Many Christians are confused about the issue of social justice. There are many different perspectives on the complex subject, and there is a lot of baggage attached to the phrase "social justice." As much as I can, I have started to simply use the word "justice" when describing God's plan for followers of Jesus to be actively engaged in serving others who may be in need.
People often ask me why I am so passionate about justice, and I usually say it is because I want to be an imitator of Christ. Jesus was (and is) passionate about justice. Justice is closely tied to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christians who are on mission should be supporting justice. It is not an option. Unfortunately, Christians often fall short in the process of being stewards of power and influence to root out institutional injustices that keep mass numbers of people living in cycles of suffering. Individual compassion is the low hanging fruit for Christians, and we get stuck there when we could be acting justly on behalf of others. Nehemiah's leadership is a good example of God's transforming power working through leaders to help large numbers of people to be freed from opression. Of course, the concept of acting powerfully to supposedly release the masses from opression has been horrifically abused in the past by some communists and socialists. It's why Christian leaders must be so careful so as not to do harm to people while trying to help... especially when it comes to justice. Again, I think Jesus is the best example for leaders to follow.
Another reason why the social justice issue confuses many modern Christians is because we live in such an individualistic society. Culturally speaking, when we think that it's all about me, then it becomes a foreign concept to think about how our actions might impact others. The world's message is that it's all about me, but that's also the message that a lot of American Christian churches are lining up to offer people... "it's all about you. You can have it all if you just do the right Christian things, and God will bless you. Your relationship with God is strictly personal." I really think the heresy in the prosperity doctrine and self-help gospel confuses folks about how they could be giving themselves away to others in need in our own cities and around the globe when we die to our selves and gain Christ.
Showing posts with label social justice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social justice. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Moving From Charity to Relationships and Justice
In America, we are in that time of year when many people like to become charitable. Generosity abounds for such things as toy drives and dinners for the homeless. The holidays encourage many ordinary folks to be compassionate to people in need. There are many great outcomes from such acts of generosity, so I certainly do not want to discourage anyone from being compassionate at this time of year. However, in America there is much more that Christians can be doing not just during the holidays but throughout the year.
God calls Christians to be in meaningful relationships with people in need throughout the year. For instance, when a person sees a homeless person begging for money they might ask themselves questions like, "Should I give them money or not? How will they spend the money that I give them? Should I make eye contact with them and say hi, or keep looking forward and walk past them?" Instead, I think the bigger questions that a Christian in that situation might ask themselves should be, "Why am I struggling with what to do when I encounter a homeless person? Do I have any meaningful, long term relationships with any homeless people? Have I distanced myself from the poor? If God calls us to love people who are suffering and struggling in this world, then what can I do to rearrange some things in my life so that I can actually be obedient to that call throughout the year?"
Entering into relationships with people who are in desperate need is difficult, but that type of activity is not optional for Christians. We do not get to pick and choose if we want to help people in need. It's part of following Christ. Many American Christians distance themselves from the poor and then simply give money or food during one holiday stretch each year. Instead, we should be invested in authentic relationships with widows, orphans, homeless people, and people living in poverty throughout the year. We must overcome our fears. We must overcome our complacency and comfort. We must overcome the structures in society that keep us separated from people in need. We must enter into people's pain through relationships... not just lob money at them from a safe distance with no relational connection. Many Christians in America need to move beyond charity and start advocating powerfully and justly on behalf of the people in need with whom they have entered into relationships.
And, Christians must move even beyond individual relational justice to address the broader systemic injustices that keep people living in cycles of despair. That's a very unpopular position to be in, upsetting the status quo, and Christians will experience suffering of their own when they wade into that territory. But it's what we are ALL called to do. Dom Helder Camara wrote, "We must go beyond 'aid' or 'charity' and demand justice which will bring peace. Many people falter at this point. He who asks the powerful to give aid to the poor, or helps the poor himself by being imprudent enough, or bold enough, to mention these or those rights or demands this or that justice, is regarded as a splendid man, a saint. But he who chooses to demand justice generally, seeking to change structures that reduce millions of God's children to slavery, must expect his words to be distorted, to be libeled and slaundered, viewed with disfavor by governments, perhaps imprisoned, tortured, killed... But this is the eighth beatitude: 'Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven, for so many persecuted prophets who were before you."
