Living uncomfortably for the sake of others

Justice. Social Justice. Words we hear at lot, don’t you agree?  They also seem to be really acceptable, honorable, even noble causes.  I think it would be safe to say they are things that people of many different faiths would come together in an effort for the ‘common good’.  

A few weeks ago, I observed some people who took this modern day cause from acceptable to extremely uncomfortable. A group from Inter Varsity at Drake campus hosted a Jesus, Justice, Poverty event.  Here’s a description of the week from the IV leader, Amy Schoepf:

  

“Jesus, Justice, and Poverty is an event that our group puts on every three years to highlight issues from all over the world that we think Jesus cares about and that are relevant to the whole of campus. This year, the issue being highlighted is human trafficking and more specifically, sex trafficking. Human trafficking is a 32 billion dollar industry in the world, humans are being bought and sold and used for labor, sex, and anything in-between. 1.8 million of these are children, and are involved specifically in sex slavery. These children (and adults) have not chosen to put themselves into the ownership and slavery of another human—they have been put there by someone else. Tricked. Lied to. Deceived. Parents have been told “your child deserves a better future—I will take them to the city and allow them to  work at my shop for great pay and will make sure they are well taken care of.”

The parent lets them go, believing that something wonderful awaits the future of their child and their family, and instead they arrive in their new home to discover the job they are working is having sex with whoever can afford them and their family, their innocence, and their freedom have completely vanished forever. It’s that simple. So we attempted to bring awareness to this particular piece of trafficking today on campus—answering the question, “how does it happen?” Just like that. Just like a flier advertising free burritos in the student union and upon arrival, there are no burritos, and instead you’re given a “SOLD” stamp and explained that you have just been “trafficked”.  Then, given information about what exactly human trafficking is and its impact on our world today. Encouraged to be aware, to be concerned, and to take some kind of action. 

There were many silent responses, people not even knowing how to wrap their minds around the facts just shared with them. Some wanted to know more. Others asked what they can do to help. And then there were the passionate ones who shouted angrily “This is bullshit!” [at the lack of burritos, not the facts about sex slavery], or ones who after hearing the facts about human trafficking, said “Wait, so there really are no burritos?” and stormed off. People angry and annoyed and passionate enough that they chalked on sidewalks “free burritos is a lie!”  

We knew today’s event would have some push back. But honestly, the hostility of some students was shocking.” ~Amy Schoepf, Drake InterVarsity Leader

As a pastor and leader, I’m inspired by these young men and women.  Inspired by their courage to ‘do something‘ to make the right people angry.  They make all of us go from ‘caring about an issue’ to being forced to ‘feel’ what it means to be oppressed.  To make us understand that if we care, we must act. I’m challenged to look around in my city, where are those being exploited, am I praying for them, is there a way that I can go to them and reach them with simple acts of Jesus kindness?  Am I willing to be uncomfortable, to go without, to be acquainted with their greif and suffering?  

We just celebrated Easter, and that is exactly what Jesus did for us.  He became acquainted with our grief, suffering, humanity.  He took on death and sin so we can be free.  Now it’s our turn to become reluctant hero’s, and spread the good news to others.  Even when we are ridiculed and made uncomfortable.  I believe this is just the beginning of a revolution of love.  I pray these young adults have not only changed some of lives at Drake, but also right here in our Vineyard in Des Moines.  So, let’s take the risk, and love the person in front of us.  What if social justice started with being the Good Samaritan?  Love your neighbor, change the world.....social justice in action.

“This is how we’ve come to understand and experiecne love:  Christ sacrificed his life for us.  This why we ought to live sacrifically for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves.”  I John 3:16

An ordinary life as an offering

I remember Stuart Briscoe, pastor and author, telling a story about a welcome meeting at his church. He was asking people to go around and tell their occupation and something about themselves. There was a young woman who sat squarely in front of him with a big smile. He called on her and she simply said, "I am a fully devoted follower of Jesus, inviting as many people as I can to follow him with me. I work at the factory to pay my way."

Well, I'm a pastor by passion and calling. I just clean houses and offices to pay my way. This year for Easter we are doing a 40 day faith adventure. We are studying the book of Acts together and asking Jesus for things for ourselves, six other people we know, and for our church and city. In the guide we put out, I shared with folks from our church what I was asking God for. Then, in the small group that meets in our home each week, we all shared again what and who we were praying for. We pray for and with each other every week. Because I wrote my requests in the guide, I noticed people at church coming up and asking me how it was going, and encouraging me. Well, I asked for five new clients for my cleaning business, as we had encouraged folks to ask for concrete things.

In the middle of the 40 days, I've found myself discouraged, and thinking why did I do that? Put my request out on a limb for everyone to see. I have to be honest, the encouragement, prayer and comments from people kept me going; yet challenged me. If this was really a faith adventure, I wanted to lead the way. So, this week I "did" Romans 12:1,2, "God helping me, I took my everyday, ordinary life, and gave it to God as an offering". I went door to door in the afternoons to businesses with my business cards. I told them my story, and asked what their needs were.

As I went, I found myself praying. Praying for the people I met, and praying  for the people in my church. Asking Jesus to encourage others that may be discouraged like I was. I asked Jesus to let my actions be a type of spiritual warfare, that he would provide financially for people. For people to have the courage to give out of their need and for God to pour out provision and blessing for them. I could imagine their faces, see friends with cancer and pray for their healing. God met me in between every stop in those prayers. I knew I wasn't alone, and that the best way I could lead my people was to pray and knock on doors.

Well, I do have a new customer from this week, and an appointment for a possible customer. I met a lot of new people to pray for along the way as well. I love following Jesus with others and for the sake of others. Who cares how I pay my way? As long as I give my everyday, ordinary life to God as an offering he will change me from the inside out, bring the best out of me and out of you. The best out of us is Jesus, and that's who we want people to follow. He is an extraordinary God transforming ordinary people, like me, into fully devoted followers of Jesus.