which story

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which story Do we live by?
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Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest, philosopher,
social critic, 1926-2002)
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• Neither revolution nor reformation can ultimately
  change a society, rather you must tell a new
  powerful tale, one so persuasive that it sweeps
  away the old myths and becomes the preferred
  story

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• one so inclusive that it gathers all the bits
  of our past and our present into a coherent
  whole, one that even shines some light into the
  future so that we can take the next step. If you
  want to change a society, then you have to tell
  an alternative story.
• - attributed to Ivan Illich (Austrian former
  priest, philosopher, social critic, 1926-2002)

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"Why was so much done in remedying social evils
instead of avoiding them in the first place? O
Where were the saints to try to change the social
order, not just to minister to the slaves but to
do away with slavery? Dorothy Day
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Regulated war Just war Unjust war
Pre-emptive war
Just War Theory Preliminary Violence
Reduction Theory
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Progress?
Regulated war Just war Unjust war
Pre-emptive war
Just War Theory Preliminary Violence
Reduction Theory
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Progress? Rocks, spears, arrows, swords, guns,
machine guns, cannons, grenades, bombs, nuclear
bombs, biological and chemical weapons what
next???
Regulated war Just war Unjust war
Pre-emptive war
Just War Theory Preliminary Violence
Reduction Theory
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Jesus Way of Pre-emptive Peace
Regulated war Just war Unjust war
Pre-emptive war
Just War Theory Preliminary Violence
Reduction Theory
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Would we rather heal from the vicious cycles of
war, genocide, and injustice or prevent them?
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Would we rather keep healing from the traumas of
war, genocide, and injustice or help prevent
them? How do we prevent them?
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What can we as followers of Jesus do to heal and
prevent?
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The World Runs on Stories.
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SOME ARE DANGEROUS.
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One has THE POWER TO HEAL AND TRANSFORM
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Prosperity
Equity
Security
Societal System
Think of our Societal System.
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It runs on a story a framing story.
Prosperity
Equity
Security
Societal Machine
FRAMING STORY
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• SIX FRAMING STORES TYPICALLY DIRECT HUMAN
  SOCIETIES
• THE DOMINATION STORY PEACE AND SECURITY THROUGH
  BEING IN CONTROL
• If only we were in charge! (Empire)

