’s short. Go Build a Better World.”

I’m not in the least surprised she found herself part of such an innovative, visionary, locally-driven, global-thinking, world-changing, life-improving organization.  BALLE seems to fit like a glove.  Here’s a taste of what BALLE is all about.  Please pay attention to the language describing their vision — especially words in bold:

BALLE builds Local Living Economies in North America that foster vibrant communities, a healthy natural environment, and prosperity for all.

BALLE believes in the power of local businesses to transform communities for the better by working cooperatively toward a shared vision. We imagine cities and towns of every size and political stripe engaged in shared learning to build community assets like sustainable agriculture, green building,renewable energy, community capital, zero-waste manufacturing and independent retail – what we call the building blocks of Living Economies. We envision a time when local economies not only generate community wealth, but also are catalysts for civic action, social diversity and ecological health — for sustainable communities.

-Quoted from http://www.livingeconomies.org

I totally get it.  There is something intoxicating and thrilling about being part of a grassroots movement of like-minded people united by a common vision of building a better world through the creation of vibrant local communities who thrive and prosper in sustainable and renewable ways. How can such a vision not light a fire in your bones and move you to action?  I have quoted a bit of the vision and principles of BALLE above because I believe it’s words should strike a chord with all of us — especially followers of Jesus who make up the worldwide church.  Such a wide-eyed vision and ambitious undertaking unmasks our individual and corporate complacency and invites us to dream and work toward a better world.

Yet, my interactions with and view of wonderful organizations and causes like BALLE always seem to evoke both feelings of frustration and sadness.  I have sadness toward these great, well-meaning humanitarian-driven, better-world creating organizations.  I get frustrated with Christians and the outsider’s perspective of the church worldwide.  Let me take them each in turn beginning with the church.

My Plea to the Church

How does the unchurched population view the vision, values and purpose of the Christian church?  Read the Vision statement of BALLE once more and center in on the words in bold.  The good folks of BALLE and other visionary organizations for change are gripped by a vision and passion that is borrowing it’s power from the greatest grassroots, humanitarian, global-peacemaking, social-justice bringing, life-giving, earth-renewing, community-transforming and community-building movement of all time: the church!

What is the church if not a grassroots movement of, to use BALLE’s language, vibrant communities working cooperatively toward a shared vision of becoming local catalysts for civic action, social diversity and ecological as well as relational, emotional, physical, financial and spiritual health? Do we not, as Christians, also imagine cities and towns of every size and political stripe engaged in shared learning from the teachings of the apostles and nurturing our community assets (i.e, spiritual gifts & resources) to bring about a Christ-centered prosperity for all? Is the church really the only organization on the planet that exists primarily for the benefit of it’s non-members as it serves her neighbors self-sacrificially in hopes of transforming communities for the better? What a magnificent calling God has placed upon His bride the church!

Yet, the church’s message, institutionalized form, public posture, political positions and global mission has rarely given the onlooking world such a robust, inspiring vision to grab on to and unite around.  Instead we have the reputation for saving souls while exploiting the earth, supporting wars rather than loving our enemies, being filled with hypocrisy and self-righteous while judging those on the outside (cf. 1 Cor. 5).  Many of my more politically conservative Christian brothers and sisters still harbor an unhealthy fear of impassioned, idealistic social justice agendas because they smack of the political liberalism they so despise.

All the while, my heart breaks as I watch so many of my unchurched, politically liberal friends rejecting an emaciated version of Christianity, church, Jesus and the gospel because they have never caught a glimpse of the full gospel vision found in the New Testament. I believe the BALLEs of the world can help remind the church of her higher calling.  We are part of the greatest revolutionary movement in the history of the world.  Remember: Jesus came to put an end to RELIGION and start a REVOLUTION.

My Plea to Secular Humanitarians

I am inspired by your passion and commitment to building a better world.  Your motives are pure and your efforts are commendable.  Please take my challenge to the church above as a compliment to you for your big vision and sense of purpose. I’m still always left a bit saddened at the end of our conversations.  Why?  As a Christian I believe that God has been long at work in unfolding his own global restoration plan and ecological renewal project.  I want to join hands with you in working toward common goals of ending poverty, war, world hunger, third world debt, sex-trafficking, etc.  We both desire peace, prosperity and justice for all.  We both hate the exploitation of the environment, the oppression of the weak and vulnerable, corporate greed and the rest.

My sadness stems from my conviction that one’s secular, humanistic worldview prevents them from seeing the greatest obstacle that stands in our way. We differ in our diagnosis of the ultimate problem that stands in the way of reaching our common goals. The greatest obstacle standing in our way is the inner rebellion in the human soul the Bible calls “sin” that has disrupted the peaceful harmony we originally enjoyed in our relationships with God, one another and the environment.  The solution to all the world’s conflicts begins by solving the greatest conflict that dwells within each individual soul.

Christians believe that the powerful, destructive influence of sin in human race is so pervasive that we are incapable of rescuing ourselves.  The Bible reveals God’s master plan for “Operation Global Restoration” and “Project Humanity”, to use some newer labels for God’s ancient covenant with Abraham and his descendants through whom God chose to bring healing to the nations and salvation to individual souls.  God’s rescue operation was brought to it’s climax in the life, sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and will be consummated at Jesus’ return when God makes all things new again (Rev. 21:5).

My friends who work tirelessly to right the wrongs of the world leaving God out of the picture and ignoring the stronghold of sin in the human heart remind me of Sisyphus, a figure of Greek mythology who was condemned to repeat forever the same meaningless task of pushing a rock up a mountain, only to see it roll down again.  The good news Christians proclaim is that Sisyphus no longer needs to push this unbearably heavy burden of Sin up that hill.  Jesus takes the heavy rock of sin from Sisyphus and sets him free from a meaningless existence to live with renewed purpose.

My plea for my good-willed brothers and sisters who believe we can solve all the problems of the world by our own initiative is to take seriously the Bible’s diagnosis of the real problem we’re facing.  Let us continue to dream together and link arms in the our efforts to build a better world.  But I am going to continue using my time and energy on this earth as a pastor, teacher and promoter of the gospel of Jesus Christ addressing the more fundamental sickness of sin in the human heart — cooperating with God in performing spiritual heart surgery by God’s grace.

I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You’ll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You’ll be my people! I’ll be your God” (Ezekiel 36:24-26)!

So, who wants to join our grassroots movement of redeemed Jesus followers living in vibrant, Spirit-filled communities and cooperating with God in building a better world one renewed heart at a time?