Social justice and schtuff
Just finished reading a chapter in Blue Like Jazz by Don Miller (chapter 2 I believe). In it he talked about how the problems of the world-the genocide in the Congo was his example-wouldn’t go away until the real problem, ourselves, is addressed.
“Nothing is going to change in the Congo until you and I figure out what is wrong with he person in the mirror.”
Of course, he’s talking about the sin nature, but his words reminded me of social justice causes. Last summer, the church I was born into and attended for most of my life up to this point had a weekend of going around town to various neighborhoods, cleaning up yards, building wheelchair ramps, boarding up abanonded houses, basically doing some things that needed done-helping people for no reason than that we felt that it was a thing that we as a church needed to do.
The response was astounding. The City Council “officially” commended us, we got a big spot in the newspaper, and tons of heartfelt thank yous poured in. Everyone at church seemed so… amazed. But I felt like I was the only one who was a little less than astounded-we are the Church, Christ’s bride, His Body-isn’t this something we should be doing all the time, not just on special weekends?
I am a hypocrite for saying it though. What have I done? Don Miller again:
“I rage against American materialism in the name of altruism, but have I even controlled my own heart? The overwhelming majority of time I spend thinking about myself, pleasing myself, reassuring myself, and when I am done there is nothing to spare for the needy. Six billion people live in this world, and I can only muster thoughts for one. Me.”
And yet the human condition is such that even if we recognize this hypocrisy in ourselves, we oftentimes do little about it. But I’m going to try; I’m going to venture outside my comfort zone. Gosh, it’s ridiculous how much the thought of that makes me quiver. Bah. Cowardice, thy name is Erin? Something like that.
“Nothing is going to change in the Congo until you and I figure out what is wrong with he person in the mirror.”
Of course, he’s talking about the sin nature, but his words reminded me of social justice causes. Last summer, the church I was born into and attended for most of my life up to this point had a weekend of going around town to various neighborhoods, cleaning up yards, building wheelchair ramps, boarding up abanonded houses, basically doing some things that needed done-helping people for no reason than that we felt that it was a thing that we as a church needed to do.
The response was astounding. The City Council “officially” commended us, we got a big spot in the newspaper, and tons of heartfelt thank yous poured in. Everyone at church seemed so… amazed. But I felt like I was the only one who was a little less than astounded-we are the Church, Christ’s bride, His Body-isn’t this something we should be doing all the time, not just on special weekends?
I am a hypocrite for saying it though. What have I done? Don Miller again:
“I rage against American materialism in the name of altruism, but have I even controlled my own heart? The overwhelming majority of time I spend thinking about myself, pleasing myself, reassuring myself, and when I am done there is nothing to spare for the needy. Six billion people live in this world, and I can only muster thoughts for one. Me.”
And yet the human condition is such that even if we recognize this hypocrisy in ourselves, we oftentimes do little about it. But I’m going to try; I’m going to venture outside my comfort zone. Gosh, it’s ridiculous how much the thought of that makes me quiver. Bah. Cowardice, thy name is Erin? Something like that.