Store Up Some Treasures On Earth While You're At It

Hopefully that title caught your attention...

I recently read through Robert D. Putnam's Bowling Alone: The collapse and revival of American community. He wrote about social organizations within American history and specifically the modern-day U.S. Here are some thoughts that came to me while reading.

What impacted me first of all was the need for grassroots organizational structures. He described movements, such as the Civil Rights movement, that became institutionalized into things like the NAACP. Now, instead of protesting nationwide, these groups have specialized lobbyists, and "membership" consists in reading the newsletters and giving financial contributions. There is no real membership. Consequently, these institutionalized movements are losing momentum, members, and respect. Of course, there is an obvious implication of the church here, which can be described in the same manner: a revolutionary, world-changing force turned into dead institution (check-out Bosch's Transforming Mission for a brilliant discussion on this sad turn in church history).

The really amazing part of the book was Putnam's discussion of "social capital," which is something I had never even heard of before. He describes it like this: "social capital refers to connections among individuals - social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them" (p.19). The idea is that we build up social captial in all manners of relationships; these can range from small talk with a neighbor to counseling a friend going through divorce. I look at it as storing up tresures on earth and heaven at the same time. Putnam goes on to point out that people with more social capital are healthier, happier and better for the people and places around them. Maybe that's why Jesus said when two or more are gathered...

Our task, then, is to build social capital. Building strong relationships with family, neighbors, strangers, church members, activists and our amazing, relational God is our goal. I think I could spend hours linking social capital and the Kingdom of God, but I'd better stop for now. What are your thoughts?

Peace,
Matt

Oh yeah - I am going to Seattle with my friend Kurt tonight to hear N.T. Wright speak. It's going to be amazing!

Currently reading: An essay by Andrew Carnegie called The Gospel of Wealth.