Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Like a splinter in your mind...

Lois Mitchell "You've felt it your entire life, that there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad."
Morpheus, The Matrix.
Have you found yourself feeling that way? You've been involved in church life maybe for years, but you just have this sense that something's not quite right. There's a splinter in your brain or your soul. You can't get away from it. Neither could we. Who are we? We're Lois Mitchell and Marilyn Smith, part of the new Justice Initiative at Canadian Baptist Ministries. We've been doing a lot of reading and thinking lately about global issues. There's lots of stats - I'm sure you've heard some of them. Things like:
  • 20% of the world consumes 80% of the resources
  • only 8% of people in the world own a vehicle
  • 826 million people will go to bed hungry
  • 1 in 5 people in the world don't have access to clean water

Marilyn SmithYou get the picture. What does God think of all this? As we look at the injustices in the world we'll look at ways to begin to dislodge that splinter. That's what this blog is about - living simply, giving generously and practicing hospitality.

What would our communities look like if our churches actually do this as the primary expression of their faith in Christ?

What do you think?

7 comments:

Lois said...

A concern for the environment is a natural extension of a vow of generosity I think. When we begin to examine our lifestyles and see how wasteful and destructive they are, not only of the environment but of cultures, we begin to see and think differently. But how can this translate into action? It's very easy to adopt the attitude that it's too late or it doesn't really matter that much. Have we become desensitized to the alarms being sounded by scientists and environmentalists? Maybe some Christians think Christ's return is so imminent that it really doesn't matter, but I'd suggest that that kind of thinking is irresponsible and will leave a very diminished legacy for our children and grandchildren. I think you're quite right - we could learn a lot from first nations peoples. But will we? I hope so!!

Lois said...

One person at a time, eh? I think you're right, though it seems pretty slow. I wonder though, if it's slow at first but gains momentum as time goes on and more and more individuals start to think and act differently. Maybe it's just me, but lately it seems like there are more and more people, for diverse backgrounds and cirumstances, asking the same kinds of questions.

For some, asking questions is an indication of a lack of faith, but for me, it's the fleshing out of faith. It's really understanding Jesus and the things he did and taught. It's integrating faith with life and participating in a God's kingdom in a meaningful way. Specifically, it's seeing the world - maybe just a glimpse more than a detailed look - from God's perspective. It's personal - yes. But it's not private in that when we live as Jesus wants us to, we'll have an impact on the world around us.

Anonymous said...

Lois and Marilyn,

Oh how wonderful it is to see a CBM taking part in this discussion of justice! I am a third year in interdisciplinary studies at a Bible college of sorts and this topic has been bubbling up more and more with many of those who study with and around me. I wanted to share with you all that for the first time at my college they have developed a class titled, 'Social Justice in the Old Testament' and I get the priviledge to be part of.

Although there needs much more discussion about the area of justice and the practical ways the Church needs to engage, at least the discussion has started in a formal and academic way.

Perhaps it can be encouraging to know that the pastors of our churches in the years to come will be people who have struggled and learned some about these issues.

Thanks for getting this started. Grace and Peace,
Sarah

Anonymous said...

JUSTICE

J - JUDGES AND JURIES FOR JESUS
U - UPHOLD
S - SERVANTS SURRENDERED, SAFETY SECURED
T - TROUBLED TRANSGRESSORS TRANSFORMED
I - IGNORANCE ILLUMINATED
C - CORRUPTION AND CRIME CONDEMNED
E - EVILMINDEDNESS ENDED, ENEMY EXHORTED/EXECUTED, ETERNITY ENTERED

THE LORD UPHOLDS ALL WHO FALL,
AND RAISES UP ALL THOSE WHO ARE BOWED DOWN,
THE EYES OF ALL LOOK EXPECTANTLY TO YOU, AND YOU GIVE THEM THEIR FOOD IN DUE SEASON
YOU OPEN YOUR HAND
AND SATISFY THE DESIRE OF EVERY LIVING THING
THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS IN ALL HIS
WAYS,
GRACIOUS IN ALL HIS WORKS.
THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL
UPON HIM
TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM IN TRUTH.
HE WILL FULFILL THE DESIRE OF THOSE WHO FEAR HIM;
HE ALSO WILL HEAR THEIR CRY ALOUD AND SAVE THEM
******THE LORD PRESERVES ALL WHO LOVE HIM
BUT ALL THE WICKED HE WILL DESTROY.

PSALM 145:14-20

Anonymous said...

Justice - Concordance words and synonym finder (no serious rhyming words found)
feeble
fear
feeds
famine
plea
justice
orphans
outcast
outcry
outrage
order
money
judges
just
kind
family
killer
murder
kingdom
robber
thief
steal
heart
ears of the hearer
eyes of the blind
forgets
forgiven
forsaken
abandon
food
righteousness
moral principles
determining just conduct
lawfulness, lawlessness
revenge
renumeration
chastening
correction
magistrate
freedom
fair mindedness
honesty
justification
defense plea
crown attorney
absolution
redemption
explanation
governments
wasteful and destructive
world resource protection for indigenous peoples
vow of generosity
desensitized to alarm sounded by
scientist and environmentalists
diminished legacy
all culture examples of acts that
conserve.
social justice in the New Testament



Thanks gals, for stimulating this mind.

Anonymous said...

Justice -
Concordance words and synonym finder (no serious rhyming words found)and blog emphasis words)
feeble
fear
feeds
famine
plea
justice
orphans
outcast
outcry
outrage
order
money
judges
just
kind
family
killer
murder
kingdom
robber
thief
steal
heart
ears of the hearer
eyes of the blind
forgets
forgiven
forsaken
abandon
food
righteousness
moral principles
determining just conduct
lawfulness, lawlessness
revenge
renumeration
chastening
correction
magistrate
freedom
fair mindedness
honesty
justification
defense plea
crown attorney
absolution
redemption
explanation
world resource protection for indigenous people
diminished legacy
examples of conservation from all cultures
environmental concerns
vow of generosity
Christmas
warm handknitted mittens, scarves, hats, toques, gloves, slippers, socks, ski bands,
mission circle groups
the sharing way
fresh water
disease
hunger - did a study on this and there are so many things that
could be stopped just by being
concerned about hunger. It is another lengthy list - worth sharing.


Thanks gals, for stimulating this mind. God bless - have a really great day.

Anonymous said...

I am new at this and didn't intend
the two lists to go through quite
this way. nothing like saying something twice. perhaps you can
combine or erase on list and then not so much space will be used
Sorry - really sorry