Social Justice.
Some of us are paralyzed by the sheer array of choices. Where do we even begin when looking at all the options to fight global hunger, genocide, abortion, sex trafficking, etc?
I’ve been dizzied by the causes and groups and websites and teams and resources that are out there.
But the pit in my stomach and the thought of such tragedy being a present reality – they won’t let me stand still any longer.
From where I’m standing, and from where I’ve been, this is a pitiful reason NOT to get involved.
Honestly, I think lack of action wanders into the realm of sinful.
It’s time for us to stop wiping our consciences clean by the excuse of being uninformed. To stop dismissing our responsibility by claiming this is someone else’s problem. To stop thinking the decision to “do it tomorrow” is a form of action.
If we don’t do something, we won’t do anything.
What are you doing?
Or, better yet: What are you NOT doing?
Doing : sponsoring children, doing that free rice thing, supporting our church mission of a Thai orphanage
Not doing : getting stressed about the fact I can’t give to every cause. Been there, done that, doesn’t help.
And lack of action is definitely sinful – the “sin of omission” Rom 7:19
David: One thing that Drew and I look forward to doing when (well, IF) he pastors a church, is to offer channels of influence for our congregation. That, as a Body of Believers, we can focus on one particular social justice issue and really funnel resources into it (ie: sex trafficking)… As our church trusts us, and trusts the organizations we’ll choose to work with, the momentum and excitement to evoke change will really increase. They will feel empowered. Challenged. And hopefully inspired to do even more!
Good post. Was talking about compassion overload with a colleague this morning. Blogged about it a while back.
I try to do the next thing. Whatever the next thing happens to be that God prompts me to do.
Made me think of one of those misc. quotes I come across from time to time – The tragedy of today is not so much the noisiness of the bad people, but the SILENCE of the good people.
Doing – being a witness to my wife and children. (You may know that my wife is not Christian.)
Not Doing – anything else.
Fear at times can take over – general fear, or fear of the unknown.
I expressed some of the same sentiments earlier this week on my blog when answering the question why we are adopting.
We give to missions and are helping to reopen a food pantry in our church to help our local rural community. To whom much is given, much is required … it has to begin somewhere.
funny, i was just working up a post about getting involved with a cause.
Which one?
This one:
http://fullercenter.org/
Sounds familiar. Maybe because I’m from Georgia… Hmm….
Our little church plant started a homeless ministry because we saw some some guys living under the overpass just minutes from where we meet, surrounded by wealth and lots of well meaning people who wished they weren’t there.
I get overwhelmed by the causes, too. There’s just so much hurt out there. I’ve worked for two health charities, so I lean toward giving in that realm. And of course at church, to support missions. But not doing? I’ve committed to sponsoring a child this month through Compassion, and I haven’t done it yet. I think I’ve been putting it off not because it’s unimportant, but because it is SO VERY important. If that makes sense. Because sometimes I don’t.
You are exactly right Mandy, there are so many worthy, important, it can overwhelm us into inaction.
I don’t give enough time, or money, to charities as I could. I could do a good deal more without making any great sacrifices.
I do work 4+ hours a week at a local homeless shelter.
I give 10% of my income to charity.
I post about, and link to, charities & worthy causes on my blog & twitter account.
I have no good answer as to why I don’t do more except my own too self-centered focus.
yep. i’ve already talked about my thoughts on this. i think we try way too hard to be involved with whatever the new sexy non-prof is. it’s kind of silly really, it almost seems like whichever non-prof can get the hippest designer to do their graphics and the coolest bands to wear their shirts become the next big thing.
i got involved with the non-profit i’m funneling cash into (step one… someday i hope to go on mission trips and other tangible acts of service that isn’t just throwing money at them) i got into from a personal invitation. i’ve spoken with the leader over the phone on more than one occasion. they’re new, and i’m happy to be supporting their cause.
that’s not to say anyone should not support whatever cause they want, regardless of any type of personal connection. it’s just what worked for me.
my main issue arises from people who just give to whatever is sexy at the time. pick something, and unless it does something awful, stick with it. imagine how much better the world would be if we could all ditch the ADD for a while and FOCUS on a problem.
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
I could NOT agree more regarding sexy non-profs. I’m so nervous that they (and their supporters) won’t last when it goes out of style…
well, their supporters seem to jump ship the second the cool blogger jumps on something new.
sorry, that was a tad bitter, but i see it happen all the time on the christian blogs.
AND… even if they don’t jump ship completely, i’d be shocked if their support of non-prof #1 they were happily supporting before super-cool-blogger-person told them about super sexy non-prof #2 stayed the same or went up.
ADD works for a lot of things, but i personally don’t think it works AT ALL for trying to save the world, one sexy non-prof at a time.
good heavens i wish i could edit this. was i drunk when i wrote it?
second paragraph should go like:
“i got involved with the non-prof i’m funneling cash into from a personal invitation. donating cash is just step one, i hope in the future to go on mission trips with them, and whatever other tangible things i can do to help support their cause that does not include just clicking submit on paypal.”
also, i want to state that i have no problem with a wide variety of non-profits. i’m sure they’re all doing something awesome, and in the interest of full disclosure the non-profit i’m supporting has a pretty neat logo and the guy in charge plays in a band.
my issue is with easily-led automatons who see someone remotely “hip” say “SUPPORT THIS CAUSE” and then they do, screwing over their support of something less sexy, but just as noble (march of dimes, the humane society, st. jude childrens hospital, the red cross, make a wish, jerrys kids… whatever…).
it seems to me, and this is especially true in the christian circles it seems, that generosity is becoming another “badge” to put on your shoulder. it’s becoming fashion… and that really pisses me off.
Say it however you wanna say it.
I agree.
All these new non-profs popping up with cool logos – they’re doing the same thing as the tried & true. But why aren’t we drawn to the tried & true? Because the “cool kids” are fronting the “cool non-profs.”
I agree with everthing Joshua says. That is why I use the Charity Navigator site (no w’s & org not net) to look up background information, and the financial records, of a charity, what percentage of the total budget is going to administrative expense, etc.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/
Great tool, Ed.
So yesterday I drove a bunch of girls (yeah you know the ones) home from “work”. The day before that, when I was hanging out with them, I invited one to lunch and we spent the day together. I am pretty sure she and I are going to be good friends.
You are my hero
Doing my part to help couples…one marriage at a time.
i don’t think my non-profit is sexy. but i believe in her cause.