Manifesto

Can we stop the madness?

Of all the books on "Christian Living" - of all the agendas of the "Evangelicals" - could I please see raised up the banner of simplicity?

Let us no more be pawns to advertising agencies. Let us not accept that insistent message that we "need" more and more and more. Let us reject endless materialism.

The issue is NOT the stuff. The issue is character. We are becoming more and more self-centered - and to our own demise! We are coming to a place where we can no longer empathize or feel for one another, much less the rest of creation. How sad! How terrible the tragedy that sears our very souls and leaves emotionless and empty! Our self-centeredness will isolate us until we die in our un-being.

And yet we justify the situation by arguing such things as "The situation is such that we must!" We must do whatever it takes to make a profit...but such an endless cycle? Can we not see it?

The time has come - now. Either the system must be renovated before it destroys itself and our souls or it must be removed and replaced with something new.

But be aware. Even that which is new will fall some day too. Everything touched by human hands is tainted by our falleness. And so let us move, but move with humility. We should recognize the need for systems, but never worship the systems as though they are unmovable reality. As creations of our hands, we need to lovingly parent the systems in play and lovingly lay to rest those systems which have had their time, and now must be put aside - with respect and thankfulness...

It is time for commercial consumerism to rest in peace.

posted by Headless-in-GR @ 4/30/2005 02:54:00 PM