Which is the bigger crime?

You may remember hearing this story just before Christmas- the vicar who advised people to shoplift if they didn't have any money.  It was a story that caught my attention, and indeed that of both local and national media.  But the controversial advice to people in dire need to shoplift was not the only thing that caught my eye.

I don't like it when a statement such as "My advice is to shoplift" is taken out of context.  So often it's done to make a small point seem like a big one.  So I was glad when someone later pointed me in the direction of the text of his sermon.  And sure enough, the advice to shoplift isn't the main point he was trying to make.  Most shoplifters probably don't fall into the category of the very poorest, but are real criminals who wouldn't pay even if they could.  That's not what the vicar is talking about here.

This is the words of a vicar who knows what life is actually like for people on the edge.  The various agencies he quotes as being involved in people getting to the stage of having nothing (probation, social services, benefit handlers) have all denied that there is a problem, but anyone who's had to deal with them knows there is.  A friend of mine has had her benefits cut by the job centre because of a small mistake, other people I know have been threatened that they have to pay back money they've never received.  And delays in processing claims are not unusual- another friend had big problems with their landlord because of a delay and complications in processing a claim.  Life is just not as well ordered or predictable as the people who designed the benefit system seem to think.  Like most systems, I imagine it was designed by people who never had to use it.

So I think it's good that this vicar is being realistic, and that he understands the problems people face, and is trying to get his congregation to understand and to do something about them too.  I think what he's doing in saying people should shoplift from supermarkets is using controversy and extremes to shock people into paying attention.  And it's worked- probably more than he intended.  Sadly I think the controversy has taken away from what he is trying to say- that there are people whom our society has failed, and that we should be doing something about- that it is our duty, as Christians, to carry on the work of the God who came to Earth to live and work among the poor and sick, to promise them healing and life.

Of course I don't think shoplifting is right.  Neither, I'm sure, does he.  But when you consider how much supermarkets and such places throw away, isn't that as bit a crime?  And isn't our- and I do mean our, I'm not well off by any means but neither am I right at the bottom- attitude that is quite content to let these things happen an even worse crime?  And, well, he's right.  There are worse things people could be doing if they're that badly off than lifting a few tins of beans from Asda.  He's not encouraging shoplifting- if you read the whole sermon that's quite clear.  I don't think I would have said things the same way, but I agree on this- the fact that there are people are in this situation is a bigger problem than that they are shoplifting to make ends meet.

Advent 09- Jesus

I guess this was the obvious one that was going to come up at some point.  I want to thank God for the ultimate Christmas present, Jesus, his son.

A few weeks ago there was an event at my church where church members were asked to share what Christmas meant to them with visitors to the church.  I wasn't asked to be one of them, but if I had been I would probably have said something like this.

One of the names given to Jesus is Emmanuel, which means God with us.  That is perhaps what I find both wonderful and awe-inspiring about Christmas.  God's own son chose to come to earth and live a life like us, full of problems and issues.  No wonder the apostle Paul, wanting an example of how we should serve others and not take our status as God's children for granted, points us to Jesus Christ;

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient to death-

even death on a cross!*

Crucifixion was about the most horrifying, agonizing, humiliating death that humanity has ever misused its intelligence to devise.  The idea of God himself- for that's what the idea of the trinity tells us, that the fully human and fully divine Jesus suffered- going through this is something amazing, something which those who accuse God of  'child abuse' or of being unable to understand human suffering would do well to think about.  God knows what it is like to suffer.

And why did he go through all this?  Why suffer?  It wasn't just so he could empathise with our sufferings- though of course he does- but to save us.  And why?

Love.

Happy Christmas!


*Philippians 2, vs 6-8.  Probably one of the earliest recorded Christian hymns.

Advent 09- Christmas!

Of course, Christmas itself is something to be glad about!  There's something about this time of year- of dreams of snow, of carols, trees and decorations, of memories of childhood joys, of celebratory meals, of presents and parties.

And its also a time when those who are better off remember those in worse situations and try to do something to help them.  From the newly-repentant Scrooge sending a goose (I think?) to the Cratchits' to the unavoidable strains of 'Feed the world' to carol singing to raise money for charity.

Even if the message of Christmas means nothing to you, there is plenty else to attract you to this time of year.  It is the one time of year when almost the whole country has a break and relaxes.  I don't think it's a bad thing, whatever the reason, to have a few days when almost everyone can have a break.  I know some people- caring professionals mostly- have to work at Christmas, but I hope that doesn't stop them having time for a break at some point.

For Christians, of course, Christmas is about much more than tinsel and trees.  It's a time to celebrate possibly the most amazing miracle ever- the birth of God's son, the coming to earth of Emmanuel, God with us.  Without Christmas, we could never have had Easter, and God's astounding defeat of sin would never have happened.  More on that tomorrow.

And yet- Christmas is also a time tinged with sadness.  There's always the thought that it could be better.  Not only through remembering those who are worse off than us.  It makes me sad sometimes to think about my friends singing carols and thoroughly enjoying it, but not considering or caring what the words they are singing mean- singing praises to God without meaning them.  I wish they did.