For many days now the news and newspapers in the U.K have been filled with reports of the Occupy encampment and St Paul's Cathedral. The Guardian news paper likened St Paul's to a "whitened sepulchre", while an elderly worshipper broke down in tears telling the gathered crowd that they had managed what even the blitz of WW2 had not managed and she was unable to worship God. "Jesus" she reminded folk, "always made time for worship!"
The protesters were criticised, some of them who had erected tents were going home at night to their warm beds and returning well rested to take up their protest the next day. "It is the spirit of the thing" they told reporters! The Cathedral staff and authorities have also come in for a battering, the Guardian editorial challenges the fact that visitors are charged a whopping £14.50 to enter the building:
"The dean and chapter appear to have decided that health and safetyconsiderations mean they must be rid of the makeshift camp. These grounds are frankly risible. Pretending otherwise compounds the first mistake, which was to shut the cathedral altogether, rather than expose visitors to the sight and smells of a couple of hundred protesters. A cathedral isn't really there for the tourists, even if it can charge visitors £14.50, as St Paul's does. It is a place for prayer and worship. The congregations who come for these, the real purposes of the building, should remember that Jesus talked to publicans and tax collectors. He might even have talked to merchant bankers. He would certainly have talked to the protesters camped outside."
As the days have rolled on the criticisms have flown back and forth, resignations began at the Cathedral, first Giles Fraser, heralded now by many as a hero, the one who stood in solidarity with the protesters, though a careful listening to his statements will reveal that he tried to walk the fine line of being a peacemaker in a difficult situation. Yes he asked the Police to withdraw and to allow the protesters to pitch their tents, but he also tried to speak for the Cathedral until the decision to evict and sue the protesters was made and the use of force became possible. At this point Fraser declared that he had no option but to tender his resignation.
Whether St Paul's has a "leg to stand on" with their claims surrounding health and safety is also questionable:
The London Fire Brigade said it had not advised the authorities at St Paul's to close the cathedral for fire safety reasons, saying it was satisfied that there were "no fire safety concerns with the camp itself".
A spokeswoman said: "We have been down there and spoken to the protesters and given them general fire safety advice around cooking and taking care of candles and that kind of thing … but we haven't raised any real fire safety concerns with the authorities at St Paul's."
For days St Paul's doors remained closed, worship did not cease however as a few some say courageous clerics led services outside, praying and preaching with and to those who would join them. But even they have had their critics, some have asked whether they really wanted to connect with the protesters at all as their chosen style of worship was the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. (though in their defence and possibly to their detriment, that is surely what the Cathedral would have used).
Through all of this the tents and banners of the protesters have been emblazoned with statements and questions that have in the media flurry largely gone unnoticed. "Capitalism is not working- there must be another way" says one, "Another world is possible" states another. While on the side of the not a few tents the question "What would Jesus do?" calls out as a still small voice in a clamours hub-bub of argument and counter argument.
So what would Jesus do/ what would Jesus say? Would he be here in the midst of the commercial district of London, in New York, in Washington, in Nottingham, in the cities and town across not only the West, but also in solidarity with the voices in the Middle East occupying city squares calling out for a different way?
If we would only stopp, if we would only listen carefully we would hear his call to his followers everywhere, his call echoing down the centuries calling people not simply to call for change, but to be that change. If we say we stand in solidarity with the ideals of the protesters are we choosing a different and radical way of life that rejects as far as it can the capitalism that surrounds us? Are we choosing not to worry about what to eat and wear? Are we content to live in simplicity and to share our wealth with those who are hungry and homeless and sick? Or do we simply want a better tax break and an easing of our own finances?
Jesus called his followers to be different, to live holy (set apart) lives, placing themselves into God's hands. He called them to live out their calling in their everyday lives, showing the world that yes there is another way, and that way is possible right here and now in the midst of the mess and the muddle. He called them to share their lives with others, to invite others to join them in this subversive way of living! He called, and he still calls.
We must remember that while it is good to speak out and to challenge the authorities and the systems of this world, that our protests must come from a live lived in harmony with what we are declaring. In this we can all be prophets, our voices will be heard over and over as we choose to live a different way, as we choose not to follow fashion, as we choose a life lived well and in simplicity:
"Jesus says: 13"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
14-16"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."
And also:
19-21"Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
22-23"Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinted-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!
24"You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and Money both.
25-26"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
27-29"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
There is a true prophet within each one of us who has answered God's call, dare we step into those shoes?
This post is part of a Synchro-blog. Details here.
