Living Social Justice

A blog about responding to poverty and injustice, everyday and in all sorts of ways

20 May 2013

Why Should We Give?

As we kick off  Warm Up Winter 2013, we take a look at the reasons why we should give to people in need. Common Good volunteer Roger Wood shares some thoughts on the biblical mandate behind caring for the poor.

Photo Credit: Architect-Licious via Compfight cc

Photo Credit: Architect-Licious via Compfight cc

As I walked from Rondebosch station I was rejoicing and thanking God for the opportunity to work as a volunteer with Common Good. After 15 months of being unemployed, I felt comforted by the fact that God loved me and had a purpose for me in His mission. My joy quickly turned to irritation as I entered the subway under Campground Road. “Why had someone dumped that pile of rubbish at the far end of the subway?” I thought. But as I approached it I realized that these boxes and rags balanced on empty plastic crates was a bed for three people who were still sound asleep, tightly wrapped in these tatty blankets against the cold. It was the homely touch of the worn out dirty shoes neatly paired together by their bed that really touched me. Even in these conditions there was still a sense of pride and dignity.

As I stood, shocked by the fact that even here in Rondebosch, the poor struggle to live from day to day, it was as if the Lord was saying “Yes, I love you, but remember I died for the whole world. I’ve blessed you with a nice home, good food, a loving wife and so much more. But I still love these who have so little. You need to love them too.”

“But Lord,” I said, as I continued on my journey,“You said the poor will always be with us.”
“Yes, but is that a fact? Or is that a challenge?” He seemed to reply.

My mind raced to think of the many others in our city who do not enjoy all the blessings which I have. What is life like for the thousands who live in rusty corrugated shacks on the fringes of our affluent communities? How do they cope when winter comes, when the ground around their shack is sodden with pools of water and the bedding damp from the holes in the rusted roof?

So what does the Bible have to say about the poor?

In actual fact it says a lot. There are over 2000 verses which refer to the poor and needy directing God’s people to care for them. The Old Testament sets down a model for the Nation of Israel to care for the poor. For example: Deut. 15: 11 instructs that we are to share freely with the poor.

Jesus said “When you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters you were doing it for me”. Matt 25: 35 – 40.

The early church even went to the extreme of selling their possessions and sharing with those in need. Acts 2: 45

And where does Warm Up Winter fit?

WUW gives us an opportunity to show the love of Jesus to those in need. Having said that, if we are just giving out of guilt or out of our surplus then that is not an expression of His love. 1 Cor. 13: 3 states “If I give everything I have to the poor and even sacrifice my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” We need to think critically about what we are giving, why we are giving and is this the only time we need to give?

We are blessed to be a blessing to others.

This is the first post in our Warm Up Winter blog series. For more information on Warm Up Winter go to the Common Good website. 

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17 May 2013
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What does it mean to ‘Live Social Justice’?

We often talk about ‘living social justice,’ but what exactly does that mean for our daily lives?  Today, we unpack what it means to have a lifestyle of social justice.

Living Social Justice stamp

Jesus said: ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’ (John 10:10).

Unfortunately, as a result of human acts and omissions, many people in Cape Town experience life as anything but ‘full’. As Christ followers, we seek to LIVE SOCIAL JUSTICE by noticing, being moved and making daily choices that address injustices in our city.

God intends that every person should have the protection and provision they need to live productive and purpose-filled lives. In the Bible, God is called ‘a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows’ (Psalm 68:4-5) – always seeking to protect and provide for those who are vulnerable to exploitation. He shows himself as a God who cares for the vulnerable, marginalised people in the world, and he frequently calls his people to be his agents in this care. ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: Administer justice, show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the immigrant or the poor.’ (Zechariah 7:10- 11).

When we seek to LIVE SOCIAL JUSTICE we recognize the purpose, worth and dignity of every human being as an image bearer of God. So often, this image is damaged through violence, abuse and exploitation and through unequal access to resources. We need to ask God to show us his vision for the people of Cape Town – for a city where people are able to work, children grow up in loving homes and receive quality education, there is adequate food and nutrition, shelter, protection and medical care. A place where all have their basic needs met and where people come to know God as their loving father, their protector and provider. A city where all have the possibility to live ‘life to the full’.

When we seek to LIVE SOCIAL JUSTICE we acknowledge that we are stewards – not owners – of our time, skills and resources and we make them available to God for his purposes. We strive to not be like the people of Sodom of whom it was said: ‘She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy’ (Ezekiel 16:49-50).

When we seek to LIVE SOCIAL JUSTICE we commit ourselves to a daily, moment-by-moment awareness of injustice, and an openness and sensitivity to God’s Spirit guiding our choices and actions in support of those without provision and protection.

In the words of Micah: ‘He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ Micah 6:8.

What are some ways that you live social justice?  We’d love to hear!

If you would like a gain a deeper understanding of what it means to live social justice, click here for a more in-depth look at the Biblical mandate. Also, we’d recommend you read ‘Generous Justice’ by Timothy Keller for more insight.

Posted in biblical and tagged , , ,
10 May 2013

Earning the Right to be Heard

Is the Gospel better received when we’ve first earned the right to share it? Watch this video from Think International on how social justice and evangelism go hand-in-hand, then let us know your thoughts!

In our May newsletter we look at the Mission of God and what our roles are as followers of Christ. If you haven’t read it yet, you can access it here.

