{"id":327,"date":"2010-05-19T15:25:13","date_gmt":"2010-05-19T15:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/raincitypastor.wordpress.com\/?p=327"},"modified":"2010-05-19T15:25:13","modified_gmt":"2010-05-19T15:25:13","slug":"a-cup-of-cold-water-or-cola","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/richarddahlstrom\/2010\/05\/19\/a-cup-of-cold-water-or-cola\/","title":{"rendered":"A cup of cold water…or cola?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

After Asa Chandler purchased the coca-cola formula from a pharmacist in 1887, he cast a vision to his sales team, declaring that this product should be, \u201ca thirst quenching, heaven-sent drink; a blessing to this sun-parched earth.\u201d \u00a0Chandler was a Methodist who began his sales meetings with prayer and ended his training weeks with the whole team singing stirring renditions of \u201cOnward Christian Soldiers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The marketing strategies of coke, globally, were actually tied to Christian mission work because, as Asa declared, \u201cwe can be sure that commercial currents will follow the channels which education opens and deepens.\u201d \u00a0In other words, good Christians will also become good consumers \u2013 the two go together like coke and ice.<\/p>\n

Chandler\u2019s vision came true. \u00a080% of teens worldwide can identify the coke logo, more than can identify the symbol for any single religion. \u00a0Proud of it\u2019s own deific status in the world, one coca-cola rep said, \u201cA billion minutes ago, Christianity appeared. \u00a0A billion seconds ago, the Beatles changed music forever. \u00a0A billion coca-colas ago was yesterday.\u201d \u00a0Americans drink more soft drinks than any other liquid, including water, and coca-cola is cheaper than clean water in most of the developing world.<\/p>\n

Cheaper-than-water. \u00a0The safest and cheapest beverage in most parts of the world is also the one that will rot your teeth and significantly raise your odds of obesity and diabetes. \u00a0And water\u2026.? not that important.<\/p>\n

This is one of the low-water marks in our history. \u00a0As missionaries, we often helped people become good Christians and good consumers. \u00a0We helped people become literate, and but somehow forgot the very simple words of Jesus, \u201cwhoever, in the name of a disciple gives to these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say, he shall not lose his reward.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Water became soda as we contextualized the gospel to help the natives become not only disciples, but consumers. \u00a0I wonder how the lens of history will interpret this 500 years from now. \u00a0We built a global economic system premised on the use of fossil fuels, and the manufacturing of need, so that everyone would buy, buy, buy. \u00a0The results have been mixed at best. \u00a0There\u2019s been increased longevity and health for those at the top, surely, with some of the perks flowing down the mountain to the masses. \u00a0 But there\u2019s also been environmental degradation, resource wars, and a continuously growing gap between the rich and the poor.<\/p>\n

And now, following the logical trajectory of this mindset, one of the last things to be commodified<\/a> on the planet is water. \u00a0The poorest people in the world are, increasingly, being forced to pay for this fundamental necessity, leading to wars, tensions, and increased poverty as a result.<\/p>\n

Access to clean water, in Jesus name, cuts utterly against the grain of this global trend by saying, \u201cwater is a gift from God \u2013 receive it in Jesus name.\u201d \u00a0It\u2019s why any gift you offer to Spilling Hope will save lives, enrich lives, and make the presence of God\u2019s good reign visible, both in your life, and in Uganda.<\/p>\n

Please\u2026take a stand against commodifying water by making it free, as God intended<\/a>. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Give a cup in Jesus name, starting on May 23rd, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After Asa Chandler purchased the coca-cola formula from a pharmacist in 1887, he cast a vision to his sales team, declaring that this product should be, \u201ca thirst quenching, heaven-sent drink; a blessing to this sun-parched earth.\u201d \u00a0Chandler was a Methodist who began his sales meetings with prayer and ended his training weeks with the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,11,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-exhaling","category-justice","category-rule-of-life"],"yoast_head":"\nA cup of cold water...or cola?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After Asa Chandler purchased the coca-cola formula from a pharmacist in 1887, he cast a vision to his sales team, declaring that this product should be,\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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