So I always have good intentions for updating this blog - and then get sidetracked by other things. But here I am again, after a season of backsliding... I have made a recommitment to blogging - I may need some follow-up at same point to make sure I keep to my decision, but in the mean time, here's a few thoughts :-)
I have spent the last few years rearranging my views on the world (or at least - having them rearranged)... I have realised that the gospel message is not about changing from one column to the next, from being 'in', instead of being 'out', but its about allowing God's Kingdom to come to earth. In other words, its about allowing God's desire for his creation to come about, in my life, and in my sphere of influence. God's desire for love, beauty, justice, truth, goodness... not a pressure to behave a certain way, but an invitation to be transformed, and to participate in God's transforming work in the world.
And in the midst of this revolution that I've been having, I have recognised that God challenges us to care for the poor and the broken-hearted. To seek justice for the oppressed. To spend our lives on behalf of those who need restoring, hope, change...
And this is a great idea isn't it? In fact, in some kind of way, this thing we call social justice has become a pop culture revolution. Everybody cares about Africa these days. It has even become cool for celebrities to adopt African children. What a funny thing.
But in strange sort of way, we fail to recognise that our way of life so often reinforces the oppression of those we profess to care about. We want to care, until it costs us something and then we don't want to care - at least not that much. We want our governments to do something about global poverty, until we hit a credit crunch and then we go back to looking after ourselves... and still what we call a 'crisis' (which is genuinely hard for many people - I do not mean to minimise this) is still far less serious then crises all over the world in places we can easily avoid if we want to...
Of course we could ask what business it is of ours to care so much about people in Africa or China or Cambodia... We could say that they all live a long way away and really have nothing to do with us. Perhaps we could find a way to justify saying that, if our coffee, clothes, shoes, appliances, furniture and most of the other things we rely on for a way of life were made without horrendous labour conditions, unfair trade, and in some cases, child labour.
So the gospel challenges us to consider this. And to consider this becomes very confronting doesn't it? Because when you really start to think about it, you realise that it becomes very inconvenient to think about it too much. When we start to think about the things that define us. The things that we simply 'have' to buy because otherwise we feel like we're falling behind. We have to fit in to the 'in-groups' and look cool, and keep up.. we have to get the new furniture, the new cars, the new house... because it is what makes us feel like we're ok. That we're making it.
When we think about it in logical terms we can easily recognise the injustice of the situation. But when it comes to the reality of it, it gets much harder doesn't it? When it means paying more money for something, or not getting that thing that you really want. How much do we really want change? How far are we really prepared to go to see a transforming revolution in our society?
This is the question that is bugging me. And so I thought I should share it. And I am interested in action. I am interested in changing the way I live. I am interested in challenging my assumptions and confronting my own selfish ambitions.
So I would like your thoughts. I would like your suggestions. I would like your critiques. I would like to see us do something. Please leave comments here to this effect...
And I'm interested in getting together to talk this through. I want to talk to people who are thinking about this kind of revolution and get some of us together to talk. To talk about how we go about changing. And some of you are probably already on the journey... So let me know if you're keen and lets get together.
peace.
michaeljamesfrost
