Thomas Malthus and the Dark Side of the American Dream

I'm now proofing Glenn Kaiser's new book Kissing the Sky and I just can't help but post this excerpt:

When commerce is valued above compassion love is the victim and all of us lose no matter what we gain. I don't believe compassionate Americans want to see things done this way, nor do Christians above all. So how do such skewed values become policy in our communities? Some Christians believe that a certain number of people are predestined to go to hell; if they're forgotten by God, who can blame us for forgetting them? Is there such a thing as throw-away people? An accompanying Christian doctrine that some hold is a doctrine of providence that the "chosen" will prosper economically on this earth as a sign of their being singled out by God for heaven. Can this be why we ignore masses of people below our own economic status? These religious tenets, held with all seriousness by many of our forefathers, have been secularized into our own mistrust of the poor and homeless. A more secular explanation was provided in the late eighteenth century through the writings of Thomas Malthus. He suggested that the people in society who experience misery and vice are nature's way of culling the population. If we interfere with nature using welfare programs, then at some point we will run out of resources such as food or energy. Malthus' teachings have made thier way, along with predestination and providence, into our modern views of the "lower class" in society. Perhaps if we can understand the origins of our attitudes we can change them.

Wow! There's a lot of truth there. I'm really loving this book. I know these ideas may win Glenn some enemies, but hey, what else is new? Check out the wiki entry on Malthus. Somethings going on when Critics come from six separate scientific fields! Its obvious that Malthus was horribly mistaken. What's sad is that here in America we function as practical Malthusiasts, much like many "Christians" are practical agnostics.

Tags: Glenn Kaiser, Kissing the Sky, book, Thomas Malthus, Christianity, predestination, providence

what reward?

I have been troubled lately by the reality of my calling, namely to live among the poor and minister to addicts. What does success look like in this calling? It looks like the bloody form of a man hanging naked from a first century empire's means of keeping the peace: the cross. This crucifix is my calling. It is my promised reward. Jesus said "Take up your cross and follow me." I remember the vision that William Booth had of rescuing drowning scores of people. But I can't but think about how, after rescued, in this line of work some folks jump back in. It seems a cruel irony to me that in faith based nonprofit work donations come in as long as only the good results can be shown. Donors want to know that somehow every glowing dime they gave had only rosy effects. Heaven forbid that anything go wrong!

Growing up at the New Life Evangelistic Center I remember my dad and NLEC recieving many rewards for their work. His office is lined with plaques. He has recieved on numerous occasions St. Louis's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. award for service. This Saturday in fact NLEC will be recieving that reward again. For that reward to be issued while NLEC lays victim to a smear campaign in Springfield Missouri reveals the bitter reality of this kind of work. Years ago here at JPUSA I remember that a certain legislator from Kentucky brought up certificates for each of the eight pastors naming them Kentucky Colonels for their service at JPUSA. Along with the certificates were sent some "hard-living" people, homeless men whose lives were filled with disillusionment and despair. I can't think of those honors without associating it with those men.
Most of them didn't work out here in Chicago.

When things go badly you don't go dust off your plaque and remember that somebody once loved you. You think "Dear God get me through this."

In a previous post I wrote about how hard it is for the public to "get" this kind of work. Demons or Angels, folks sharing the love of Jesus can never really "win" in the eyes of the world. "You do so much good." "How come you're always in so much trouble?" There are a few undeniable results about myself and my friends in this line of work. Lines on our faces. Scars on our hearts. Lots of good and bad memories. More faces than can be counted. Weary bodies yes. But very young hope and faith. But when your hero hangs there dying what do you expect?

Tags: calling, addiction, poor, needy, NLEC, JPUSA, rewards, plaques

The Kingdom work for the poor and the Parable of the Soils

My dad called me this morning and we talked about things that happend at the Free Store last night. I was rather dismayed to hear that my friend Eddy, who’d been playing guitar, had a bit of a violent blow out and the police were called. I was saddened, but I’m never altogether taken by surprise. Maybe sometimes I sound a bit Pollyannaish when I describe the Free Store, as though I only expect the best from our experiences and sobriety and rationality from each day forward from these folks I call friends. Well, if you read further than the first page of this blog, you should know that’s not true. I grew up in this work. I’ve known a lot of heartache from the many friends who’ve come and gone, many of whom died later as a result of their life choices. Today I did this little study as a reminder to myself of what it is I’m involved in and why. I hope you find it helpful as well:

