And as they were going along the road, someone said to Him: “I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” --Luke 9:57-58
And Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You.” --Luke 18:28
It is the responsibility of the disciple of Jesus to demonstrate, in every dimension of their life, radical allegiance to the values of God’s kingdom. No matter how incisive and eloquent our rhetoric, unless there is congruency of word and action, our witness becomes incredible to the world. As disciples of Jesus, we define our alien identity, not only by speaking out loudly and clearly against the injustice of the system, but also by the lifestyle we joyfully embrace. Co-option is less of a threat on the level of rhetoric than at the nitty-gritty of how we live. Because materialism is such a subtle force, we must consciously resist the distorted priorities of this culture and strive to have our lifestyle reflect the transcendent values of the
When choosing a place to live and setting up a home, there are several basic principles to consider:
What standard of living do we expect to maintain? What level of comfort and convenience? How is this level determined? By our past? Or have all things truly become new? By our society’s created needs? By our own desire for “the good life”? Or by the promises of Jesus to take care of our necessities? We are called, as were the first disciples, to a homeless existence (Luke 9:57-58; 18:28). The secular values of comfort, status, and security should be far down our list of priorities in choosing a place to live. We are primarily transients, gladly bearing the social shame of having “no fixed address.”
How settled are we in the place where we live? Have we laid deep roots? Scripture defines the people of God as strangers, exiles, pilgrims. Since we are residents of heaven, we should have no great stake in where we live during our stay on the earth (1 Peter 2:11, 1:17; Leviticus 25:23; Psalms 39:12; Hebrews 11:13-16; etc.). We should be very mobile—like the Israelite tent existence and the transience of the early disciples—ready to move immediately in response to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Are there particular neighborhoods in which we would refuse to live? Which ones—the rotting ghetto or the affluent suburb? Why do we refuse to live there? Racism? Inconvenience? Economic chauvinism? The neighborhood in which we live “brands” us unmistakably. With which group in society do we wish to be identified: lower income and welfare recipients, complacent middle class, or affluent elite? Communities of radical Christians should very strongly consider the possibility of moving into a lower class neighborhood and casting their lot with the poor and oppressed of our society. This complete identification with the wretched of the earth with whom Jesus chose to stand (Luke 5:30-31; 7:34-39; 15:1-9) will also serve to broaden our existential understanding of the exploited underbelly of capitalist society, and increase our credibility with those whom we wish to help. Being residents of a lower income neighborhood places us in a very strategic position to assess local problems and initiate constructive community programs to make conditions more tolerable.
How much do we spend every month on rent? On furniture and appliance payments? Do we believe it is necessary to own our own home? Our own furniture? Renting a furnished apartment or suite usually costs about the same as an unfurnished apartment and we are freed from the obligations and hassles of owning our own furniture. This obviously makes us more flexible and mobile. If furniture is a necessity, unique furniture can very easily be made, or purchased cheaply at garage sales and rummage sales or at secondhand thrift shops. Appliances such as vacuum cleaners, irons, washing machines, and sewing machines can be shared among many people. Resist buying unnecessary appliances. Purchase durable, inexpensive kitchen utensils.
How well does your home reflect your values to those who visit? Are we immediately recognized as Christians? What kind of Christians? Does the neighborhood, the level of comfort, the decor (posters, wall-hangings, etc.), and the media (magazines, books, leaflets) identify you as a Christian with broad social concern? Do the furnishings, appliances, and other objects demonstrate the values of consumerism or disciplined restraint? Are decorative objects store-bought or hand-crafted? Is the home functional or merely fashionable?
Are our buying and disposal patterns in the home ecologically responsible? Do we resist buying difficult articles? Do we recycle whatever possible? Have we made any efforts to educate and organize our neighborhood into becoming a constructive force against environmental pollution? Are we responsibly conserving the amount of heat, electricity, and water consumed in the home?
To what extent are our homes open to brothers and sisters who have no place to lay their heads? How much are we willing to be inconvenienced in order to accommodate someone else who is lacking the basic necessities of food and shelter? Do we look at it in terms of “inconvenience”? Hospitality (literally “love of strangers”) was a priority in the
In considering the matter of homes, Christians must reject the prevailing cultural priorities of status, comfort, and security, and rediscover the biblical concept of responsible stewardship of all of our material goods. Only then will we become aware of the precious resource that is our home, and realize the best means to exploit it for the greatest benefit.
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