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2. THE REVOLUTION STORY PEACE AND SECURITY
THROUGH VIOLENT OVERTHROW OF OPPRESSORS. If only
THEY werent in control! (Revenge)
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3. THE PURIFICATION STORY PEACE AND SECURITY
THROUGH NAMING, BLAMING, SHAMING, AND EXCLUDING A
DANGEROUS MINORITY. If only THOSE PEOPLE would
change - or disappear.(If only a minority would
change.) (Scapegoating/Genocide)
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4. THE VICTIMIZATION STORY PEACE AND SECURITY
(and identity) THROUGH PRESERVING THE MEMORY OF A
PAST INJUSTICE. If only our oppressors would be
brought to justice. (If only the majority would
change.) (Alienation)
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5. THE ISOLATION STORY PEACE AND SECURITY
THROUGH WITHDRAWING FROM THE CORRUPT, DOOMED
MAJORITY. If only we could be left alone to be
ourselves by ourselves. (Elite/elect remnant)
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6. THE ACCUMULATION STORY PEACE AND SECURITY
THROUGH ACCUMULATING POSSESSIONS IN A COMPETITIVE
ECONOMY. If only we could buy, enjoy, and
stockpile what we desire. (Economic Advantage)
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DOMINATION
PURIFICATION
ACCUMULATION
VICTIMIZATION
REVOLUTION
ISOLATION
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DOMINATION
PURIFICATION
CONFLICT!
ACCUMULATION
VICTIMIZATION
REVOLUTION
ISOLATION
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In Jesus day, these stories were at work. 1.
Domination story Caesar, Pilate (with Sadducees
and Herodians) 2. Revolution story Zealots 3.
Purification story Scribes and Pharisees
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4. Victimization story Galilean farmers,
Samaritans, sinners 5. Isolation story
Essenes 6. Consumption story rich landowners,
stewards, Gentiles Are they at work today?
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Domination Us over them Revolution Us versus
them Purification Us versus some of
us Victimization Us in spite of them Isolation
Us away from them Accumulation Us competing with
them.
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Jesus came with a very different story the good
news of the kingdom of God. (News is a true
story and good news is a story of peace and
joy.) It invited people to join anew the story of
creation or to join the story of New Creation.
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The good news/story of creation called people to
see God as the Protagonist or Hero of the
story. It called them to become productive
characters - not villains, and not just victims -
in this story.
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good news story of creation reconcile
with God, neighbor, and enemy. repent
defect join
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Domination Us over them Revolution Us versus
them Purification Us versus some of
us Victimization Us in spite of them Isolation
Us away from them Accumulation Us competing with
them. Creation/New Creation/ Reconciliation Some
of us for all of us.
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NEW CREATION/ RECONCILIATION
DOMINATION
PURIFICATION
ACCUMULATION
VICTIMIZATION
REVOLUTION
ISOLATION
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NEW CREATION/ RECONCILIATION
DOMINATION
PURIFICATION
ACCUMULATION
VICTIMIZATION
REVOLUTION
ISOLATION
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Hypocrisy Religions can intentionally or
accidentally baptize, support, legitimize, and
camouflage the six destructive framing
stories. They can cover up a wolf-ish message in
sheeps language.
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A Dangerous Possibility Even so-called Christian
religions can lose Jesus story, and instead use
biblical language to camouflage one or more of
the worlds framing stories.
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RELIGIOUS DOMINATION
RELIGIOUS PURIFICATION
RELIGIOUS ACCUMULATION
RELIGIOUS VICTIMIZATION
RELIGIOUS REVOLUTION
RELIGIOUS ISOLATION
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We may be discipling people into the wrong story
or helping them become christians without
challenging their stories. In such a way, the
Christian religion can become the most dangerous
story, not the most healing and liberating story.
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After John was put in prison, Jesus went into
Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. The
time has come, he said. The kingdom of God has
come near. Repent and believe the good news!Mark
115
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So what is the kingdom of God? It is a life
lived in liberation from the regimes and
narratives and stories of human society.
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Jesus says, The time has come! You can live life
in a new dimension, a new way. Not just a life of
buying and selling, working and sleeping, eating
and digesting, breathing and dying.
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Jesus says, The time has come! You can live life
in a new dimension, a new way. Not just a life of
dominating, getting revenge, shaming and blaming,
isolating, nursing old wounds, and competing and
consuming.
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We must rethink everything. And believe the
good news.
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What is the good news? The kingdom of God is at
hand, in reach, here. And the time has come, now.
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The word now is important! You dont have to
wait. In fact, you cant wait.
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This NOW may be the most radical challenge of
Jesus message Someday, everyone agrees The
poor should helped The rich should be
generous Racism should end The environment should
be cared for Wars should cease.
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Jesus says to stop procrastinating, postponing,
and delaying. He says that SOMEDAY IS
TODAY. Start living in the new story now!
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waking up dissatisfied versions of
Jesus Domesticated Shrink-wrapped Seeking
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Were tired of 1. The DOMINATION Jesus who
dominates through legislation and violence. 2.
The REVOLUTION/REVENGE Jesus who is planning
revenge on his enemies. We believe Jesus
proclaims the power of love, not the love of
power.
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Were tired of 3. The PURIFICATION Jesus who
excludes and shames the impure rather than
graciously including and healing them. 4. The
ISOLATION Jesus who invites people to withdraw
into a holy bubble of a nice christian
subculture awaiting evacuation. We believe Jesus
calls us to incarnation and transformation, not
condemnation and evacuation.
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Were tired of 5. The VICTIMIZATION Jesus who
complains about how badly we Christians are
being treated (and ignores the atrocities weve
committed). 6. The ACCUMULATION Jesus who
promises blessings and prosperity without a
mission or a cross. We believe Jesus taught the
joy of being a blessing, not the happiness of
getting blessed, the joy of giving over receiving.
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More and more of us have lost faith in a
domesticated camouflage Jesus, but are
rediscovering faith in the Jesus of the
(unfiltered) gospels a Jesus who shows the love
of God for all people, all creation, in all our
pain and trouble, here in history.
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We want to build communities of faith and action
around Jesus and his story (good news)
of the kingdom of God.
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Keep alert for these stories Domination Us
over them. Revolution Us versus them.
Purification Us versus some of us.
Victimization Us in spite of them. Isolation
Us away from them Accumulation Us competing with
them. Dont be tricked into being characters in
these stories
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Invite people to defect from these
stories Domination Us over them. Revolution
Us versus them. Purification Us versus some of
us. Victimization Us in spite of
them. Isolation Us away from them Accumulation
Us competing with them. and to become part of
this story Creation/New Creation/
Reconciliation Some of us for all of us.
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DOMINATION
PURIFICATION
CONFLICT
ACCUMULATION
VICTIMIZATION
REVOLUTION
ISOLATION
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NEW CREATION/ RECONCILIATION
DOMINATION
PURIFICATION
CONFLICT
ACCUMULATION
VICTIMIZATION
REVOLUTION
ISOLATION
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Come. Follow Me.
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Come. Follow Me. Let my story carry on in your
story.
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The Prayer of the Kingdom
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Our Father, above us and all around us, May your
unspeakable Name be revered.
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Here on earth may your kingdom come on earth as
in heaven may your will be done.
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Give us today our bread for today. And forgive us
our wrongs as we forgive.
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Lead us away from the perilous trial, Liberate us
from the evil.
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For the kingdom is yours and yours alone, the
power is yours and yours alone, and the glory is
yours and yours alone, now and forever. Amen.
(Hallelujah Amen)
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Come. Follow Me. Let my story carry on in your
story.
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