Kingdom Economy

A couple weeks ago I attended the Kingdom Economy conference put on by Epiphaneia (http://www.epconference.net). If you're wondering why it took me so long to post my responses, it's because the speakers encouraged us to take time to digest the material and not push out sound bytes afterwards. So now that I've had time to reflect on it one thing in particular has stuck with me.

I was hoping for some radical commentary on the failure of our current economic system, which I admit was a bit of a self-righteous desire. By doing so, I can point fingers at others, rather than myself. But of course, God had other things in mind for me that day. What has stuck with me the most was the importance of Sabbath. This is an intensely personal (and communal) practice, and one I'm not so good at.

Sabbath directly challenges our non-stop economy machine. It reminds us who is at the centre. And who provides our needs. Could our entire economic practices shift from Christians reclaiming Sabbath? By doing only the things that give them pleasure? (According to a Jewish Rabbi, couples should make love at least 4 times on the Sabbath in order to bring glory to God. Yes, I've filed that one away for when the time comes...) Sabbath is a time for renewing relationships - with God, others and creation. And in those transformed relationships comes transformed economic systems. So I guess the revolution starts at home. Or the park. Or the potluck table. Or...