Gregory of Nazianzus: Primitive equality

If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Leviticus 25:35

“You, however, look at the primitive equality, not at the later distinction, not at the law of the powerful, but at the law of the Creator. Help, as much as you can, nature; honor the primitive freedom; respect yourself; cover the dishonor of your family; assist those who are sick and aid those who are needy.”

Gregory of Nazianzus in On the Love for the Poor in Social Thought, ed. Peter C. Phan, Message of the Fathers of the Church, vol. 20 (Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier) 26.

Today’s training, as I stated yesterday, is one like no other.

I am teaching and facilitating a replicable training with influencers from Nepal, Pakistan, Angola, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Turkey, Armenia, and the Philippines over the next two days.

Our opening dinner last night went great. Pray for us.

And today’s post has relevance in light of this ethnic diversity. We are one in Christ. And we share the same primitive equality. When we set aside distinction and power, we discover there is no difference between any of us.

At that moment we realize our role to help, honor, and assist.

Who do you know that society says is not worthy of help, who cannot make it on their own, or who has fallen on hard times? What if you looked at the primitive equality? You would find no difference. From that place, deliver help, restore honor, and assist as needed…generously.

And pray for our group as we visit this room (pictured above) where five articles were added by 152 humble servants in A.D. 381 giving us the Nicene Creed that we embrace today.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

“We were made for good works to the glory and praise of our Maker, and to imitate God as far as might be.”

Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390) in Nicene & Post-Nicene Series 2 Vol 7, ed. Philip Schaff (1980) 354.

Since I stood in the room (Hagia Irene, pictured above) where the first Council of Constantinople added five articles to the Nicene Creed in A.D. 381, I hav been moved to read the works of Gregory of Nazianzus who was part of that meeting.

Today he calls us to imitate God as we are able. What would that look like for you in relationship to those around you? God made you for good works that praise your Maker. Are you doing them? Do people see God through your generosity?

The World Evangelical Alliance conference has drawn to a close with remarkable fruits. The evangelical alliances in countries like Albania, Qatar, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Ireland are eager to set up peer accountability groups (like ECFA in USA). No kidding.

Now I pivot to hosting a group of influencers for onsite program work in Istanbul. Pray for Ruthie Cristobal and me as we teach and train 9 influencers from Nepal, Pakistan, Angola, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, and Armenia the next two days. Thanks.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

“May God preserve me from being rich while they are indigent, from enjoying robust health if I do not try to cure their diseases, from eating good food, clothing myself well and resting in my home if I do not share with them a piece of my bread and give them, in the measure of my abilities, part of my clothes and if I do not welcome them into my home.”

Gregory of Nazianzus in On the Love for the Poor in Social Thought, ed. Peter C. Phan, Message of the Fathers of the Church, vol. 20 (Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier) 19.

Since I stood in the room (Hagia Irene, pictured above) where the first Council of Constantinople added five articles to the Nicene Creed in A.D. 381, it got me thinking.

As I stated the last two days, I decided to research who was in the room and review any extant writings from Council participants.

This led me to explore Gregory of Nazianzus. He was there, and he gives us the next few posts. Today he offers us this prayer from his classic work, On the Love for the Poor.

We must think keenly about the implications of this. Gregory basically spells out what it means to love our neighbor. It means to care for them as we care for ourselves.

What would your life look like if you cared for someone in need this next month as you cared for yourself? What would change in your spending? And in your giving?

Pray the prayer again and then ask the Holy Spirit to guide your steps.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

“We must, then, open the doors to all the poor and all those who are victims of disasters, whatever the causes may be, since we have been told to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep. And since we are human beings, we must pay our debt of goodness to our fellow human beings, whatever the cause of their plight: orphanhood, exile, cruelty of the master, rashness of those who govern, inhumanity of tax-collectors, brutality of blood-thirsty bandits, greediness of thieves, confiscation, or shipwreck.”

Gregory of Nazianzus in On the Love for the Poor in Social Thought, ed. Peter C. Phan, Message of the Fathers of the Church, vol. 20 (Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier) 6.

As I stated yesterday, I’ve have tabled research for the foreseeable future and shifted to researching quotes from saints through the centuries on generosity. Since I stood in the room (Hagia Irene, pictured above) where the first Council of Constantinople added five articles to the Nicene Creed in A.D. 381, it got me thinking.

I decided to research who was in the room and review any extant writings from Council participants. This led me to explore Gregory of Nazianzus. He was there, and he gives us the next few posts. Today he inspires us to consider our “debt of goodness to our fellow human beings.”

The line that struck me was “whatever the cost of their plight.” As times have not changed, and our world seems to be crumbling around us, let us resolve to consider who we can help and how we might help them. Message me if you want to pay your debt to goodness and support GTP efforts serving workers in the hardest places.