Ministry of good news to the poor is, in essence, a work of the Kingdom of God. Now in this work, just as in the parable of the soils in Mark 4:1-20, the good news of the kingdom does not always meet with good result. In this story the sower casts his seed for all the soil. In our work of spreading good news to the poor we will often meet with stolen, sun scorched and thistle choked results. The soil is not always ready but we must remember that the sower is always impartial. God’s Grace often seems misplaced in us human beings. I’ve been writing lately about men on Commercial Street in Springfield without ID, many with the disease of alcoholism, mental illness or drug addiction. Now many would say that these poor are used up soil who no longer have a place for the seed of the Kingdom. But the Scriptures indicate that the poor are a crucial part of God’s Kingdom and that ministry to them gives us a glimpse into God’s new order of things. (Luke 1:52-53; James 2:5)

For those of us called to this Kingdom work, God’s law of liberty (James 2:12-26) serves as our manner of speech and action. This new law does not judge a person by how often they fail, by their psychological type, their medical history, their credit record, or their family history. This new life-giving law says that we should regard no one from a human point of view but rather as the new creation they are becoming in Christ, where the old is passed, the new is come, and where we are ambassadors of Christ for reconciliation. This is what is truly odd about the Free Store in Springfield. The Free Store is a small space where persons from any walk of life can gather and experience what the Kingdom of God might look like. Now in my experience in this Kingdom, what is different about it is that the free space fills with all sorts of ugly, human, and messy things. The carpets are soiled. The furniture is broken. It’s a free work and the money is spent on food and keeping the lights on. If it’s true that cleanliness is next to godliness, than this kind of Kingdom space might not look so godly on a given night. The guests were all beckoned from the highways and byways! (Mt. 22:9-10) But looks are not what we’re after here. We’re talking about the promise of being new people!

What I find beautiful about this parable of the soil is with what complete abandon the sower spreads his seed. By some standards it is careless, disregarding economy or even ergonomics. Why waste seed in places where it won’t grow? Its impractical, even insensible. But this is the Kingdom! No expense is spared within the possibility that here too in the darkest, rockiest, and thorniest places the Kingdom might flourish. As long as we have breath in our bodies and blood in our veins we do not lie beyond the grace of God. We must believe this, because this gospel was freely preached to us! If we know ourselves rightly, we know that God’s work in us does not cease after we agree that it begin. There is still thorny ground in all of us. The parable of the Wheat and the Tares reminds us that the enemy has sown weeds even in the good crop and that only in the End will God’s Harvest be revealed.

Tags: Mark 4:1-20, Kingdom of God, parables, Jesus, homelessness, alcoholism, addiction, hope

Frank's response to the News-Leader article

Frank was one of the homeless men interviewed for the Springfield News-Leader article last week. Here is some of his response to her article: [12/15, After consulting with Frank and my dad, I have edited this down to just a few of Frank's sentiments. Not everything needs archiving on this blog. Since all this happened, the police have been much more agreeable and helpful. The weather has warmed up considerably and that helps too.]

. . . . that it is also a violation according to the local police for a homeless person to walk, stand or sit on a street corner or in the alleys. It is also a violation to say in the city parks, bus stops or (according to the police) anywhere in the Springfield City Limits. I also said that I have not mastered levitation yet. I wish I could so I wouldn’t be breaking any laws.

“There are life safety issues.”

Yes, and that is why Rev. Rice is trying to save some lives. It is too late for our buddy Mike who died last week in an abandoned house from alcohol poisoning only in his mid-30s. Rev. Rice as we all feel guilty that he could not reach the safety of the FREE STORE. I’m not sure why you failed to write these facts down as we spilled our hearts out to you, assuming that you had compassion and sincere concern for the homeless.

Lincoln once said, “Those who are willing to give up their freedom for their safety do not deserve either one.” I love this country and paid a great sacrifice. I have lived here for more than a quarter century and the longer I live here the more it reminds me of the same place I have escaped from. Obviously I could not be a News reporter as my personal dignity is more than a job. No wonder that I’m still homeless.

Thank You, Frank.

This letter reflects the reality of the situation from the point of view of someone living it. Many people in Springfield are saying "There are plenty of shelters. This city works." But Frank tells us what he knows from having sought help at each one. I keep thinking there's got to be an easy way to survey this whole situation, talk to all parties involved, sit down with the city officials and find out how they thought this law would help anyone. What that assumes is that people want to talk, listen, and act. Let's pray that happens.

Tags: Springfield News-Leader, Springfield Missouri, homeless, cold, shelter, zoning

Friday night at the Free Store

I played and sang at the Free Store again last night. There were like twice the usual number of friends. A nice family brought food so the atmosphere was a bit different. I was really nervous at first and totally flopped on the first song "Unchained." Oh well. They were all busy eating and talking. So I just smiled, apologized for butchering Johnny Cash, and moved into the next song. It was fun. After singing "Palms of Victory," the spirit struck dad and he launched into a small sermon on not giving up. Way cool. Then I did Lucinda Williams' song "I Lost It." I asked first if anyone had heard of Lucinda Williams. No takers so I mentioned that that was good because then they won't know what they're missing. My friends here were so nice to me. No food was thrown. I actually got small rounds of applause.

