[b e s ty - // u p d a t e s]

It's a Sunday night, and I've just got back from church. It has been just like any other Sunday night, and I love my own church. But a few things popped into my head tonight, and it's stuff that has been puzzling me for a while.

Don't get me wrong. I love my church and I strive to be a Christian each day of my life. I wouldn't call myself a "model" Christian, and I know that I fall short in many areas of my life. But this isn't about that. I'm worried that the Church today teaches about justice, and how we should strive for it, but rarely acts on their own words.

I agree that the primary focus of the Church today is that of teaching what Jesus said, and showing the world that he is the Messiah. After all, that is what the Church believes. But one of the important aspects of Jesus life was focusing on the poor and the fringes of society. The Church also recognises this. it teaches that we should seek justice, seek to help the orphaned, the poor, the destitute, the fringes. And I agree that there are organisations that are affiliated with churches, and churches themselves (such as the Salvation Army) that do focus on this. But could more be done?

In an age of huge injustices, the church should be acting as a vehicle for achieving justice for everyone, whether those individuals are Christians or not. Jesus didn't discriminate, nor should the church. And the church shouldn't only focus on missionaries either. The work of missionaries is often great work in the 21st century, but there is other pressing work to be done, as well as missionary work. First address the injustices of this world, and then maybe the world will give more respect to the church. Distribute condoms within Africa to those who need them so desperately. Initiate HIV/AIDS education programs and encourage active participation. Encourage those in the Global North to lobby their governments on issues of justice, and that goes beyond the abortion debate.

The Church as a whole is great at talking the talk. And it is right in encouraging its members to seek justice. But more concerted efforts from the church are also needed. The Micah Challenge is a great example of how the Church can be involved with issues of justice and the poor. But more is needed.

Leaving theological differences aside, the Church is a powerful vehicle for change in society. It represents a large slab of Western society, and perhaps an even larger slab in the Global South overall, and has the power to enact positive change on society. Often the church are seen as hypocrites, and sometimes, I don't blame people for thinking this. No one is perfect, but the Church does have a powerful following behind it. Why not use that following to create lasting social change, which is something that Jesus, who associated himself with the poor and the fringes of society, I am sure would not mind the Church doing.

PS: This is just my personal view, from my own experiences of the Church. I am in no way saying that the Church is the ONLY way lasting social change can be made, and that non-church going people do not seek justice - of course they do! I am also not saying that the Church should change their main focus - if this happened, then the Church would loose 2,000 years of history. WEhat I am saying, however, is that the Church, in teaching about justice and helping the poor, can and should be an international agent (among many) that can encourage and enact lasting social change, through seeking justice.

Besty
PPS Sorry if you couldn't follow any of that, or if I didn't make too much sense!