Below is some graffiti I recently saw on a bike ride around White Rock. I loved it so much, I stopped and took this picture. It’s at the top of the White Rock Lake dam, looking East, back out over the waters.
I know that some will likely be offended by it’s crudeness…or perhaps shocked that I, as a preacher, would post such things.
If you are shocked, I blame Tony Campolo, and invite you to consider his wisdom.
Here’s the bottom line…
If you want to understand the truth of “The Parable of the Talents,” it’s all right here…
And if you’d rather hear a full-length sermon, making much the same point in different language, have at it.
(As always, if you like this post, then “like it” or “share it” on Facebook by clicking the box below, or send it to your friends…so others can see too…and leave a comment…EF)
WhenEFTalks 
I wasn't going to look until after 12:00 so my sermon on this parable would not be trumped by yours. But I looked anyway. Checkmate.
It's always best to go with your gut.;)
Why the Parable of the Talents is really and Occupy Wall Street tale: the hero fo the parable is the one who buried the money in the ground. That person is the only one who did not use their sweat or ingenuity to make the robber-baron king more money. It was an act of resistance against an oppressive system. Live the shit out of your life, yes. don't live the shit out of your life to make them richer.
I've read that interpretation several times lately. But, honestly, it doesn't fit with the whole ethos of not only *this* parable, but some of the other ones around it in Matthew. And, it makes that parable about money, which is, ironically, exactly what the false "prosperity gospel" folks do.It also doesn't explain what I take to be the key point…when the one servant says "I was afraid."If the servant was striking a blow against an oppressive system, he might have had fear in his heart…but it would have said, "I was striking blow for justice," not "I was afraid."This parable, it seems to me, is meant to be a metaphor, just like the one before it (the bridesmaids) is also meant to be.In fact, if we say this is primarily parable about the economic system (buying/selling, just/unjust systems) then we have to claim that the previous parable is about oil lamps or wedding receptions.Truthfully, I *do* think that this parable has something to say about "Occupy Wall Street." What it says is that God is the source of all that is, our possessions, the world, everything. God gives to all of us "talents" to use, not to hoard…but to use to the best of our abilities. The point is overcoming our fear of using our talents and our gifts…and trusting that we will have enough.You see, actually, I think Wall Street types ARE hoarders…hoarding what they have been intrusted with, rather than sharing it with others and trusting that they will always have enough.
"It's the heart afraid of dying that never learns to live."
It's amazing how many Christians care more about bad language than they do helping the poor…http://www.whatthehellbook.com/2011/11/14/do-you-give-a-shit/
Isn't it, though?Your book sounds fascinating. Thanks Jason.