After a while I sat down to talk to Frank Zubek. I handed my guitar to Eddie and he picked up my Mel Bay songbook of old hymns and did three or four songs. I think he's a much better singer. Frank and I talked about what doing a book would look like and he asked if I could just help him do a brochure to go with his product. Of course. He handed me a letter he'd written to the reporter in response to her article and asked if I'd correct it. So I did it this morning. He's such a wit, I'll tell you. If he doesn't mind I'd like to reprint some of it here in another post.

Update on civil disobedience in Springfield

The Springfield News-Leader ran a front page story this morning on dad's civil disobedience and the emergency housing situation in Springfield. Jane Huh's story is titled: "Homeless advocate challenges city again." It has some nice pictures and is mostly positive. Its interesting to read the comments from Springfieldians. My favorite is "Jesus must be crying because of the publicity given to this false teacher."
I'll be joining my dad for another meeting at the Free Store tonight. Frank Zubek, a homeless friend who was mentioned and pictured in the article, is pending a patent for a game he calls the "Elusive Cube." He has quite a brain for math and geometry. He's very interested in publishing a book and I'm offering to help him with that idea. Pray for him. Life on the streets is unkind to anyone. He travels back and forth between Oklahoma City. Pray for his safety.

Tags: Frank Zubek, homelessness, Elusive Cube, Springfield News-Leader, Larry Rice

illegally sheltering the homeless in the Buckle of the Bible Belt

This week has been quite exciting. My dad and I have been meeting with homeless men and women at the New Life Free Store on Commercial Street in Springfield Missouri. Far from being an official church service or Bible study, we sit on old chairs or the carpet and just talk about what’s been going on in our lives. We ask to hear their stories about just making it day to day on the streets. The openness and eagerness is so refreshing. Since the spring I’ve been repeatedly listening to about twenty songs by Johnny Cash, many old folk songs like “Palms of Victory” and “Kneeling Drunkards Plea,” some new like “The Beast in Me” and “Unchained.” What I’ve been hearing is the universal human experience of failure and desperation, of confession and forgiveness, of hope and healing and a future. Before heading down to Springfield I gathered the lyrics to many of these songs. I didn’t really know what for. I dug them out and sang them with my new friends at this meeting. The effect on me personally to share these songs was staggering. I’ve shared here before that I’ve been involved in twelve step recovery for a few years now. These songs speak to so much of what I’ve learned from my group. During the last meeting I met a man, Eddie, who had played lead guitar in a band sometime ago. Eddie was honest that he’d had a few drinks before the meeting. He wanted to get sober, we talked about it several times. Eddie sprung right into “I Saw the Light” and he knew more of the lyrics than I did.

I get so much out of these kind of friendships. Its hard to believe that a place like this, a shelter from the extreme cold, could be illegal. Its even harder to believe that its illegal in a small city that has so many Bible colleges, churches, and church headquarters such as the Assemblies of God and the Baptist Bible Fellowship. But its true. The only way we meet in this warm place and then let these folks sleep overnight is in direct violation of a city ordinance that says that emergency shelters may not be within a certain number of feet from one another. The city argues that it doesn’t need any more homeless shelters and that this ordinance helps keep the homeless population under control. So in essence, if someone is slightly intoxicated or without ID they’re just SOL. They can’t be on the street but they can’t be “illegally” housed either. In addition, police have been harassing the homeless, trying to catch them jay walking, threatening arrest just for walking around. Many folks have stories of their camps in the woods being discovered and their belonging destroyed. The other night staff at the Free Store were visited three times by policemen and finally threatened with arrest for taking in homeless people. So, my dad (Rev. Larry Rice) had had enough. The next day (yesterday) he called a press conference to admit that they were indeed sheltering the homeless (it had been an open secret) and that they would continue it. Further, after the Press Conference he and the homeless marched down to the police station and he met with the highest ranking officer on duty to turn himself in. “Don’t arrest the staff,” he said, “arrest me.”

