I have AIDS. At least this Sunday I did.
Our church engaged in an eye-opening exercise this past Sunday that left our congregation of 500 in silence. I would imagine the other 4500 Meeting Housers across our 8 sites had the same experience. It is one of those moments you won’t forget, or at least, God help me, I shouldn’t.
Inside each of our programs was a sealed white envelope. The contents of which I hadn’t really considered until we were instructed to open them during the sermon. Each envelope either contained a white minus sign (-) or a red plus sign (+). On the back of each card read this staggering UN statistic that “1 in 5 people in southern Africa is infected with HIV”. I continued to read the paper and found I was one of those five. “How does it feel to be the one!?” the card asked.
Bruxy asked each HIV positive individual to rise to their feet across all of our Meeting House sites. It was a sobering moment to stand to my feet, even worse to see friends and family members stand with me. He paused for just a moment and asked everyone to look around. What would it do the fabric of a whole society, if this were the reality?
He then asked those who are family, friends, or directly involved in the life of a person infected to stand as well.
It was almost our whole congregation.
“Statistically this is what it would look like. If this was our regular experience, what would lives be like? Remember this is only one disease; they still have all the others to contend with. How would it shape the lessons that we learn and the things that we would find most important in life?”
His question has run in my ears ever since….
A simple exercise that translated a profound truth, a profound reality, and called for a radical response. We introduced one of our new missions as a church – to make AIDS kits for Southern Africa. Between work and church, I am surrounded by the message that we here in the rich, white West have a HUGE responsibility to assist in what is going on in the world. We, as in you + me.
Bruxy left us with a quote, as he moved on into the end of our recent sermon series that is so important. Its so important because so many times the idea of “grace” and “power” in and through Christ is translated into something mystical. I remember begging at the altar in my youth at Pentecostal meetings for “More power God, more Lord, more of your power in and through me”. Totally honest intention from my teenage heart. But no one told me God could use me in radical and profound, earth shattering, destiny finding, world-changer ways by serving, living simply and transferring my dollars away from the American dream and into the hands of the impoverished.
No one told me that the way I consume as a North American is pillaging someone in another country. No one told me as a Christ-follower that I had a responsibility to those in other countries. Sadly I was actually taught by people I intellectually respected that being called to my “neighbor” doesn’t mean being called to the little Africa boy starving in another country. Where have we gone wrong? Where have I gone wrong?
I got to walk out of the service and lose my HIV label. Millions of others can’t. This lesson didn’t lose its effect on me, the card sits before me now at my office desk, and the reality sits heavy in my heart.
“God’s given us His grace, even socio-economically, he’s given us a grace that we need to steward. He’s given us here, a form of his power that he has decided needs to be stewarded to others. We should not avoid our responsibility. “ – Bruxy -
7 comments:
hey elle. i want to vent for a minute and ask your opinon (if you don't mind) first off be very grateful that a church like that exists in your area. most churches sponsor one missionary (if that) and send less than 2% of their annual budget to overseas missions. it is a travisty. especially for churches that are prodomently made up of affluent middle class to upper class christians. as far as my personal responsibility to these issues, i have tried to alter how I live. but i keep coming across other like minded passionate social justice christians, who stay in churches that do not mimic their hearts cry. I was one of them. I in no way can judge or discern their motives, but some of these individuals labor long and hard to change the vision of a church, that simply put, doesn't want their vision changed.
i have long thought of prophets in the OT speaking out to the Israelites, telling them to repent, and to be warned of God's coming wrath. but i feel like now if people stand up and say something, hold someone, a church, a denomination accountable, everyone on the side lines cries foul. we can't ever say a church or person or denomination is not stewarding their funds properly. we can't say their ignoring the poor, because then we are 'judging' even though the NT says 'you will know them by their fruits".
elle, why do you think these issues are tabboo?
why do you think christians who speak, even in love, about these things get called to the floor?
are we, as evangelical christians just choosing the what is easy.
do you think that in a way, we have become like the rich young ruler?
First off Justin, thanks for sharing your frustrations. I echo your feelings on many of those subjects.
Also I think I should add that I am no authority on these issues by any means. I am just like you, journeying along, trying to navigate life as a Christ follower, mapping out the nuances of life. But I can give you what worked for me.
