The Pneuma Project

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a speaking tour by Darfurian refugees who shared about the atrocities they witnessed and went through over the last 4 years in Sudan. I have been following and speaking out about the genocide in Darfur for the last three years, but this experience was different. It was so much more powerful to hear stories told by actual people instead of reading about unimaginable amounts of people killed and displaced. To witness the hurt they felt, the passion they expressed, and and the unfortunate lack of hope that this tragedy will soon end shook me to the depths of my soul. I left feeling extremely upset, actually more accurately extremely pissed off. I was angry with the Sudanese government that is sanctioning the atrocities, at our government for speaking out about the genocide yet doing so little, at the Christian response which is virtually none existent, at myself for not doing more and allowing myself to keep this safely compartmentalized in my brain.

As I listened to the presentation I wondered about how God feels about the whole thing. Does He grieve more over the loss of innocent life and the injustice that is going on or over the lack of response by the people who are called to incarnate His heart in the world. I want my heart break as His does, and I want to join with Him in bringing His kingdom to earth, wether that be Darfur, Iraq, or Reno. And yet I feel so helpless, without a real tangible way to act that can produce a difference.

It was with on my mind that I opened an email from a friend today asking me how I felt about the evangelical church’s response to injustice and poverty. I sent these words back to her and since they were a bit of a rant I figured I share them with you to see what you thought. Am I way off base?

As far as the church (institutional) responding to social justice issues, even those in our own country, it sucks! Dismally. Of all the people who should be offering hope, and a future, and love to a broken world it should be those who represent Jesus. And yet the current trend in evangelical churches is to move out to the suburbs, build a big facility that can provide for the wants of the affluent neighbors and people like them, and then maybe do 1 or 2 things a year to reach out to the poor or marginalized. We give some money to aid agencies, maybe go serve a meal or 2 and consider our work done. I think for many of us with middle class values, the poor scare us. And yet isn’t that exactly what James 2 talks about. “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you?” A proper response by the people of God would be to demand justice for the poor and marginalized. To be the first to rise up against unfair or unjust working conditions or pay. To see homelessness and poverty more of a disease of our consumeristic society rather then blaming it on people who “just need to go out and get a job” or “drink to much to work”. Sure the individual heart plays into it (we’re all sinners), but there is a more sinister evil inherent in the for profit corporations, governments, and systems that mistreat and abuse others for the benefit of shareholders, politicians, and CEO’s. It’s in this sense that Paul’s words in Ephesians 6 take on deeper meaning “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” As followers of Jesus we are called to stand for the image of God in all humanity not just those who look, think, act, and spend like us. If the church is to re-engage who it was called to be, it’s missional roots, we must return to becoming a people who stand against darkness and strive for justice for all humanity even when that means sacrificing our comfort and convenience.

Wow, that sounds pretty idealistic and revolutionary, and almost a little annoying. I just went to a Darfur event yesterday and heard people form Darfur speak about the lack of change and the continue deaths, so I’m a little fired up. Anyways I think the church needs to speak more about justice and less about 5 C’s to a good life. Is a church that is not on mission with the mission of God really being a church? That’s the question western Christianity needs to come to grips with.

I know I’m stereotyping and many people are acting on the mission of God, but if you would have seen the hopelessness in those men last night you would have to agree that it isn’t enough. What is the proper response for a Jesus-follower to injustice be it genocide, extreme poverty, or racism? I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas.