Christianity, according to our text for a cross-cultural ethics class I took earlier this semester, is not only a set of beliefs, but it is also a social project. Put in Scriptural terms, our social project is the kingdom of God. Our class wrestled with how our personal behavior contributes to furthering the kingdom of God.
We Christians in the US have a special challenge when it comes to living a Christlike life. Jesus wasn’t kidding when he said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Let’s face it, we’re rich—although sometimes we may not feel like it. When I was at home the other day, I got to go to Snowhill, where we were reminded again and again of our wealth. If we condensed the world down to 100 people, one would have a college education, and one out of the 100 would have a computer! So we’re bruised camels, trying to figure out what to do with ourselves. At least that’s what I’m going through right now.
It does get kind of frustrating at times. I don’t know exactly where to begin. Lately I’ve been reminded a lot about my nation’s legacy of colonialism—as well as the neo-colonialism that still exists today. We are still living with the effects of colonialism. The question I have, then, is how can I as a white North American strive to live ethically, to further the kingdom of God, considering what I represent. Because I am a US American and have white skin and green eyes, I represent so much, and quite frankly I do not like that fact. I am not comfortable with the power, wealth, and injustice that I symbolize. I have been privileged by and have benefited from a system that is exploitative and unethical. I feel such responsibility and guilt for my way of life; it is more than a little disconcerting.
How then do I repent of structural sin? I know what to do if I lie, steal, or get an abortion. In those somewhat personal-level situations, I feel that repentance can truly occur and things can be made right again. What about the results, however, of being a super-wealthy North American who participates in an unjust system? With this barrier always in the background, or perhaps always in the forefront, does what I represent always hinder my ability to be a good Christian and work for the kingdom of God? What about the fact that Jesus was always on the side of the poor, the hungry, the afflicted, and the exploited? What does that mean for me as a rich, overfed, comfortable person who daily benefits from and reinforces systems of exploitation?
Bernard Adeney, the author of our above-mentioned text, provides us with some helpful ways to think about our situation. Social location is imperative. Where God calls us to be located varies from person to person, of course, but if every US Christian chooses to stay in our American suburbs, how can we truly work for change? How can we be aware of what is going on if we are blind to it by nature of our location?
Another aspect of social location can help us determine how to act. I get frustrated by the “information overload” that comes from 24-hour news channels, being at a Christian college where there’s always a campaign to help somebody, and access to the internet. Those things are good, but it gets overwhelming at times, and can possibly make us apathetic and de-sensitized to what is going on around the world. One person in my class shared a story about Chinese persecuted Christians. An American missionary told them about some Christians in Somalia who were being persecuted, so the next morning, the Chinese Christians got up an hour early to pray for the Somalians. Hearing that story was very convicting, considering the information with which I’m daily inundated and the utter lack of concern or action that I show. Seeing the effects of the earthquake in Pakistan really makes me want to get involved and help, but Pakistan is far away and perhaps I want to do more than just send money. The earthquake and other horrible things around the world, such as malnutrition and genocide, should not make us feel down and powerless; instead, they should make us all the more willing to look around our own social location to see what we CAN do.
Lastly, prayer, of course is another important part of this whole deal. Adeney points out, though, that Christians who promise to pray but refuse to struggle in a real social context are alienated from true prayer. We cannot divorce prayer from involvement. Adeney has some strong words about this issue:
If we pray as a substitute for acting to oppose what is evil, we have ceased to struggle and our prayer is hollow. Such prayer is not only useless, it is an abomination to God. It is a pious mask for evil.
Great post. I am sending this one around.
Posted by: Streak | October 28, 2005 at 11:04 AM
Natalie,
This is such an area where I've been struggling as a recent newbie to the Christian college scene. great post.
Posted by: Nicole | October 29, 2005 at 01:25 AM
Glad to have you back Natalie! Great quote - i'm going to co-op it for class tomorrow.
I want to do more, but I also feel weak and powerless to bring change. Surely we can do more than email our reps. I've been on this soaq box for awhile at church, and I'm sure there is a boiling point coming soon with our people. I'm just curious to see if the result will be action, or me getting fired.
Posted by: jvpastor | October 29, 2005 at 07:12 PM
excellent thoughts - glad you found some time to post again.
Posted by: Todd | October 29, 2005 at 08:03 PM
Natalie, I'm with you. So many times what people call "the blessings of God" actually feel more like chains of bondage keeping me from living out the love of Christ more fully. I don't want to be content in my apathy. I want to do more.
I don't know what the answers are but I have to believe that you are on the right track by asking the hard questions, which is far more than we do so many times, choosing instead to live fat and happy, ignorant of the incredible needs in our world.
Posted by: Paulicus | November 01, 2005 at 11:10 PM