For myself, one of the things that have has helped me in dealing with people, churches and denominations I disagree with is try to find the good that you do agree with. Even though I disagree respectfully with certain theologies and practices of people, churches and denominations, I find it healthy to acknowledge the things they are doing right. The things they are doing that are Kingdom stuff and honoring to Christ. Even if those things are few, it is still helpful to remember that they too are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Having said that, I still feel there is room for conversation about the things being done (by people, churches, denominations) that are not as productive as they could be. Things that have perhaps been conditioned by culture instead of Christ, or things that are really 100% scriptural. I think that we all can use the recalibration to make sure that we are ALL getting back to the things that are important. Having a teachable spirit is so important, so that when issues are raised, we as leaders can listen and assess instead of getting our backs up on the defense. Why not learn from one another? Why not change and adjust if something isn't right? Why not break the bubble of our own church, denomination, or group of friends to learn from someone that is different, with a different perspective?
There are many people feeling like John the Baptist these days. People who feel like they are calling out in the desert of our culture begging people to 'prepare the way for Jesus". All I can say is keep going! Your not alone! Keep working for peace, and justice and beauty and truth. My prayer has always been that others will just join along. They won't be afraid to step out, to change, to grow, to live. And I hope in whatever you do, wherever you are, you can keep doing the same.
Hey Elle,
Thanks for sharing your heart.I remember having that conversation with you regarding "who is our neighbour" back in the day. Do you remember my friend Kelly Winter- I think she brought on one of those conversations. She was a self proclaimed Marxist-Feminist? She's living in Ottawa now too. We had a great conversation last week over lunch. :)
Anyways, I had a conversation with an English man in his early 60's last night at a church social. He spent about 30 years of his life consulting businesses in Africa.He lived there for about 14 of those years. At one point we started talking about the problems in Africa and I posed the question in the group in the room- where did problems origionate? When I brought up colonialism, he interupted me and said "Oh, Margie... don't give me that. Colonialism is the best thing that ever happened to Africa. When the English went through their industrial revolution... all the colonies bennefited. Espeically Africa. It's kind of like when someone becomes rich, what do they do... ? They share their wealth. They throw rich fancy parties for their friends. That is what colonialism is. Don't be fooled by these hippie humanists on the university campuses!"
On one hand, I wanted to be respectful because I was raised not to be rude to my elders. But on the other hand, I didn't want to let his comments go unchallenged. We had a heated discussion... we pretty much cleared the room.
Anyways, every now and then, I am caught of guard by how people view their place in the world...I think what you said is really interesting. We have a couple of girls in our ministry who are sisters from Rwanda. They were there during the genocide. I haven't had the guts to ask them about it yet. They are really sweet girls. I went to a photography exhibit that was about Aids in Rwanda... and they had pictures of women who were raped during the genocide. Men who were infected with AIDS used it as a weapon against some of the women that they didn't kill.
Elle, you talk a lot about social justice causes. I think it's wonderful that your heart is breaking. It inspires me. Truly.
I know that you are sincere. But sometimes I feel a little cynical about movemenst such as these within the body of Christ. Do you ever wonder if it's just another hot topic now because it's trendy for our generation to be 'into' social justice?
Red Gap t-shirts a few years ago creating AIDS awareness. Celebrities adopting African babies. Leonardo DiCaprio narrating the documentry "the 11th hour". Free Trade, Organic, coffee shops sprouting up faster than Tim Horton's? (I love these coffee shops though, I have to say)
I guess in the short time I've been a christian I've seen a lot of Trends or hot ideas... that have come and gone. Remember "JesusRevoltion", or "Purpose Driven Life"....
I just don't want to see that happen with these social justice initatives.
Margie
PS-
Check out this website. I think you'd like it.
www.kiva.org
Margie :)
I am 100% with you regarding social justice being the "in" thing right now. And I am 100% with you that sometimes I become rather nervous that this "in" thing will one day no longer be "in" and these initiatives will fall to the wayside. For me personally I am trying to weave these things into the regular rhythms of my life as a Christ follower so that it isn't a fad, but a lifestyle.
