By Bruce Smith
Mary Oliver is a favorite. The other night I was reading some of her work and came across this. Even though written 17 years ago it seems to describe this time.
Of the Empire by Mary Oliver
We will be known as a culture that feared death
and adored power, that tried to vanquish insecurity
for the few and cared little for the penury of the
many. We will be known as a culture that taught
and rewarded the amassing of things, that spoke
little if at all about the quality of life for
people (other people), for birds, for rivers. All
the world, in our eyes, they will say, was a
commodity. And they will say that this structure
was held together politically, which it was, and
they will say also that our politics was no more
than an apparatus to accommodate the feelings of
the heart, and that the heart, in those days,
was small, and hard, and full of meanness.
from Red Bird 2008
Reading it, I was struck by how thoroughly “the Empire” contrasts with our calling as a Christian community. The following counterpoints jumped out at me. Included are just a few of the related Bible verses.
We are called to live life fully and ponder the promise of being beyond death. “I came that you might have life abundantly” John 10:10
We are not called to seek worldly power over others. “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36
So many times in Scripture we are called to care for the poor. “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore, I command you, “You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.” Deuteronomy 15:11
We are told that true treasure is not in worldly things. “Do not build up treasures on earth …. but treasures in heaven.” Matthew 6:19-21
Caring for creation and other people from Genesis throughout the Bible. “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15
We are called to live thankfully, realizing that our very lives and everything around us is not a commodity but a gift from God. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” James 1:17
The Christian life is one of being loved by God and sharing love openly with those around us. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34-35.
We are called to be tenderhearted and kind. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
What a vast difference from “The Empire” we are called to be!
