Core Vision: Rebuilding Society Through Local Groups
Bram proposes forming small, resilient groups connected via open-source technology (like Home Assistant) to decentralize power, rebuild trust, and solve global challenges.
Christian Alignment:
- Mirrors the early Church’s house churches (Acts 2:42–47), where believers shared resources, supported one another, and cultivated faith in community.
- Emphasizes “loving your neighbor” (Mark 12:31) through local action and mutual aid.
Foundational Philosophy: “Golden Processes” = Sacred Stewardship
Bram’s philosophy categorizes life into three processes:
- Lead: Ignorable distractions (e.g., a lone tree).
- Metal: Linear tasks (e.g., repairing a car).
- Golden: Eternal, circular processes (e.g., raising children, nurturing faith, caring for creation).
- These demand love, protection, and reverence.
Christian Alignment:
- These demand love, protection, and reverence.
- “Golden processes” reflect biblical stewardship (Genesis 2:15). Loving family (Proverbs 22:6), serving communities (Galatians 6:10), and preserving God’s creation (Psalm 24:1) are sacred callings.
- Bram’s warning against harming these aligns with Christ’s command to protect the vulnerable (Matthew 18:6).
The Role of Groups: Faith in Action
- Groups (e.g., churches, charities, neighborhoods) use open-source platforms to:
- Organize locally (e.g., sharing resources, disaster preparedness).
- Promote transparency and trust (Matthew 5:37).
- Resist top-down control, echoing Christ’s defiance of corrupt power (John 18:36).
Christian Alignment:
- The Church is called to be “salt and light” (Matthew 5:13–16) through collective action. Bram’s groups offer tools to live this mission.
Key Warnings and Ethics:
- Reject Violence: “Violence is weakness” aligns with Jesus’ turn-the-other-cheek ethic (Matthew 5:39).
- Avoid “Caves” of Deception: Bram warns against distorted realities (e.g., conspiracy theories). Christians are urged to seek truth in Christ (John 8:32) and test teachings (1 John 4:1).
- Humility Over Pride: Lists vices like greed and pride (Proverbs 16:18), urging groups to foster Christlike humility.
Potential Tensions:
- Technology vs. Spirituality: While tools like open-source software enable service, Christians must ensure technology serves God’s purposes (1 Corinthians 10:31), not replacing reliance on God.
- Inclusivity vs. Biblical Boundaries: Bram’s “all groups welcome” may challenge Christian exclusivity (John 14:6). Discernment is needed to align groups with scriptural truth.
Call to Action:
Bram invites Christians to:
- Build Resilient Communities: Use open-source tools to strengthen churches/outreach.
- Protect “Golden” Relationships: Defend family, faith, and creation as divine trusts.
- Pursue Truth Vigilantly: Reject deception (Ephesians 5:6) while engaging society with grace.
Final Thought:
Bram’s project isn’t explicitly Christian but offers a practical framework for living out the Gospel: decentralized love, stewardship, and community renewal. As Christians engage, they can “test everything [and] hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), ensuring technology and groups glorify God.
“A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.”
— Bruce Lee (quoted in Bram’s presentation)
For more: yetanotherprojecttosavetheworld.org.