With absolutely no disrespect to any of my former churches, until recently I had never been exposed to intensive and purposeful social justice programs in a church setting. There were always missions and outreaches, sponsoring of missionaries (which is awesome) and things like that, but not really practical, regular routine giving of time, finances and material goods. If indeed there were programs like this, and in my ignorance just didn't know, then I apologize for making the above statement.
But why I say all of that is because I feel like even though, as you mentioned, this is a hot button topic, social justice is still a topic that (in the church) is (in my opinion) still not talked about enough. I am no spring chicken, and it was only in the last 2 years that I really caught the heart for large scale Christian social justice. We (me included) still need to be reminded that you can't preach mission with your mouth and not live mission with your lives for the poor, the marginalized and the "least of these". I think that there will be many that will jump on the bandwagon of social justice because it is the cool new niche market for many in the church. But, it is my true and honest belief that some people (like myself) are jumping on the bandwagon now because they never knew the bandwagon existed. And I know I don't intend to ever get off. Service to the poor, living simply and advocating for change with my local church family has made all the difference in my life. Honestly. Really and truly.
You are totally right that social justice is very hip with the Hollywood crowd. From Angelina's babies to Leonardo saving the earth. But, I don't believe it negates the fact they are doing something good. And, that in a way, we could learn a few things from some of these stars. It is my personal belief that Christians should really be the ones pioneering social justice, but if Hollywood is helping, I suppose that can't hurt right?
I think the key thing for me with social justice, was for it to become more than something I talked about, but more something I lived out. I think social justice can be debated and talked about (and it should) as we find out place in this word as followers of Christ. I know you too are passionate for mission and social justice. I too am really pumped about it all. This season especially with so many opportunities to be creative and dream of ways to help (from my personal favorite "Advent Conspiracy" to "Mission 2" at my church). Thank you for commenting, I always appreciate it and enjoy your insight.
I have always remembered your friend Kelly very fondly. She was one of the first people I ever met to really challenge me on my responsibility as a Christ follower to care about where I buy my products. I appreciated her challenging others around me as well. I will always be thankful to her for that.
What are some things stirring on your heart regarding social justice that you see?
Hey there.
nathan colquhoun linked to this blog post on his blog last week.
I am glad he did. I enjoy what you are writing.
It's good to see your connected to The Meeting House.
They are a radical bunch of people. I have never seen servant leadership
quite like their leaders...but anyways...that isn't why I am posting.
I have been reading the comments and stuff and thinking about social justice.
I think the previous commenter was right about social justice being the new
fad of the church. But unlike the fad's they mentioned, social justice is something that
the church has been missing from what should be core doctrine and core mission.
Those other fads were more like filler - they were there and important, but not the meat.
Social justice should be the meat. And as you mentioned, most places still don't teach social justice as mission. In fact most churches teach a strange mix of theology that really never hits Jesus' justice mission.
I know some good Christians, passionate and wanting to know Jesus, but don't care at all about what they consume, where they buy it, what is going on across the big pond. And as I enter my thirties it makes me scratch my head. I don't get how Jesus lovers can love Jesus but live like Kings while others can't even eat. I don't get it....Justin from NB and I should talk.
S.T - you always seem to keep the conversation going, thanks for that. And thanks for sharing.
Something valuable that I learned in these past few years, is to try and be responsible for me. What I mean, is that as much as I see what you see (regarding other people around me) there is really only one person that I have to answer for and ultimately, one person that I have control over. That person is of course myself. You know that I, as much as anyone, love a good debate and love to mull over and work out the bible, theology and life. But, at the end of the day, the change has got to come from me and in and through me.
So, I have just tried to position myself to live out the stuff I talk about. I would like to submit that I am a less than perfect "living testimony" to things like social justice, but I am aware and I am trying. Whether it my counter-cultural downsizing, living with less intentionally or giving time, energy and resources to other agencies living out Kingdom social justice, I am just trying to "be the change I want to see" so to speak. This is of course (I hope) would inspire others to come alongside, as I have been inspired by others.
I agree (as you might have seen from other comments) that churches should continue to advocate for radical compassion initiatives spreading beyond their doors. I think that as many more of us start to work for change, that (hopefully) more and more churches will abandon old ways of "doing church" and embrace the thing God is doing.
PS: If I knew who Justin from NB was, I could give you his contact info! That is the joy of the blog world, you don't always know who your talking to! :)
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