God calls Christians to be in meaningful relationships with people in need throughout the year. For instance, when a person sees a homeless person begging for money they might ask themselves questions like, "Should I give them money or not? How will they spend the money that I give them? Should I make eye contact with them and say hi, or keep looking forward and walk past them?" Instead, I think the bigger questions that a Christian in that situation might ask themselves should be, "Why am I struggling with what to do when I encounter a homeless person? Do I have any meaningful, long term relationships with any homeless people? Have I distanced myself from the poor? If God calls us to love people who are suffering and struggling in this world, then what can I do to rearrange some things in my life so that I can actually be obedient to that call throughout the year?"
Entering into relationships with people who are in desperate need is difficult, but that type of activity is not optional for Christians. We do not get to pick and choose if we want to help people in need. It's part of following Christ. Many American Christians distance themselves from the poor and then simply give money or food during one holiday stretch each year. Instead, we should be invested in authentic relationships with widows, orphans, homeless people, and people living in poverty throughout the year. We must overcome our fears. We must overcome our complacency and comfort. We must overcome the structures in society that keep us separated from people in need. We must enter into people's pain through relationships... not just lob money at them from a safe distance with no relational connection. Many Christians in America need to move beyond charity and start advocating powerfully and justly on behalf of the people in need with whom they have entered into relationships.
And, Christians must move even beyond individual relational justice to address the broader systemic injustices that keep people living in cycles of despair. That's a very unpopular position to be in, upsetting the status quo, and Christians will experience suffering of their own when they wade into that territory. But it's what we are ALL called to do. Dom Helder Camara wrote, "We must go beyond 'aid' or 'charity' and demand justice which will bring peace. Many people falter at this point. He who asks the powerful to give aid to the poor, or helps the poor himself by being imprudent enough, or bold enough, to mention these or those rights or demands this or that justice, is regarded as a splendid man, a saint. But he who chooses to demand justice generally, seeking to change structures that reduce millions of God's children to slavery, must expect his words to be distorted, to be libeled and slaundered, viewed with disfavor by governments, perhaps imprisoned, tortured, killed... But this is the eighth beatitude: 'Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven, for so many persecuted prophets who were before you."
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Steps to Serving Others
I've had some people tell me recently that my blog is challenging them, but they are not sure what to do about it. God calls every Christian to make a difference in this world, so failure to act is not an option. Here are some suggestions I have for anyone who has been challenged by God's call to reach the lost and serve the poor:
Examine Your Lifestyle: Are there things in your life that are holding you back from serving others or giving yourself away to people in need? Sometimes a comfortable lifestyle can hold us back. If your finances (debt, house payments, cars, credit cars, college funds, or retirement) are keeping you from serving others, then it is time for you to do some radical things to get out of that bondage. If your job has you working too much to have the time to spend with people who are hurting in this world, then I would suggest to you that it is time to change jobs. Work is not a cursed condition. Work is a gift from God. Work should not be hindering you from serving others. Don't get stuck on this step! You do not need to get your life perfectly in order before you can start to help others. Right now is the time to get involved.
Take the First Step: I know that many people cannot make the jump from not being involved at all to mentoring an inner city kid once a week for three or four hours. I suggest that people start serving the poor by simply taking some first steps such as serving meals at a homeless shelter or taking a short term missions trip. Sure, the experience will not be very transformational in the big picture of things for the people that you are helping in that short amount of time, but this part of the process is more about you overcoming fears and beginning to discover the joy that God gives us when we help other people. Don't get stuck on this step! Many Christians show up to help poor people once or twice just to make themselves feel better, and then they bail on the people who they are trying to help when things get tough. Keep going!
It's All About Relationships: Many Christians want to help others, but they don't want to risk getting involved relationally. Ask yourself some of these tough questions: "Do I know any poor and/or hurting people (not all poor people are hurting or in pain... many don't feel the need to elevate themeselves to the lofty heights of middle class norms in America!)? In where I live, work, and play, do I come into contact with people who are different than me racially or socioeconomically? Are people who are hungry dining at my table?" If you do not know, and I mean deeply, relationally, know, any people who are marginalized by mainstream society, then that is a major problem for you if you are a Christian. God has a special place in his heart for people who are poor or suffering or outcast by society, and he has a special call for Christians to do something about it in our world. If you are not deeply involved relationally with people who are different from you racially or socioeconomically, then that is a major problem for you as a Christian. Christians should be leaders, on the cutting edge in society, in the areas of racial and socioecomic reconciliation. Instead, people in America often say that Sunday morning is the most segregated time of the week because Christians are so bad at worshipping with people who are different than us. If you are not sharing your home and your food with people who are desperately hungry in your own city, then that is a major problem. It's easy for us to give monthly support to starving kids in Africa that we see on TV, and then turn our backs on hungry children in our own city. My point is that all Christians should be involved in meaningful, consistent, long term relationships with people who are marginalized by society and with people who are different than us. I think every Christian in America ought to mentor a young person. But, don't get stuck there! Keep moving!