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” 2 Kings 4:2

“Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.”

Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390 in 365 Days with the Saints: A Year of Wisdom from the Saints, compiled by Carol Kelly-Gangi (Author) (New York: Wellfleet, 2015) 2.

I’ve decided to table research for a while and go back to researching quotes from saints through the centuries on generosity. Since I stood in the room (Hagia Irene, pictured above) where the first Council of Constantinople added five articles to the Nicene Creed, it got me thinking.

I want to research who was in the room and review any extant writings from Council participants. This led me to explore Gregory of Nazianzus. He was there, and he gives us today’s post! God wants all of us to give what we can. He can use it. He can multiply it. He only wants us to make it available for His purposes and glory.

Let me illustrate this in real-time. I’ve been praying on and off for the last few hours for Annie Robin, GTP Country Coordinator for Pakistan, and her team. Their women’s ministry in Lahore took up a collection for persecuted Christians in Jaranwala. You may have seen images of this situation in the world news.

She and her team hired a driver and took a collection to bless ten Christian families who have suffered great loss during these difficult days. Though they don’t have what many would describe as great wealth, they set a goal and rallied generous sharing, and gave what they had. It made a difference in the lives of those they served.

Soon I will get the whole story from her, but the good news is that their mission was successful. What do you have in your house, like Elisha asked the widow? Or a position of authority like Annie to inspire others to take up a collection? Do you have resources to contribute to someone with nothing?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

“Research suggests that there are a number of demographic and geographical factors that influence generosity. These include aspects like regional levels of trust as well as aspects that might not normally be thought of as impacting generosity, such as city size and diversity… Studies have found that people in rural environments exhibit more prosocial behaviors. A meta-analysis of 65 experiments found that people who lived in rural areas engaged in more helping behaviors compared to those who lived in urban areas, and another study of people who were raised in rural or urban China found that individuals raised in rural environments were more generous to strangers and distant acquaintances.”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

I arrived safely in Istanbul. I will interact with people from all over the world at the World Evangelical Alliance conference from 8-12 October 2023. Here’s the link to the event.

I’m basically giving a TED talk on “A biblical basis of governance stewardship accountability with real-life practice.” Reply to this email if you want a copy of my slide deck.

On the day before the conference began my GTP colleagues and I took time to visit Hagia Irene. Everybody talks up Hagia Sophia, which was great, but the experience is somewhat anticlimactic as it has been converted to a mosque.

Hagia Irene is a lesser known church and the site where 152 bishops gathered for the Second Council of the early church to add five article to sharpen the Nicene Creed in A.D. 381. See the sacred hall where it happened above.

As I continue digging in this goldmine of research, my exploration has come to look at demographic and geographical factors. It seems the more concentrated the people (urban versus rural) the less generous we become.

It makes sense. The more crowded things become, the more we might be prone to keep to ourselves and forget the most basic injunction of Jesus: to love God and love our neighbor.

What does this look like where you live? How does your context influence your generosity? 

Jenni and I moved into a neighborhood with many young families. She’s getting to know many of them while walking our dog, Grace. Most have small children or are expecting new arrivals.

As I notice these realities, it inspires me to think how can might influence the faith of these families through our love, interaction, and generosity.

Ponder how your demographic and geographical factors setting might influence your generosity and determine what God might have you do where He has planted you.

He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.” “Consider carefully what you hear,” He continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Mark 4:21-25

“A meta-analysis of 98 studies looking at the social outcomes of video game content found that “[w]hereas violent video games increase aggression and aggression-related variables and decrease prosocial outcomes, prosocial video games have the opposite effects.” In particular, studies have found that playing prosocial video games increased prosocial thoughts, increased interpersonal empathy, and decreased feelings of pleasure at another person’s misfortune in lab experiments.

These findings suggest that video game content may have consequences on how players treat other people—both in positive and negative ways. In fact, researchers have suggested that video games could potentially be a useful tool for increasing helping behaviors in children, particularly in teens.

Playing is almost ubiquitous among teens (a 2007 survey found that 97 percent of American teens play video games), and the video game format—which exposes players to modeling, rehearsal, and reinforcement—offers “excellent conditions for learning to occur.” Of course, that all depends on teens being willing to play prosocial games in the first place (at least when not assigned to do so in an experiment).”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

When this posts I will have arrived safely in Istanbul for the WEA Forum which starts tomorrow. Click to see the program and presenters. Appreciate your prayers for a great event.

And honestly, I never thought I’d write a generosity post about video games. But then again, the research is both stunning and unavoidable.

If 97 percent of youth are playing games, and if games can shape them toward either aggression or prosocial behavior, we must consider the implications of this for the youth in our lives.

