Not Mutually Exclusive
The 27 million slaves are always on my mind. Ordinary things are not so ordinary for me any longer. I went to buy Christmas lights this past winter and all I could see was a wall full of products made by those in forced or unsafe labor conditions and so I bought none. And chocolate…oh, chocolate. I visit ethnic restaurants or drive by nail salons and wonder… I wonder how I can find out if they are safe without being naive or ignorant or offensive. Sorry if that makes you uncomfortable. It’s messed with me. And I know that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, desires justice. Isaiah 1:17 is clear, “Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow”.
So yeah, a large focus of my heart has been social justice. And at times I would feel conflicted by this perceived division between the cause of justice and the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations via getting the word out to the 2.74 billion that have never heard the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ. I’d wonder what good justice was for a few years if suffering was to follow in eternity because the Gospel was never preached. As if this is an either/ or. As if preaching of the Gospel doesn’t include good works. As if the ministry of Jesus wasn’t full of proclaiming the Kingdom and Truth of God AND healing AND feeding.
The funny thing is, it seems I’m not the only one to feel this way. I’ve come across there are entire books written on this “conflict”. The Lausanne Covenant signed in 1974 addressed this very issue. It reads, ”We express penitence both for our neglect and for having sometimes regarded evangelism and social concern as mutually exclusive. Although reconciliation with other people is not reconciliation with God, nor is social action evangelism, nor is political liberation salvation, nevertheless we affirm that evangelism and socio-political involvement are both part of our Christian duty.”
One night this was weighing on my heart and I asked God to teach me His heart for justice and / or evangelism. He sent me right to Isaiah 42:3-4 where He demonstrates His desire for BOTH salvation and justice, “In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.” God established in my heart that it is okay, and good, to pursue both justice and unreached people ministry. I share this heart journey because I know hearing the process in others has encouraged me.
Tonight, my heart is heavy for Pakistan realizing the Gospel might not have arrived there in time…Please pray for that nation.
We have a big job to do…but our God is bigger and stronger.
Yes, Thumbuddy, God is bigger and stronger. I struggled with the deeds and/or message thing quite a while back. I believe wholeheartedly that to be true to the instruction of Christ we must have both. Faith without works is dead, after all.
A while back it was rumored that Christian churches in Bolivia would be shut down IF they did not perform some kind of social service. A group of pastors invited us to an organizational meeting to protest the action. We refused to attend the get together saying to our brothers that the church MUST be helping the helpless or our message is in vain.
@ -
I like that since you’ve further along this road you’ve processed all these things. That’s why you’re amazing. Love you.
wow! as usual you blow me away! i can hear your heart through your Words – which are usually His and see your heart in your eyes of constant compassion and complete desire to be fulfilling your calling. The Lord IS doing amazing things through you, your hubby and your family. And i can not wait to see what He has in store; Jer.29:11-13 is being fulfilled daily in your lives. And i also believe it must be both – when you truly know the love of Jesus in your heart – you know it cannot be any other way.
I wish you success in helping to bring faith to those in desperate need of it.
We both know that slavery isn’t going to go away in our lifetime. Being the very caring person your are I can’t think of any words that are adequate to making you feel any better.
All you can do, is all you can do, which you are.
When the people of the world discover the truth that we are all part of the same family, when the barriers that separate us come down, then we will be able to create a truly just world, and we will end slavery.
I am an optimist because in my 67 years on planet earth I have witnessed dramatic changes that have made the world a more just place. Still a long way from were we need to be of course.
I will guess you have done a lot of research and already know about the Fairtrade Labelling Organization International, and their product label.
Sorry, not happy with my 5:00 am comment to your post so here is a better one.
Slavery exist because slaves provide cheap labor. Companies, and countries, that use slaves need to be penalized for the horror of what they do.
We need to do a better job of making sure that consumer knows that what they hold in their hands was produce with the blood of the poor. It is a sad fact that too many really don’t either want to know, some don’t care.
The consumer needs to be hit over the head with the reality that what they are buying comes from slavery. Some still won’t care, but I think a more will, once they get hit over the head.
It is a big problem and needs a massive publicity campaign, TV ads, product labeling, etc. You are doing your part, now the rest of us need to do more.