Why is this forum dead?

[Touma]

Isn't one of our main goals as christians to bring peace, love, help, and justice to those with out said things? I see more people in other forums bickering and causing division, yet see no one here talking about how we can better the world. What is wrong?

 

[2writeabout]

hi Zilam, Tell me some of your actions towards social justice? We can be encouraged and stimulated to action and thought by the stories of others. This morning I was part of small group of people who stood outside our elected federal member of parliament (this is the Australian political system) with a banner supporting the rights of the Burmese people to protest in their own country (you may be aware of the events currently being played out in that beautiful land). As a Christian it was a small act but one done out of a desire to show support for others. Another action I do is, where ever possible, I avoid purchasing items that I know have been made by exploiters of human labour (This of course raises a double dilemma - at least SOME money goes to the worker, it's the system of exploitation that is the issue). I have supported marches for human rights and, for example, marched against the entry of Australia into the Iraq war. I seek to live a life where my actions are congruent with my understanding of the teaching of Jesus.

When you say 'bettering the world' I guess that statement can be off putting for many who find such a concept just too big and not connected to where they live and breath and have their being. Let's encourage people to look for opportunities for social justice in their own neighbourhoods first. There are plenty just down the road in the local shopping centre, or indeed in the very house in which we live (many family relationships require social justice actions!). As people gain confidence through experience and gain a sense that they can make a difference they will be heartened to look beyond the local to a wider field of concern.

 

[brachah]

hello good question! i think many christians dont really care about social justice at all.

 

[kiwimac]

Social justice takes time, committment and a willingness to be considered woolly-headed or just plain wrong. Not a lot of Christian folk are ready to do any of that.

OTOH there are groups like Quakers, Mennonites and many others whose Church is strong wrt social justice Issues.

 

[Fantine]

In the first place, in terms of social justice, I think that Mother Theresa had the right idea. We must start with our families and those closest to us.

We can set goals for ourselves to perform RAOK's (random acts of kindness) every day.

Because most of us have busy lives, I think we have to be selective in what causes we will volunteer in, hopefully in areas that can use our expertise.

Finally, if we are westerners (as most of us here are) we can look at our consumption habits and try to simplify our lives. Perhaps even one small change (drinking coffee made at home instead of stopping at Starbucks) would allow us to support a social justice ministry financially. (BTW, you can buy Starbucks Coffee pretty reasonably at Sam's Club, and, I'm sure, Costco.)

 

[TG123]

Isn't one of our main goals as christians to bring peace, love, help, and justice to those with out said things? I see more people in other forums bickering and causing division, yet see no one here talking about how we can better the world. What is wrong?

I do not know why more Christians are not more involved. I agree with all the of the posters who replied, and I would like to back up kiwimac in saying that working for social justice often can mean people will look at you funny.

I go to university that has a large Christian student group (IVCF). I have been trying to get Christian students out for events like peace rallies, human rights movies, events for over 6 years. Been kind of the 'agitator' I guess. There were times when I was blessed by brothers and sisters in Christ who too responded to God's call for this type of ministry, at other times I felt I was hitting my head against a brick wall.

This year I am beginning a Christian human rights group, we are called Isaiah Fan Club and plan to take part in events like letter writing sessions, showing movies on human rights issues, volunteering at a Foodbank, examining how God calls us to respond to injustice by looking at Scripture. I have been blessed this year, 5 people have already joined the group, all of them committed Christians and all from IVCF. Some are new students, and 3 have been on 3 month mission trips in Latin America and Africa. Some have experience in social justice and human rights work and many would share your (and my) frustration that so little is being done in many churches and many Christians (and non-Christians) in the West don't seem to even care.

My advice to you? Hook up with Christians who share your concerns, you may want to look for some Mennonite churches in your area. Check out http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ . Or if you go a church already, there is no reason to switch. Talk to your pastor about setting up a human rights group in your parish. Talk to your friends and tell them about how you feel about your responsibility and duty as a Christian to work for a better and more just world. Read the Book of Micah, Isaiah 58, the Beatitudes (Matthew 5), and be ready to talk about it to others. We are called by Jesus to witness to others, His will includes that we are involved in helping the poor, working for justice and peacemaking. These are not leftist or liberal ideals, even if unfortunately at times it may seem like they are the only ones who care and willing to actively call for these things. Christians need to fully engaged in the struggle and it is a travesty that more of us aren't.

Ask your pastor if he is aware of Christian social justice/peace/human rights groups operating in your city.

Some groups you may want to look up in the phone book could include Mennonite Central Committee, Lutheran World Federation, Development and Peace. I'd recommend even checking our the secular antiwar or social justice groups, and work with them. You can witness to them the Gospel as you work for change. Let them see that human rights, peace and social justice have deeper roots than just politics, that Christians too are called to be involved in the fight. Let them know a Christian who does give a damn about the fact that there are kids in this country and around the world are living in poverty, who doesn't turn his back on people who are suffering, whose ears are not deaf to the cries of people who are being oppressed, who believes in a Lord and Saviour who commands that we be active in working for a better world. Let them know you. Be a witness to God's glory, live out your faith and set an example. Sometimes we can witness more by actions than by words. Your hunger and thirst for righteousness comes from God. Let Him use you, get out there and fight the good fight He is calling you to engage in.

I'll be praying for you, brother.

Cristo Vive!
- Tomasz

 

[brachah]

fight the good fight He is calling you to engage in.

that's inspiring. tks for posting. GBU.

 

[restore]

Isn't one of our main goals as christians to bring peace, love, help, and justice to those with out said things? I see more people in other forums bickering and causing division, yet see no one here talking about how we can better the world. What is wrong?

Christian life is a long struggling journey. Through strife, through debating, through a lot different difficulties, People will grow and be refined in FIRE.

