Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Who Are the Beautiful People?

I have been mulling something around in my mind for several days now--a spin-off from conversation  concerning what has become known in Christian theology as the "prosperity teaching."  I believe it is referred to in secular circles as "The Secret." I've observed the growth of this whole idea during my now-quite-long sojourn in different sections of the Christian community, and it seems to have morphed--from what used to be a fairly sensible teaching on the positive power of faith, into what some tongue-in-cheek wags have dubbed the BLAB IT AND GRAB IT theory.  In its most jubilant, banner-waving form, this theology/philosophy appears to be urging us as follows:  "God says He wants us to PROSPER!  Do you want a 15-room house? a maid? a gardener? a Rolls Royce? Decide what you want and CLAIM IT! Why should a child of the King have to dress shabbily and eat macaroni and live across the tracks?  In fact, why should you ever get sick, work at a hard job, or indeed have ANY problems at all on your way to Heaven?"

There are a kind of "Beautiful People" one sees propounding this attractive theory.  I realize this is a stereotype, but vizualise the pastor of a totally prosperous mega-church, married to a beauty queen, with three or four children all on the honor roll at school.  It has been possible for them to accumulate unto themselves money, possessions, and popularity.  Oh, yes, and this family has all those things you think you want.  Now you are being told you can be as smart, as rich, and, yes, as BEAUTIFUL--as they are!  God WANTS this for you.  You may react as did my friend Sally.  Sally was a single, middle-aged gal who owned a decent-enough mobile home in a semi-respectable mobile court.  She worked as a very good attendant in an assisted-living complex.  She loved gardening, crocheting and trying special recipes.  By dint of hard work and careful stewardship, she had kept her financial affairs stable.  But she'd always wanted a big, beautiful house and garden.  Now that Rev. Jones said God had given him those things and could prosper everyone, she was going to expect the same, she said triumphantly!

As you may readily enough guess, Sally failed in her ambition and no longer attends the church where she got those ideas. She's going to a small, loving church where she furnishes rides in her car to other ladies.  She is retired from her job now, and participates in many senior activities out in the community, as well.  She might wax a bit sarcastic if you asked her about Rev. Jones and the prosperity teaching.  I don't know; we don't discuss it.  We go to the same little church Sally does.  The pastor and his congregation are indeed beautiful people, but not because they are rich, famous or liberally endowed with houses and lands.  We think they are beautiful because of their unconditional love.  God's love is unconditional, too, by the way--that's why He knows it would not be kind, after all, to give us everything we want!" 



   

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Who Are the Beautiful People?

Starting Over: Deborah Jean's Pilgrimage

In her book ALL THE WAY TO HEAVEN, Elizabeth Sherrill looks at life as a pilgrimage.  Before reading that book, I'd thought of it more as a picture to be painted over the years.  I think this is a valid analogy, too; but found that the pilgrimage idea appealed to me more.   When I began to think of writing a blog, I saw it as being about my journey--its valleys, rivers and mountains; its straight and crooked roads; its sunny, dark and rainy days; the people I travel with.  Most of all, it would be about following our Guide.  In the words of a very old song, "...the path of that lone Galilean with joy I will follow today; and the toils of the road will seem nothing, when I get to the end of the way."  Not that I've been hankering to get to the end of the way any time soon; my journey thus far (83 years) has had its sorrows and losses, but these have been far outweighed by the blessing--and, yes, just plain fun--of walking with the Lord and with the fantastic crew of fellow-travelers He's given me in the way of family and friends!

I've titled this present blog chapter "Starting Over: Deborah Jean's Pilgrimage" because in resuming this writing after a hiatus of some months, I managed to lose my original introductory piece somewhere in the mysterious realm of cyberspace. (I presume things like this are to be expected when one who has spent her life as a mechanical moron tries to get technological in advanced old age!)  I've learned in the process of "Googling around" in pursuit of myself (so to speak) that there is another Deborah Lapp (my pen name), and she seems to be on a pilgrimage as well--surprising since I didn't think this combination would be that usual!  And so I've given Deborah Lapp a middle name.  As I explained previously (in the lost piece), a workshop I took as a freelance writer included choosing a pen name.  Mine is taken from  Deborah the judge in Israel, whom I admire, and her husband Lapidoth, who I believe did some kind of work in the temple.  Actually, this may all be somewhat unnecessary, since all the folks I know of who read my blog (not many, to be sure)  know who I am, anyway.  But it seems most bloggers do use pseudonyms...enough of that for now.

When I determined to go back to blogging, I had a particular subject I wanted to mull around in my mind, but it will have to wait till tomorrow or the next day now, for I want to pursue this topic of following that Man of Galilee.  I had a conversation with my youngest granddaughter this afternoon in which we discussed an important decision she will have to make soon involving her senior college year, her finances, and her future marriage plans with her "intended," who was here during the last of our discussion. This is a totally great young Christian couple, beautifully supportive of each other and united in their very firm faith.  But when I questioned her as to whether she'd asked God to show her what He would have her do about this one decision, she said an honest "No," as if she hadn't thought of that.  When she asks Him, it will be clear, I'm very sure.  Sometimes we forget just to come right out and ask Him and expect an answer.  This pilgrimage is a walk of faith, and He promised that His Spirit would guide us into "ALL TRUTH. "My mom used to quote a poem about following on when we can't see ahead.  I can't remember it all, but it ends, "So on I go, not knowing; I would not, if I might; I'd rather walk with Him in the dark than go alone by sight."  Yes, He'll show the little girl what to do.