In my continued quest for more faithful social justice, I am doing a team project this quarter on equipping ordinary people for social justice action. We have a great opportunity to pull together a wide range of resources and make some great action steps because we have nine passionate people in our group. This is one of the main questions I wanted to work through in seminary, so I'm excited to get into this project
My responsibility is the theology behind it: why do we care about social justice? what is the connection between God's heart and social justice? what is the connection between God's people and social justice? what are theological ideas that hold the church back from social justice activism?
Basically, I've checked out every book on the subject from the Fuller Library so I've gotten some great resources, but....
Give me some good thoughts, and I may quote you in the project----
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Theological Ideas that hold the church back:
1. "You will always have the poor with you..." SO why bother.
2. Jesus is going to return and the world is going to be detroyed so why bother trying to fix anything on a "sinking ship."
3. The health & wealth gospel. God blesses those who are faithful, so those who are poor are poor because of sin. Those who have bad things happen to them deserve it, etc...
4. I really need a new pair of Nike basketball shoes.
in my limited experience; it seems to me that historically the 'liberal' churches have been justice oriented but also worldy focused (meaning that 'the answers' are not looked for in the Bible or even any spiritual focus but answers are looked for in the in the inetllectual world. Often, i was told by leadership in these programs that we didn't want to insult poor people by telling them @ jesus because that was not a 'real' life response and we were talking down to them if we tried to 'preach'.this really bothered me because i knew that spiritual healing was integralto my own ability to change and i thought it would be the same for others.
I also think the 'justice oreitned' programs i have been involved with are often 'enabling' rather than empowering. to be fair i think churches want to help but don't know how to do it effectively because they haven't been a part of much that seems successful. also- our American idea of fixing things means to propell people in to being able to make it in this 'material world' ., to go to college (even if that's not really where they beolong)and there seems to be a lot of moral and ethical dilemas wrqapped up in that (our material answers and way of measuring success.). it's funny- but i think the most succeful mix of both (spiritual and intellectual growth and change along with action AND service wrapped in to the solution from the beginning) are the 12 step programs...think of how much money, disfunctional families, medical expenses....etc. have been helped through this self help program.it seems to me that even the succesful micro econonomics has some similar strengths....go with this one!!!love, mom
John Stott has written some good things on this in several places. I can't recall which book it's in, but he talks about how he once believed and taught that the mission of the church was "exclusively a preaching, converting and teaching mission."
He then goes on to explain how he came to change his view, and bases it in the Johannine (found in the gospel of John) version of the great commmission, where Jesus says "as the father has sent me, so I send you."
Stott asks: how did Jesus come - how was his mission fleshed out? Obviously, we can't be saviors of the world as he was. We can't atone for the sins of others and give eternal (or as Dallas Willard says "the eternal kind of") life. But we are clearly told that we are sent by Him, as He has been sent by the father. So, Stott says, "it is better to begin with something more general and say that he came to serve."
Stott moves on to a discussion of Jesus's compassion on the sick and suffering, and expands the understanding of what our "commission" is if we follow Jesus's model of being a servant to all. Note, he expands the understanding. He doesn't make the error of some mainline denominations and jettison evangelism, redefining "mission" solely as social justice. Evangelism is still crucial for him. Stott sets out several ways or models of looking at the relationship between evangelism and social justice. (1) social justice as a means to evangelism, (2) social justice as a manifestation of evangelism, and (3) social justice as a separate, independent partner with evangelism. Stott argues for #3. "As partners the two belong to each other and are yet independent of each other. Each stands on its own feet in its own right alongside the other. Neither exists just to be a means to theother, or even solely as a manifestation of the other. For each is an end in itself. Both are expressions of unfeigned love."
I liked the argument from Stott's perspective in regards to Evangelism and Social Justice, not being separate entities, but that social justice and evangelism are ends in and of themselves of God's love.
The reason sometimes that I don't think we see in the N.T. the exact spelling out of what social justice should look like, is because, the reason we need the term social justice, already presupposes that it needs to be spelled out.
I just don't see a dualism in 1st century Judaism in regards to having an understanding that the world was created by God and "everything in it."
Social Justice in our day needs definition because we have a public/private split, as well as a Deistic Enlightenment which places God "upstairs" from humans.
I appreciate the engagement that Corey's blog provides.
I went back and read my comment and I didn't put in a thought. I said the reason that we don't see the spelling out of social justice in the N.T. is because Israel had already dealt with the social/economic/political split within their own existence and understood that God did not want such as split. Therefore when Jesus comes on the scene, he himself becomes all these things, thereby allowing those that follow him to become them as well. So, the split between social justice, evangelism, feeding the poor, preaching, love, is done away with.
Then in our context, defining social justice means that it presupposes that it doesn't already exist in the lives of Christians.
so... we just follow Jesus? He's the embodiment of all that we need!!! that's what i thought. corey's mom
and if we all do that and raise our children like that... what a world this could be!!!
thanks for you guys responding, I'll let you know what we learn through the project.
i think you are right to note that this has been the stereotypical split, mom, and we are looking at a more holistic approach that comes out of the heart of Jesus to redeem, restore, and reconcile all things. This means, yes, actually following Jesus into the lives of others and responding to the real life questions and situations people are dealing with.
Thanks Karl, and Paul, I found both of your comments helpful. I resonate a lot with Stot's comments in my own approach; The church has often seen its "mission" as a task rather than defining ourselves around God's mission that makes us good news as we are sent in His image. I think good questions are a really good starting pont:
what are the forces and instituions that God wants to set people free from in our community?
who is engaging those forces? how can I use my gifts to join with God? how can my community best join with God to express His just character in the community?
on a more personal level== how are my relationships reflecting the character of God?
Justice starts with God and pervades our life so that we can have new eyes to see the world and join with God in being good news in word and deed to others
the prophets speak reforming our ways (the way of our heart and life) and our actions (the way we live toward the world). the church shouldn't separate the two
mission and community...I was thinking thatYoung life does it well. i was thinking @ how meanigful it was to be one of a TEAM going out in to the trenches of the high school mission field. the support and focus on bringing others to Christ through the leaders but not not TO the 'leaders' or even to Young Life was reiterated all the time... even tho i know many people ended up coming to 'young life' only... there are so many who came to Christ and who are out in the trenches as adults in other mission areas. i think that speaks well for something in the organizational theology.
i keep thinking @ how Lee Corder cautioned us to not focus on "Jesus AND..." but Jesus... So...His mission -His ideas" that's simplified i know...but it seems to me that the most satisfying work i am involved with, even now, is work that is surrounded by prayer and community, and mission that is clearly identified (why are we doing what we are doing?)(what do we hope for?)Is this Biblical? Is this truly showing love and respect to those whom we are ministering to? Are we clear that we are only vehicles of the Holy Spirit...? How do i need prayer in my work? How can I pray for others?
The Young Life leadership handbook is something i refer to to help hold myself accountnable in my work and relationships still.
How do you think this translates in to what you are talking about?
thanks for the conversation. mom
Corey, as you know there are a lot of churches and young (and some not so young) leaders out there exploring these questions. You've obviously tapped into some of them, like Rob Bell's Mars Hill.
If you haven't seen it already, you might be interested in what Stephen Phelan is doing down in San Diego. Stephen is a former safety at Uva (mid-90's) who went to law school and then seminary, and after working as a junior (not sure if that's the correct term) pastor for a few years, is now planting a cross-cultural "bridge" type church (PCA) in inner city San Diego, right on the dividing line between a wealthy gentrified area and the poor, crime ridden area that butts up against it. They are exploring and living out a lot of these themes.
hey mom and karl
yes, rob bell has been a great influence in my life and the church in san diego seems very close to my heart---i'll have to check it out, maybe i'll make a friend; i find it exciting that people are seeing that we need to ask the right questions like any good missionary would as the church, we can't just expect people to come to us
i learned that early on in YL, and I think that is YL's strength. YL is in a very strategic place to be an incarnational presence in the high schools because they meet on their church--- the only question is: what are we calling kids to? the classic YL message is very individualistic, future-salvation oriented and it would be great to get kids thinking about more holistic issues earlier--- i think these kinds of things are already happening in YL in many places and will become the norm in the next 10 years
i meant meet on their turf...so much for proofreading
Stephen Phelan's church plant is under the auspices of multi-site Harbor Presbyterian Church (www.harborpc.org - he's at the "Uptown" site) I think you might find a kindred spirit in him. Stephen was a walkon DB who earned a scholarship and started his last couple of years at Uva. Great guy, with an inspiring vision for a multicultural church that is deeply involved in mercy ministries and social justice.