Compassion and Justice: Christians are called to act both compassionately and justly. Compassion means that we do something nice for somebody just because we want to help them. There are no expectations for anything in return. We just give. Compassion is not bad. It is a part of what Christians are supposed to be doing in the world. However, most Christians get stuck at compassion and they fail to live out their other role which is to act justly. We should be empowering the poor by removing systemic evil from our society which oppresses the poor. We should be equipping others by acting powerfully to seek out all types of injustices. All Christians can, and should, act powerfully in order to serve others. Justice often comes with a great cost, but it is what we as Christians are called to do. This means making sure all children get a good education. It means that businesses thrive in hurting communities and that people have access to good jobs. It means that dysfunctional laws are changed. You could move your family into an under-resourced neighborhood. Justice means many different types of things, but we cannot sit back and watch people being hurt by injustices without acting.
I have lots more that I could write, but I'll stop there. Get involved in your city! Start building relationships with people in need! Your actions will change the lives of others, but I know that your life will be changed forever as well. God is pleased when we are obedient to his call to reach marginalized people in the world.
Examine Your Lifestyle: Are there things in your life that are holding you back from serving others or giving yourself away to people in need? Sometimes a comfortable lifestyle can hold us back. If your finances (debt, house payments, cars, credit cars, college funds, or retirement) are keeping you from serving others, then it is time for you to do some radical things to get out of that bondage. If your job has you working too much to have the time to spend with people who are hurting in this world, then I would suggest to you that it is time to change jobs. Work is not a cursed condition. Work is a gift from God. Work should not be hindering you from serving others. Don't get stuck on this step! You do not need to get your life perfectly in order before you can start to help others. Right now is the time to get involved.
Take the First Step: I know that many people cannot make the jump from not being involved at all to mentoring an inner city kid once a week for three or four hours. I suggest that people start serving the poor by simply taking some first steps such as serving meals at a homeless shelter or taking a short term missions trip. Sure, the experience will not be very transformational in the big picture of things for the people that you are helping in that short amount of time, but this part of the process is more about you overcoming fears and beginning to discover the joy that God gives us when we help other people. Don't get stuck on this step! Many Christians show up to help poor people once or twice just to make themselves feel better, and then they bail on the people who they are trying to help when things get tough. Keep going!
It's All About Relationships: Many Christians want to help others, but they don't want to risk getting involved relationally. Ask yourself some of these tough questions: "Do I know any poor and/or hurting people (not all poor people are hurting or in pain... many don't feel the need to elevate themeselves to the lofty heights of middle class norms in America!)? In where I live, work, and play, do I come into contact with people who are different than me racially or socioeconomically? Are people who are hungry dining at my table?" If you do not know, and I mean deeply, relationally, know, any people who are marginalized by mainstream society, then that is a major problem for you if you are a Christian. God has a special place in his heart for people who are poor or suffering or outcast by society, and he has a special call for Christians to do something about it in our world. If you are not deeply involved relationally with people who are different from you racially or socioeconomically, then that is a major problem for you as a Christian. Christians should be leaders, on the cutting edge in society, in the areas of racial and socioecomic reconciliation. Instead, people in America often say that Sunday morning is the most segregated time of the week because Christians are so bad at worshipping with people who are different than us. If you are not sharing your home and your food with people who are desperately hungry in your own city, then that is a major problem. It's easy for us to give monthly support to starving kids in Africa that we see on TV, and then turn our backs on hungry children in our own city. My point is that all Christians should be involved in meaningful, consistent, long term relationships with people who are marginalized by society and with people who are different than us. I think every Christian in America ought to mentor a young person. But, don't get stuck there! Keep moving!
