empires and social justice
I had to give up blogging for some days. I ran so deeply out of words. Having read so many too descriptive emails from Lebanon, having read so many blogs describing feelings of helplessness people have there. Having seen pictures of the Lebanese coast black with oil. Having heard of the Qana massacre II. Having realized that the biggest war crime might be killing the future of a people. Killing hope.
I talked to Marc who said that experiencing things like this at short distance is a way we wake up to social justice issues. I don't think I ever was very deeply asleep. But I have definately lost something these days. Maybe my remaining faith in people/organisations with power to have any relativity or sense of justice. Something has changed for good deep within me.
Still, this is part of a longer journey on which God is speaking to me about re-formation from religion to Jesus-following. In the heart of that reformation with other things is social justice. The decision is wheather we believers side with prevailing power-structures, or with those on the margins of society. It is only too easy to see which one Jesus chose, whereas the church historically has chosen the other one. On those occations when the church chose differently and stood with the oppressed and persecuted, only then has it carried significant spiritual authority in the society.
But you cannot stand against something you are yourself part of (in spirit at least). That is why we see today non-Christian NGOs carrying prophetic mantle of public witness.
Why are believers so active in attempting to shape legislation concerning family/sexuality issues, and yet so passive in fighting the imperialistic power structures of world politics/economics (which create poverty, unequality, produce ecocatastrophies and ... allow destruction of a "poorer" nation to create a better working "new order" for their country)?
Maybe, having so long been part of an empire we are like birds who, having spent too long in captivity, have forgot about our ability to fly and our calling to be free of empires and look from heavenly perspective with justice-heart of God?
Two brilliant observations Nina:
"But you cannot stand against something you are yourself part of," & "Maybe, having so long been part of an empire we are like birds who, having spent too long in captivity, have forgot about our ability to fly and our calling to be free of empires...".
They cut right to the roots. No less than sanctification, all-consuming hunger & labor for the glory of the kingdom of God made manifest in the face of the evil, corrupt & power-hungry kingdoms of this world will crack this job!
Much grace.
Posted by: charis | July 30, 2006 at 12:39 PM
It's time for the Body of Christ to take their God given mandate as shapers and shifters of foreign policy. Our weapons are not carnal; we cannot rely on 'man', NGO's, governments and certainly not world powers (who propagate the current situation).
We are empowered with the God kind of force, that creates galaxies: the Holy Spirit, and it is through that force that believers need to take a stand in the Spiritual to see things manifest in the physical.
Only through the Holy Spirit revealing the truth of a situation can we make proper warfare. God's people need to arise, bloody damn it.
I would have to disagree w/elements in your posts.
Posted by: Zion | July 31, 2006 at 02:19 AM