A tree will not become strong if only planting in a comfort zone.
So, raise up,
The forum is not dead

 

[Rose D.]

I had not seen this forum before now. It is wonderful to know a place like this exists in a forum that sometimes appears to be mostly right-wing.

I'm an activist, meaning I'm daily involved in the issues I fight for, and an active organizer of protests and other events to work for social justice. I work for human rights, basically, with antiwar and immigrants' rights being central issues for me right now.

 

[Touma]

I have not done anything social justice wise such as protests, but I constantly debate these issues, and bring them to public light, for people to see whats going on, especially with in our church. It seems as if the right wing has take a bad hold on the Church and choked the compassion out of it. I want to revive our mission as being peacemakers, healers, and servants to humanity, as well as our Lord. When I graduate, I am going to serve as a missionary in the Mid east, centered on lebanon, Israel, and Palestine. I plan on not just spreading the gospel, but taking care of people. Fighting for their right to survive, and live meaningful lives.

 

[Timuchin]

I suppose the biggest problem I'm hearing is to assume that humanity is our church. The apostle Paul said we aren't to judge those outside the church, but those inside the church. Jesus whipped the money changers who were in the church; he didn't go to Samaria or the Decapolis to impose his will.

The prophet Amos said, "Let justice roll down like a flood" to the people in the Israeli theocracy, not the Assyrians.

Jesus had harsh words for the leaders of Israel. But when he went to the Decapolis and Samaria, he didn't say anything to their leaders

A lot of liberals object to the Christians who want to impose their Christian morality on the nation, as though this were a theocracy. Jesus was against that. But then the liberals want to treat the whole world as though it was their church and impose political correctness upon it. This is hypocrisy, which Jesus Christ of Nazareth considered one of the worst sins.

I recall a man on one of my ships who was treated unjustly. The liberals were willing to protest on his behalf. As a Christian, I gave him the money he needed to balance it out. He became a Christian, not a liberal.

 

[Jammersburn]

Finally, if we are westerners (as most of us here are) we can look at our consumption habits and try to simplify our lives. Perhaps even one small change (drinking coffee made at home instead of stopping at Starbucks) would allow us to support a social justice ministry financially. (BTW, you can buy Starbucks Coffee pretty reasonably at Sam's Club, and, I'm sure, Costco.)

Yes, lowering our consumption is a good way to live in a more just way. However, purchasing our cheaper consumables from Sam's Club or Costco is definitely not the way to go. If you are going to purchase good coffee and simplify your life, you need to consider their environmental impacts. You can't buy coffee that's bad for the environment from a company that is bad for indigenous coffee growers that is re-sold to a company that exploits foreign labor and unjust tariff agreements. Yes, it is important to simplify, but you still have to be smart about it. You still have to research.

About this forum: I live and work social Justice. I will be here! We can't let the uninformed run the show!

 

[chestertonrules]

Isn't one of our main goals as christians to bring peace, love, help, and justice to those with out said things? I see more people in other forums bickering and causing division, yet see no one here talking about how we can better the world. What is wrong?

"Social Justice" is usually just a code word for those who want to exploit Christianity in order to promote a leftist agenda.

I believe that is why many are not interested in this forum.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Perhaps it's time to just let the unbelievers suffer:



Revelation 18:4

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

Also, "Judgement must begin with the house of God." The church is as much a part of these problems as the 'world'. Most of the problems the world suffers are also found in the church. Should the blind try to lead the blind?

No one can 'rise up' on their behalf and save them from their earthly plight. They must do this themselves. Read the French poem "The People".

owg

 

[blankgirl]

Perhaps it's time to just let the unbelievers suffer:



Revelation 18:4

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

Also, "Judgement must begin with the house of God." The church is as much a part of these problems as the 'world'. Most of the problems the world suffers are also found in the church. Should the blind try to lead the blind?

No one can 'rise up' on their behalf and save them from their earthly plight. They must do this themselves. Read the French poem "The People".

owg

I don't agree... the second most important commandment is that we love others the way we love ourselves... Jesus is delaying His secong coming because He wants everyone to be saved.
I think that social justice is a very very important cause . If we can show our love to those who are poor our evangelism to reach out to the lost becomes more effective... and this starts by be practical in our reaching out the way Mother Theresa did.

 

[lynxfx]

The Bible says Jesus acts through his church. If you are not doing what you can to feed the poor and reach the lost then how can you really call yourself part of the Church ?

We are blessed to be a blessing.

God will bless and prosper you once he can bless and prosper other through you.

 

[revd]

Isn't one of our main goals as christians to bring peace, love, help, and justice to those with out said things? I see more people in other forums bickering and causing division, yet see no one here talking about how we can better the world. What is wrong?

The forum is not dead. But I like your points. I am not sure you can say that this forum, as large and good as it is represents society at large. It does represent a lot of people who like to communicate a lot on the internet. But you cannot stay on the internet a lot and be doing things in the real world too. I wonder how many people who gab constantly on the forum are active in their churches, in other ministries or charity. There are no doubt many nice people here and these are the ones to fellowship with while at the same time trying to help those in need or who do not understand.

 

[nowhereville]

Many are called few are chosen?

It is VERY discouraging how infrequently people post there, however I know from experience (death row ministry among other things) that one gets tired of "debate" (to put it nicely) people called to things such as this get tired of arguing. They avoid controversy (unless they are called specifically to that) because it's a waste of time and energy.

For me - I will not debate the rightness or wrongness of it all - I've seen it go both ways - sentence commuted and sentence executed (no pun intended) so for me since I am called to support and prayer - I see clearly it is god's CHOICE and WILL not mine and for me to debate it endlessly seems like a trap of the enemy to discourage me and wear me down so I lose focus.