Compassion and Justice: Christians are called to act both compassionately and justly. Compassion means that we do something nice for somebody just because we want to help them. There are no expectations for anything in return. We just give. Compassion is not bad. It is a part of what Christians are supposed to be doing in the world. However, most Christians get stuck at compassion and they fail to live out their other role which is to act justly. We should be empowering the poor by removing systemic evil from our society which oppresses the poor. We should be equipping others by acting powerfully to seek out all types of injustices. All Christians can, and should, act powerfully in order to serve others. Justice often comes with a great cost, but it is what we as Christians are called to do. This means making sure all children get a good education. It means that businesses thrive in hurting communities and that people have access to good jobs. It means that dysfunctional laws are changed. You could move your family into an under-resourced neighborhood. Justice means many different types of things, but we cannot sit back and watch people being hurt by injustices without acting.
I have lots more that I could write, but I'll stop there. Get involved in your city! Start building relationships with people in need! Your actions will change the lives of others, but I know that your life will be changed forever as well. God is pleased when we are obedient to his call to reach marginalized people in the world.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Raising Kids to be Giants
My dad and I attended an event last week where Dr. John Perkins spoke. He is a nationally renowned leader in Christian community development and racial reconciliation. We both had the chance to meet him, and he was very engaging with both of us. Following the first section of the conference in which he delivered a passionate call for all Christians to engage in racial reconciliation and social justice, my dad said the following to him as the three of us spoke: "I hear what you are saying, but I wonder if my son here has taken your message too far? He moved my grandchildren into one of the most violent neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, where they are surrounded by gangs, drugs, prostitution, and boarded up homes. My granddaughter is the only white child in a school with over 500 black children. Their neighborhood is not safe. What impact do you think all of this is having on my grandchildren?"
As dad described the blight of the situation (and I love my dad's heart by the way... he has been very supportive of us), Dr. Perkins cracked a smile that kept getting bigger and bigger as the circumstances were described more and more dramatically. To answer the question, he put his arm around me, looked my dad square in the eyes, and said, "Listen to me, now. I know you think what your son is doing probably doesn't make any sense, and I don't blame you for being concerned. But... your son is giving your granddaughters an incredible gift. Mark my words... they are going to grow up to be spiritual giants! They will make a huge impact for Christ in this world because of their life experiences growing up!"
Of course I was so blessed by his answer, but my dad was really pleased, too. We live in a society which leads many kids astray, and many parents think they are helping their children by raising them in the safest circumstances that they can possibly find... the best schools, the safest neighborhoods, etc. Dr. Perkins' perspective, which I strongly believe in, is that we should not shelter our children from the brokenness in our world. Julie and I are modeling for our children how God calls us as Christians to engage culture, serve people who are hurting, and lead people to Christ's restoring and transformational love. Ministry does not happen in sterile conditions, and kids will not learn how to be transformational agents for Christ by living comfortably and at a safe distance from brokenness in our society.
As dad described the blight of the situation (and I love my dad's heart by the way... he has been very supportive of us), Dr. Perkins cracked a smile that kept getting bigger and bigger as the circumstances were described more and more dramatically. To answer the question, he put his arm around me, looked my dad square in the eyes, and said, "Listen to me, now. I know you think what your son is doing probably doesn't make any sense, and I don't blame you for being concerned. But... your son is giving your granddaughters an incredible gift. Mark my words... they are going to grow up to be spiritual giants! They will make a huge impact for Christ in this world because of their life experiences growing up!"
Of course I was so blessed by his answer, but my dad was really pleased, too. We live in a society which leads many kids astray, and many parents think they are helping their children by raising them in the safest circumstances that they can possibly find... the best schools, the safest neighborhoods, etc. Dr. Perkins' perspective, which I strongly believe in, is that we should not shelter our children from the brokenness in our world. Julie and I are modeling for our children how God calls us as Christians to engage culture, serve people who are hurting, and lead people to Christ's restoring and transformational love. Ministry does not happen in sterile conditions, and kids will not learn how to be transformational agents for Christ by living comfortably and at a safe distance from brokenness in our society.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Social Justice
Social justice has been a hot topic in American culture lately. Glenn Beck recently suggested that good Christians should leave their churches if they teach about social justice. I have several Christian conservative friends who are actually outspoken against social justice. They fear that a form of social gospel will replace personal evangelism as the mission of the people of God. I have several Christian friends who actively embrace social justice issues, and they fear that a personalized form of religion has taken over much of American Christianity and, as a result, Christians have given up on their neighbors and the needs of others in our society.