I remember watching Rob Bell's band in college and thinking "this guy has got 'presence'." Peroxide blond hair and a vocal style kind of like REM, he was the perfect front man for a college band. I remember a song called Back Pocket "...and You've been shoved at me endlessly/but my back pocket is not where You're going to be." I think I kicked him in the shins on the intramural soccer field once or twice too, but other than that didn't really interact with him.
You might also be interested in liquid church (www.liquidchurch.com) in New Jersey. The New York Times ran a story on them when they showed up at a gay pride festival to hand out free bottled water in the hot July sun. The pastor is Tim Lucas, another Wheaton grad and unlike Rob Bell, we actually knew Tim and his wife Colleen. Tim's bio on the website has an interview he gave regarding the gay pride event which I think you would really enjoy reading. This is from another section of their website:
Serving the City:
Although our Sunday services draw people from all over the region, Liquid's vision is much more than a full house on weekends. We don't want to simply "fill a facility"... we want to "serve a city!" That's one of the reasons we're centrally located in the county seat of Morristown where we can serve our neighbors in creative ways that put our faith into action.
A significant portion of our budget goes into outreach and touching the lives of the poor, marginalized, lost or hurting. The Daily Record recently named Liquid as one of Morris County's "Top Ten Inspirational Stories" for our work with people in need. If you're new to our community, check-out some of our recent outreaches in the videos below. And get ready to go "beyond church walls" to be the hands and feet of Jesus on a street level!
Sorry this was a little off-topic, more about people doing exciting social justice type work and less about theological justification for it. I'll give that a little more thought and see if anything concise comes to mind. The problem is limiting all the thoughts to something short enough that it can be posted.
what a great discussion!! i agree with you corey about the individualistic thing... I just think that kids that have never experienced a relationship with Christ often are very needy and they do need to be invested in and filled with scripture ... but i agreee that service incorporated in to the whole thing (besides reaching out to their friends) would give them an opportunity to love... and experience the depth and breadth of the life of Christ in that way.I just like the way YL fortifies their missionaries and I see that lacking in the non profits I have been involved in.
i love hearing about what churches are doing that is WORKING to make a differnce in their communities. Our church has been involved in Interfaith Hospitality for quite a while. I have mixed feelings about it.We have spent the nite as overnite hosts but the lack of real 'relationship'potential made our work feel a bit shallow. Once again the stories I hear about lasting change came from big personal investments in a particular family and a willingness on the part of that family to take responsibility for making changes for themselves.
What i hate to see- what is not the heart of Christ.. is when people's work and ministry causes tehm to burn out or judge those whom they have poured themself in to when they don't change...
Of course, prayer, scripture etc. are important to change our own heart attitudes but i think we sense when we just seem to be enablers and that doesn't feel like authentic Kingdom work.
I would like to see a blog network for sharing actual Christain sucess stories. What HAS worked to help people change..what has worked to help alleviate injustice and poverty?
Things i have read always seem to suggest that 'those who have been there' and gotten out.. are the most effective leaders... but there don't seeem to be enough of those who want to 'come back' and 'give back'.
the non profit systems we have in place so often rely on board members who are constantly rotating in and out. they have little dispensable time and need to be educated as to real issues etc.Often they have opinions and agendas that dictate or change the original intent of the organization. By the time they are familiar with real people and real issues they often rotate off the boards they are serving on and that is very frustruating for those of us who are emplyed in these non profit organizations.
I'm glad my daughter is getting her PHD in non profit stuff. I'll be very interested in everything she learns!!
well, I'm goiing to set up for divorce Care (a group that I can see working in kids' lives. Kids feel like the church is the place they can talk about the way they really feel and explore options for themselves and their futures that may be different from the ones their parents made. This is all done in the context of the love of Christ and the kids respond like crazy. it's been very satisfying to be part of this. the 'work' they do in the group also leads them to love, and forgive others.....
Interesting.
okay...bye!! corey's, mom
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