77 Steps Towards Steps Towards

Kingdom SimplicityKingdom Simplicity

In 165 AD, a devastating epidemic swept through the Roman empire, killing 1/3 of the population, incl.

Emperor Marcus Aurelius…

In 251 AD, another

plague hit the empire,

this time both rural and urban areas were affected…

“Most of our brothers showed unbounded love…never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another…Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ…drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbors and cheerfully accepting their pains…”

Bishop Dionysius of Alexandria, AD260

“The heathen behaved in the very opposite way. At the first onset of the disease, they pushed the sufferers away and fled from their dearest, throwing them into the roads before they were dead and treated unburied corpses as dirt, hoping thereby to avert the spread and contagion of the disease; but do what they might, they found it difficult to escape.”

Bishop Dionysius

Result?

‘Miraculous’ healing

Huge Conversions

Growth of Christian population

Spread of Christian Spread of Christian love/principles throughout love/principles throughout

empire!empire!

“The impious Galileans support not only their poor, but ours as well, everyone can see that our people lack aid from us.”

Emperor Julian, AD362, trying to create pagan charities to match the Christians!

In an In an economiceconomic crisis… crisis…

WWJD?

FOCUS

He WouldHe Would

On the Kingdom of God!On the Kingdom of God!

"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.” (Matthew 6:24)

“But 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.” (Matthew 6:33)

How do we ensure we always serve God, not

Mammon?

How can we make kingdom use of $$ in

our lives?

How can we ensure that when the

Mammon PLAGUE strikes, we will be

powerfully different?

Here are

Ideas How 7

#1 Buy things for their USE, not their status

?

#2 Avoid Addictions and Cravings

This includes all kinds of addictions

All Kinds!

#3 Shun Products That #3 Shun Products That Breed OppressionBreed Oppression

Some organisations you should not put your money into…

A must read!

Here are some of the working conditions the labourers must endure…

Hours Per Week

Wages Per Hour

Conditions

Iris Fashions

72-80. 12-15 hour shifts; 6 days a week.

$0.20

No union; workers paid a $0.06 an hour premium for overtime;$0.02 for each shirt collar sewn.

Hours Per

Week

Wages Per Hour

Conditions

You Li Fashion factory

93. 7.30-midnight. 7 days a week.

$0.13

No overtime pay; no benefits; sometimes employees need to work 24-hour shifts, 6-8 people to a dorm room; dorm is dark and dirty; workers afraid; under constant surveillance; no Corporate Code of Conduct

Hours Per

Week

Wages Per Hour

Conditions

Yue Yuen Factory

77-84. 11-12 hour shifts; 7 days a week.

$0.19

Forced overtime, no overtime premium paid; excessive noise pollution; fumes in factory; no Code of Conduct

Some organisations you should put your money into…

http://www.kiva.org/

#4 Learn to Enjoy ThingsWithout Owning Them

#5 Cultivate Ecological Sensitivity

#6 Develop a Habit of #6 Develop a Habit of Giving Things AwayGiving Things Away

#7 Practise Cheerful

Generosity

“I don't have a sense of needing anything personally.

I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little.

I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

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Photo Credits:

http://alwynlau.blogspot.com

Thank You for Your Attention