Frank Lockwood of Bible Belt Blogger covers the story in his post: "Pastor: I'll help the homeless 'til police arrest me." He wasn’t arrested at the station, they were very kind and helpful. An officer with internal affairs said to forward any more reports of harassment to him personally. This was far better than expected. A reporter from the Springfield NewsLeader was there taking notes. But of course, this isn’t the end. The zoning law remains the same. In truth this battle has been on in different ways for the last five years. New Life was recently given the Social Security Building in Springfield by the federal government. It just so happens to be located within 2000 feet of another emergency shelter. Here’s the Press Release as issued yesterday. I’ll try to keep you posted on the situation as it develops.

PRESS CONFERENCE
TODAY, DECEMBER 6TH AT 2PM
209 W. COMMERCIAL
SPRINGFIELD, MO

Larry Rice is willing to be arrested by Springfield police for sheltering the Springfield homeless during the extreme cold temperatures. At the press conference he will explain how New Life Evangelistic Center Free Store and Church has been providing sanctuary to the homeless who would otherwise sleep outside.

Yesterday, the NLEC staff on location were visited three times by Springfield Police Officer Steve Miller, who told them they could not operate a shelter due to zoning ordinances (but at night it is the Springfield Police who call NLEC to give shelter to the homeless, including a 70 year old veteran). On his third visit to NLEC, Officer Miller threatened to arrest any of the NLEC staff who were providing shelter.

Rev. Rice will explain how and where he has been hiding the Springfield homeless during the severe cold weather. Because of Springfield’s repressive law requiring services for the homeless to be 2000 feet away from each other, Rev. Rice’s activities to help them at 209 W. Commercial have been declared illegal.

Following the Press Conference, Larry Rice will march with the homeless to the Police Station to turn himself in. If he is arrested, he promises that once he is released, he will be right back at 209 W. Commercial, sheltering the homeless in obedience to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25. If he is not arrested, he will be sleeping at the shelter with the homeless tonight.

Also during the Press Conference, Rev. Rice will be calling on the clergy of Springfield to join him in taking a stand this Christmas and open their churches to help the homeless as Jesus taught. In addition, an update will be given on the use of the Social Security Building, which has been given to NLEC to help homeless veterans in 2007.

On second thought. . . .

I said I was having fun at Jim West's site. But then I read his next post on the same day on the Alms Statute of 1520:

Mutatis mutandis, if the Zurich legislation were active today, people who were poor because they were lazy, alcoholics, drug abusers, and the like would be left in their condition because it was self elected. On the other hand, if someone lost their house or job because of medical problems, disasters, etc., such would be permitted the reception of aid.

In the words of a famous song, “oh for the good old days…”

This is cold and heartless at best. In sweeping generalizations, it sounds like is electing himself God and judging very unrighteously, thereby excusing himself from action in behalf of the poor. I'm not having fun anymore. Years ago I wrote an article for the New Life Zoa Free Paper in which I suggested that churches were defacto accusing many people of having commited the sin against the Holy Spirit simply by virtue of their being 'societal losers' ("lazy, alcoholics, drug abusers, and the like"). This is why Bill W. of AA had to stop meeting with the Oxford Group and instead form AA. Forget that Jesus ever said "The son of man came to seek and save that which was lost." Clearly (to some folks' way of thinking) he meant lost souls with a disposition toward being the elect. I'll never stop believing that Jesus is for losers, and in God's ability to change the people we'd least expect. Maybe even self-righteous church folk who don't need a suffering Servant!

([11/1/06] I did some editing to this post. I like Jim and keep frequenting his blog. I agree with Richard that this was (hopefully) tongue in cheek.)

Tags: homelessness, Jesus Christ, poverty, addiction, AA, Bill W.

homeless blogger

I've never lived completely apart from a homeless person. I think I've related before how I grew up. It's wrong for me to not talk about it more often. I've always lived either in homes for homeless people or in direct proximity to their daily activities. Living in community is, for me, living in and with poverty. I consider it a distinct privilege. If that sounds crazy ask me about it. Surfing around this morning I came upon a blog by Kevin Barbieux, a homeless man living in Nashville Tennessee. His blogs have been up for years and he's received some national attention for them, notably in Salon.com
I consider it particularly unfortunate that I am not as involved with the homeless as I was at one time. I sit in this little office cubicle and stare at a computer. I see them panhandling up and down my street outside my window. Sometimes I stop to talk but not as often as I'd like. I miss the daily interaction of working in the homeless shelter. I miss the stories and conversation. I miss being part of so many lives over a given period of time. Forgive my little sentimental rant. There's little that is sentimental about being homeless. I recently argued perfusely with a friend here who grew up very sheltered but is now enamored by the thought of hitch-hiking and squatting, and attending the hobo gathering. I must have sounded like a mother hen when I described getting caught on an express freight train or caught in the freezing rain without shelter or having nowhere to take a piss for hours.

Tags: homeless, hobo, Kevin Barbieux, community