On MLK Day, a question…

Posted January 19, 2009 By Andrea and has 4 comments.

To you, what is the difference between justice and charity? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. worked for a specific call to justice that he had. I believe that we as a body of believers are called to justice as well. How and why is this different than charity? I know what I think but I want to know what you think. If you really want to know what I think, just ask. Or peruse around….lol.

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Do YOU know what the MDGs are???

Posted September 29, 2008 By Andrea and has 4 comments.

If you don’t, then you should. In 2000 these targets were composed and agreed upon at the UN Millenium Summit. Sadly, the world has seen little in justice for these causes. Charity continues, yes, but until people are willing to say these things are PLAIN wrong, it will remain just that- charity, not change. Do you write your senator? Do you talk to your friends about what is happening? I am not judging, only pointing out that the more the word gets spread the more people will let that awareness lead to their action. EVEN if it is a small local action opposed to global. Live in a nice part of town? I am SURE that poverty still exists somewhere for someone. I am THINKING, brainstorming, PRAYING about how to make a global move or contribution. But while I am doing that I am doing a little of this and a little of that where I live. There are small ways to help. Food pantries- are running dry like never before. The crisis that many of us see as an end to luxuries is an end to food for some. After-school programs- most exist for low income families that HAVE to work, but their kids have to get their homework done too. Sometimes mom and dad just aren’t there, sometimes mom and dad simply can’t help because they have no formal education themselves, or a first language interference their child simply doesn’t have. Shaping children shapes for a better future. Make a donation to a local co-op or organization. They use your “junk” as a provider for their services. The money they make from selling it goes to some great relief programs. This is my last suggestion, find a local non-profit that employs your interests and simply say “What can I do to help?” There are so many out there, and while they have salaried employees that take care of their “business” aspects, most will tell you their volunteers are their hands and feet.

So, the MDGs? These are millenium development goals that 191 countries wanted to be on their way to solving by 2015. The problem? Their people have not heard them. The UN and large human rights organizations, often the go-between between the poor and those who live in clean water running homes with toilets and electricity, get the message somehow lost. So spread the word, read them, and ask your Savior what you can do. It’s not about what he did, that saved us, here, it’s about what he sent us to do.

  1. eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
  2. achieve universal primary education
  3. promote gender equality and empower women
  4. reduce child mortality
  5. improve maternal health
  6. combat HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases
  7. ensure environmental sustainability
  8. develop a global partnership for development

In the recent past Congress has worked on legislation for both maternal health and debt forgiveness from the World Bank to countries like Haiti. Don’t be afraid to write your senator, and let him or her know you care. It might not make one drop of difference, but it might make all the difference. Let your words be a light in darkness.

Peace.

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Categories: Personal, Social Justice
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Tomorrow is Mother Teresa says…

Posted August 24, 2008 By Andrea and has 1 comment.

Tomorrow I will begin a series for Mondays called “Mother Teresa says.” She was one cool lady, and a warrior for Christ and people everywhere. Almost every word and quote I hear from her touches me.  I am sure you know of her, but if you don’t know a lot about her, I encourage you to look it up. There are few people truly celebrated for following Christ, but she is definitely one.

The past year for me has truly been about learning the difference between charity and justice. The Catholic Encyclopedia says of justice,

Justice is here taken in its ordinary and proper sense to signify the most important of the cardinal virtues. It is a moral quality or habit which perfects the will and inclines to render to each and to all what belongs to them.

Perfecting the will and inclining to render to each and all what belongs to them? Wow. Those are strong words when speaking in a society which can force hands in land issues and pay workers wages that will not afford their families the benefit of food. I believe that Christ followers have a call to be faithful in the ways of Christ and just to those around us. I believe that much of what Mother Teresa did in her lifetime reflected this, not just the charity which so many refer to it as. Charity is not justice, though it may often be confused. Some may need some charity for justice to be served, but the fight for justice must never be laid down for the act of charity alone. This is a BIG conviction that God has given me.  

 

I don’t know how long I will do this series, for as long as I feel led I suppose. And do not fear- I will always put into practice of finding out what first Jesus has to say, but that effort goes along with all my writings and thoughts. I do believe that there are leaders and peacemakers before us who we can learn from, and this is just a little delving into an attempt to do so. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy what may come.

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Categories: Social Justice, Spiritual Reflections
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Do you have that church in electric blue, size 2 please?

Posted July 14, 2008 By Andrea and has no comments yet.

We’re all familiar with it. Even if you are not a “Christian” you can look down the street and see that there are a lot of churches to choose from. What I am wondering is, was this Christ’s great call to the people he left behind to follow him? Did he want there to be a choice for every age group, personality, ethnicity, socio-economic group and community service personality?

In the United States I see roughly 3 kinds of churches. There are more than this of course, but I believe many of those could be listed into subgroups.

1. The old pair of jeans church: this church has community together and they do something called outreach. This is where your body remains fully inside the church building but your arms ocassionally “reach out” to give soup, hand out clothing or even money to a foreign land. The old pair of jeans is comfortable. They feel good because they reach out but relaxed because they know where they’re going. So, they usually sing the same songs all the time, the messages are usually bland recitations of scripture, and the same prayer is prayed. There are a couple of people who seem to really enjoy it, but for the most part you look around and wonder who is really worshipping. Is anyone here standing face to face with their maker, truly worshipping and calling out to Him.

2. The Calvin Clein jeans church: This church used to rock! I mean, you know, like Celine Dion style rocking. Calvin Clein jeans are really nice. They are not too expensive but definitely not cheap. Back in the day they were really trendy but now they are taking their place among the grandfather of trends.  Because CK is such a big company, they can do a lot. They offer goods, services, and Jesus!!! Can anyone give me an Amen. Oops, I forgot, inappropriate! Because CK is not that churchy, well….They say that but don’t forget your offering, at least wear khakis, and only come as you are if you have a shower. Don’t forget: big company = lots of Jesus opportunities. But would Jesus really like the pastor’s SUV? Are the 25% of people who serve outside the church spreading Christ? Possibly. But not probably.

3. The Trendy Jeans: Oh, this one is great because it can be cheap Forever 21 style or higher end like True Religion. Even the name sounds fabulous, right? This kind of jean has the most subgroups: skinny (not high tech), wide leg (too high tech), and antiqued (enough tech offerings for the family)! These churches do a lot. But if you’re sitting on the outside, looking at the cars, and the clothes, you might start to wonder if they do a lot for the kingdom or do more for themselves. Because they look great, don’t get me wrong, but the thing about trends is most of them don’t last and some of them come in really poor quality material.

Now, this is my opinion, and some facets over-generalized and mocked. Yet, if there are facets that can be mocked and over-generalized, is there a problem? Is this what Jesus was speaking of in Matthew 28 when he says “Go and make disciples of all people.” Should any comforts or trends matter? How much should we matter? Before or after others?

I honestly believe true followership of Jesus would bring people in harmony. It would wipe away the trends and wash out the forced praise. It would result in fall on your knees or lift your face to heaven worship. It would be concerned about charity but even more so about being involved in the fight for justice. It would know that individuals matter but as a body we are better. Are “types” of churches necessary to bring people to Christ, or would a church that just displayed Christ, no matter the technology or resolution, be best. Do we get distracted by our own cool gadgets and movie clips and lighting techniques so much that we would not know how to lead worship without it? Do the types separate us so that we cannot act as a body and fully be Christ to a world so seeped in pain it seems more and more people are noticing. God did not come into a world of stuff, he created a world of humanity. So what about taking it down to a raw level? Bad idea or good starting point?

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Categories: Social Justice, Spiritual Reflections
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