Occupy Mayhem

I thought Occupy Wall Street was old news, but they've just been under the radar until today. I've never really had a full grasp on what the Occupy movement was really about. I know that they talk a lot about how 1% of the world run the 99%, but I guess it never had enough credence in my mind to take it very seriously.

They've taken over downtown Los Angeles with an array of signs, masks, drum circles, and bullhorns and I've gotten a different perspective on it than I had before. I've seen everything from GLBT Activists to Hippies promoting world peace, to Anarchists wearing the communist sickle and hammer wanting to start a riot. It's a jumbled mess, where anything goes and if you have some colorful sharpies, a sign, and dress crazy, you're welcome!

I feel like a lot of the police officers woke up today thinking, 'Crap, that Occupy thing is today... Time to call in sick!' It seems at any moment the police are going to get the go ahead to start arresting the people congregating in Pershing Square. They started blasting some dubstep and I'm kind of hoping Skrillex shows up.

This feels a lot like the LA Art Walk, I've seen people with crazy outfits, V For Vendetta masks, handkerchiefs over the mouth, Native American Headdresses, and of course, some gnarly dreadlocks.

There isn't too much organization, but at least this got more participants than than the Kony 2012 Cover The Night. That was kind of a flop. I like coming to things like this primarily because I love being in large groups of people. I could probably get away with holding a sign that says, 'I Love Being in Large Groups of People!'

Post-Occupy Thoughts:

I was walking around Pershing Square with my friend Mark, one of the guys in the Program, when he asked me what I thought about the spiritual aspects of the Occupy LA meeting. I told him I see this gathering as a very spiritual thing. It was a congregation of people gathering in an area, some even dressing up and making signs. There were ideas and what I'd call 'doctrines' being shared. There was time, energy and money spent putting this on. There were even attempts at singing songs and chanting corporately.

I think this would fall under a secular humanistic meeting. There were a lot of people protesting the rights we humans have that are unalienable. I told Mark that the reason I care about human beings, and why I'm on Skid Row, is that I believe every human being is made in the image of God and therefore are to be treated with dignity and respect. That's why I care about the homeless. That's the difference between a Humanist and a Christian, Humanist's care about others because it seems like the right thing to do, which it is, but as Christian's we care because our God loved us so much that He came down and died for us.

My roommate Brian said in a prayer once, 'We love them like You love us.'

That's the force driving my activities while I'm here, I want people to put their hope not in government policies, politicians, or movements, but in Jesus Christ, who is our hope for salvation and eternal life. We love because we've experienced the joy and fulfillment that we have in Christ that we can't keep it to ourselves!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you... (1 Peter 1:3-4 ESV)

This hope is living, something that will not fail us or let us down. A lot of us put our hope in human efforts, which will inevitably disappoint because we are all sinful human beings. The Bible is brutally honest about our depravity, saying that 'none is righteous... No one does good, not even one.' (Romans 3:10,12) In Isaiah 64:6 it says, 'all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment,' or quite literally, used tampons. Even the good things we think we do are repulsive to the Lord if it isn't from faith.

'Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works...' (Hebrews 10:23, 24 ESV)

The hope we place in other people to make lasting change will only let us down because we are all fallen creatures and aren't dependable. According to the verse above, the reason we have hope is that the one who we put our hope in is faithful to fulfill His promises. And that stirs us up to do good works that are pleasing to the Lord and have eternal significance.