Today’s Scripture beckons us to “consider carefully what we hear” because if we partake of unhealthy things, we will reap the related impact.

And such choices will cause us to loose whatever gains we had in character or spiritual growth. We are either growing closer to God or away from Him. It’s not static.

So, in light of this research, let us encourage our kids to play prosocial games. And while I am the last person to recommend any, I am confident a good search will bear fruit.

Praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe. Psalm 150:4

“Besides listening to prosocial music, several studies suggest that jointly making, listening to, or dancing to music with others can boost prosocial behavior. In one study, four-year-old children behaved more cooperatively and prosocially after joint music making than did children who were engaged in another activity with similar levels of social and linguistic interaction.”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

I am thinking musicians out there knew this to be true but it’s fresh research to me. Music coupled with dancing increased prosocial and generous behavior in kids.

Perhaps it works for children of all ages. It inspires me to urge readers to worship God in music and dance as the Spirit leads, and couple that with worship in the form of generous giving.

I just exchanged messages with a Christian worker in Pakistan. After their singing and dancing they decided to take up and offering for Christians suffering loss and persecution.

GTP hopes to go serve workers there in February 2024. In the meantime, turn up the music, dance, and consider whom God wants you to bless today through your giving.

And pray for my safe arrival to Istanbul, Turkey. More on the World Evangelical Alliance conference here in the days to come.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16

“In another study, when compared with people who had listened to music with neutral (not particularly prosocial or antisocial) lyrics, people who had listened to music with prosocial lyrics picked up more pencils for an experimenter who pretended to accidentally spill them, were more likely to agree to do further unpaid experiments and spent more time doing them, and gave more money away… Further analysis found that this effect was due to increased interpersonal empathy in the people who had listened to the prosocial lyrics.

Another field experiment suggests that this induction of empathy via music with prosocial lyrics could have real-world effects. In this experiment, while 768 French restaurant customers ate lunch or dinner, they were exposed to either music with prosocial lyrics, neutral lyrics, or the regular music played by the restaurant. Restaurant patrons who had listened to the prosocial music were significantly more likely to leave a tip—and their tips were significantly greater than the other patrons’ tips.”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

Boarding a flight for Frankfurt, Germany this afternoon en route to Istanbul, Turkey. I will attend a World Evangelical Alliance conference there. I’ll share more about this event in a few days. For now, I appreciate your prayers for safe travel and peace and protection for my wife whilst I am away.

When the message of Christ dwells in us richly and when we teach and strengthen each other with songs, we grow in gratitude and generosity.

Today’s research shows that “prosocial lyrics have a similar effect. It makes me think of the upcoming Christmas season when cheerful music plays in stores and restaurants.

Undoubtedly, this aims to inspire people to buy gifts for people in their lives to show love with generosity. This stirs me to ponder the lyrics of songs more closely.

For example, a tear of gratitude always forms in the corner of my eye when I sing this part of the song O Holy Night, “He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger.”

I feel the deepest level of empathy in this line. And the lyrics move deeper than prosocial “peace on earth” but a deep feeling that Christ knows my “need” and “weakness.”

What lyrics do you hear in the music you like to play? How might it be encouraging or limiting your generosity? Consider how lyrics might shape your generosity from here.

Enjoy the lyrics to O Holy Night (originally in French by Placide Cappeau) as a bonus today.

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O’er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20

“Music’s effect on generosity has been less studied than television’s, despite the fact that Americans spend an average of 24 hours listening to music each week. However, the research that has been done suggests that two aspects of music—its ability to elicit emotions and its lyrical content—may influence generous behavior in listeners.

Several studies have shown that people are more likely to help others when in a positive mood, and music may be a good way to make people feel happier and thus more generous. This connection was borne out in a field experiment conducted on 646 users of a university gym who were exposed to either uplifting (up-tempo, British top-20 recent singles) or annoying (avant-garde computer music) songs and later asked either to sign a petition in support of a charity (a low-demand task) or to distribute leaflets for the charity (a higher-demand task).

While almost all subjects from both groups agreed to sign the petition, significantly more of the subjects from the uplifting music group than the annoying music group agreed to help distribute leaflets, suggesting that music that lifts your spirits may also make you more generous.”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

Who knew?! Listening to music can uplift your spirits and also make you more generous. It makes sense, biblically speaking. Repeatedly, the Scriptures call us to sing and give thanks. Perhaps music provides the context for cultivating gratitude.

For my part, I don’t listen to much music. But when I do, I like to listen to Handel’s Messiah, which celebrates the prophecies, the passion, and the promise of Messiah. Perhaps this explains why I desire to give myself to Kingdom work each day.

What music do you listen to? How might it encourage or dampen your generosity? Think about this and maybe turn on, turn off, turn up, or turn down the music as God leads.