I cannot fault folks for having a vested interest in ensuring that what is being taught in churches is truthful. I do have some concerns, though, for Christians who are so outspoken against social justice. My first concern is that most of my conservative Christian friends who are so outspoken against social justice issues choose to live in places where they enjoy the benefits of functioning systems. They are disconnected from broken systems and the brokenness of people in need. I would like to ask them why they choose to live in a nice suburban neighborhood (not that I have anything against that). I would bet that they would give a social example for almost every reason they live there: good schools, good housing that gains value, good public works, good police work, functioning local government, good shopping, good potential for economic growth, etc., etc. I would suggest that the Christians who are most passionate about embracing social justice issues are folks who live in the midst of dysfunctional systems in places like the inner city. Their life experiences are the opposite of the suburban friends I just described: poor schools, poor housing options, dysfunctional public works, lack of police presence, dysfunctional local government, no good places to shop, few profitable local businesses, etc., etc. If you can see my point, it is very hypocritical for Christians living in functioning social systems to denounce the Christians living amidst broken social systems for wanting to improve their lives and the lives of others by engaging in social justice. I guarantee that if the Christians living in functioning social systems ever had a complete breakdown in their systems, they would suddenly have a renewed vigor in the value of Christians engaging in social justice. Or, better yet, they could come and live in my inner city neighborhood for a while to see what it is like. Then they might understand.
Second, both words and works have equal value in communicating the gospel message. Sometimes we are called to use words. Other times we are called to use works. One method is not more important than the other. To give an example of this, sometimes when people participate in a neighborhood clean up event or serve food to the homeless, they express disappointment to me that somehow their time was wasted because they didn't have a chance to share the gospel. Actually, they did just share the gospel through their works. Maybe they'll be called to use words in the next situation that God places them, but in this instance of service they did share the message of Christ's love. Jesus did this all the time!
Notice I am not talking about abandoning the revolutionary and subversive message of the love of Jesus Christ. I am talking about engaging even more in utilizing all means of sharing Christ's love. The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ should never be watered down. God chooses to work through us through words and works. Christians should be engaged in both personal evangelism and social justice. For the Bible tells us so...
I cannot fault folks for having a vested interest in ensuring that what is being taught in churches is truthful. I do have some concerns, though, for Christians who are so outspoken against social justice. My first concern is that most of my conservative Christian friends who are so outspoken against social justice issues choose to live in places where they enjoy the benefits of functioning systems. They are disconnected from broken systems and the brokenness of people in need. I would like to ask them why they choose to live in a nice suburban neighborhood (not that I have anything against that). I would bet that they would give a social example for almost every reason they live there: good schools, good housing that gains value, good public works, good police work, functioning local government, good shopping, good potential for economic growth, etc., etc. I would suggest that the Christians who are most passionate about embracing social justice issues are folks who live in the midst of dysfunctional systems in places like the inner city. Their life experiences are the opposite of the suburban friends I just described: poor schools, poor housing options, dysfunctional public works, lack of police presence, dysfunctional local government, no good places to shop, few profitable local businesses, etc., etc. If you can see my point, it is very hypocritical for Christians living in functioning social systems to denounce the Christians living amidst broken social systems for wanting to improve their lives and the lives of others by engaging in social justice. I guarantee that if the Christians living in functioning social systems ever had a complete breakdown in their systems, they would suddenly have a renewed vigor in the value of Christians engaging in social justice. Or, better yet, they could come and live in my inner city neighborhood for a while to see what it is like. Then they might understand.
Second, both words and works have equal value in communicating the gospel message. Sometimes we are called to use words. Other times we are called to use works. One method is not more important than the other. To give an example of this, sometimes when people participate in a neighborhood clean up event or serve food to the homeless, they express disappointment to me that somehow their time was wasted because they didn't have a chance to share the gospel. Actually, they did just share the gospel through their works. Maybe they'll be called to use words in the next situation that God places them, but in this instance of service they did share the message of Christ's love. Jesus did this all the time!
Notice I am not talking about abandoning the revolutionary and subversive message of the love of Jesus Christ. I am talking about engaging even more in utilizing all means of sharing Christ's love. The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ should never be watered down. God chooses to work through us through words and works. Christians should be engaged in both personal evangelism and social justice. For the Bible tells us so...
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