Posted in Opinion, Uncategorized, Videos | Leave a Comment
08 May 2013

Pray as We Respond to God’s Mission

This month’s newsletter looks at how we reconcile evangelism and social justice. Join us as we pray for greater wisdom and guidance as we respond to God’s mission of redeeming and restoring people spiritually and physically. By Lindsay Sherring

Photo Credit: Raymond Larose via Compfight cc

Photo Credit: Raymond Larose via Compfight cc

Did you know that you are part of God’s big mission?  Yes, you!  It may be difficult to comprehend that God in His infinite wisdom has picked you to carry out His mission to the world, but He has.  You might be asking, “What exactly does that mean?”  God’s mission is so multi-faceted, but at the core He calls us to share His incredible goodness to those around us.  This not only includes sharing His word through evangelism, but also meeting people’s economic and social needs through service.  The two go hand-in-hand!

As Christ-followers, God has given us great motivation to carry out His mission – He gave His only son so that our sins could be forgiven and we could be reconciled with Him forever. It is out of this place of gratefulness that we should carry out His mission.  How exciting it is to be part of His work!

This month, please pray:

  • That you have a deeper revelation of God’s goodness and love

It can be easy to slip into carrying out God’s mission out of a place of obligation or guilt, but that’s not what God wants from us.  Our motivation should come from our realisation of God’s goodness and from an understanding of the weight of what He’s done for us. Pray that your actions come out of a place of revelation and understanding, not of guilt.

  • That you show God’s goodness to everyone

When God asks us to show His goodness to people, He doesn’t mean only the vulnerable.  We are to proclaim His goodness to anyone and everyone that comes across our path.  As you go through this month, pray that your eyes would be opened to the needs of those around you in the many situations that you encounter.

  • That the church as a whole would understand God’s heart

It can be easy to forget that the church doesn’t have a mission, the mission has a church.  Ultimately, the body of Christ is to carry out God’s heart, not any specific agenda.  His desire is that we incorporate evangelism and social justice as we carry out His mission.  Pray that the hearts of individuals and leaders would be tuned to God’s heart and His mission for their lives.

  • That we participate in God’s mission

Reading about God’s mission and doing something about it are two different things. If we become a people who are all talk and no action, our message of Christ’s love loses all credibility. Pray that you feel convicted to courageously carry out the mission of God.  Ask God what this looks like in your own life and then seek to live accordingly.

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06 May 2013
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The Mission Has A Church

Terran Williams unpacks the beautiful expanse of God’s mission and what it means for every Christ-follower.

Photo Credit: tyreke.white via Compfight cc

Photo Credit: tyreke.white via Compfight cc

The church doesn’t have a mission. Rather the mission has a church. We don’t generate this mission. Rather, we catch the wave of God’s mission! And if his mission is to redeem people and restore creation then that directs and energizes what the mission of the church needs to be too.

Historically we haven’t always had the best track record of doing this. Many churches focus on getting people saved, getting ready for heaven, and leaving the world and the culture we live in to decay.

They just don’t have the full picture. It’s like they can see that God wants to redeem people spiritually but they have forgotten that God also wants to restore the physical – his creation. It’s like they want to get off the very planet God seeks to restore!

For centuries this kind of thinking has caused a divide in the church with certain churches stressing social justice and others emphasising personal salvation. It’s about time we debunk the myth that evangelism and social justice need to exist in tension with one another. As Timothy Keller says in his book Generous Justice, “If you wish to share your faith with needy people, and you do nothing about the painful conditions in which they live, you will fail to show them Christ’s beauty. We must neither confuse evangelism and social justice, nor separate them from one another.”

But let’s not stop there – let’s take it even a step further. The mission of God is wonderfully expansive and includes not just faith-sharing and social justice, but spiritual formation, community-building and societal renewal too. It’s not an either/or mission – it’s an all-encompassing mission of restoration and redemption!

As Christ-followers, we have the delight of knowing that our story fits in with God’s much bigger story. God’s story can be told in four parts: Creation, where God created the whole world and it was good; The Fall, where we turned away from God and tried to become the masters of our own destiny; Redemption, where our relationship with God is restored through Jesus’ death on the cross; and, the final stage, Restoration, where God’s kingdom is finally and fully come.

That is God’s story and it drives every aspect of God’s mission.

Creation has fallen, but he has not abandoned his fallen people and creation. In grace he has moved towards us through Jesus his Son to redeem people and ultimately to restore creation!

South American theologian Rene Padilla sums up this holistic mission so beautifully in this quote: “When the church is committed to integral mission and to communicating the gospel through everything it is, does, and says, it understands that its goal is not to become large numerically, nor to be rich materially, nor powerful politically. Its purpose is to incarnate the values of the Kingdom of God and to witness to the love and the justice revealed in Jesus Christ, by the power of the Spirit, for the transformation of human life in all its dimensions, both on the individual level and on the community level.”

Every Christian is to see themselves as a person on this mission. The sent Christ sends you and me, but he is not so cruel as to give us such a massive, consuming mission without also giving us the Spirit.

The Spirit is the one who guides us. Each Christian and each church has unique ways of going about this mission. The Spirit is there to help alert us to the particular opportunities at hand, and the particular strategies we should adopt. And the Spirit motivates, energizes and empowers us to do the work we’re meant to do.

- Terran is a pastor at Common Ground Church and serves on the leadership team of the South Peninsula congregation.

Posted in Reflection and tagged , ,

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