I would love to hear from more churches on what I could do to help the congregation better fulfill its mission in the area of Biblical justice. National and local cooperation is critical if we are going to actually be effective in protecting the most vulnerable. The outspokenness or silence of the church in Florida has an real impact on the issues of poverty faced by members of my congregation in Holland, MI where I am a deacon.
I think it's important to continue to trust in God's promises too. Creation is a gift and when we don't take care of it--whether it's toxic water that no one can drink, degraded soil that won't bear crops, or an atmosphere so polluted that it changes critical weather patterns--there are natural consequences.
For the families in this Kenya video (click here), who live in the vulnerable position of depending year to year on their small crop for survival, the threat of climate change hits really close to home. The weather patterns they relied on for generations have changed and the way they farmed isn't working anymore. They trust and depend on God with all of their hearts and their response to God's promises includes asking all of us in North America to have a more urgent awareness around the topic of climate change. The Paris agreement is one way that governments are working together in an attempt to protect the interests of the most vulnerable.
Are you suggesting that all CRC Deacons and CRC staff who advocate with people who are oppressed or on the margins receive special CRC specific training and accreditation like Pastors do before they take on such work as part of the institutional church? That would be interesting. Obviously, CRC specialized ministries and agency staff people who do this work have degrees, experience, and outstanding records of effectiveness in the fields where they serve--if you want to question the legitimacy of that claim it would probably be more appropriate for you to ask those questions offline.
Since the title of the handout is Biblical Advocacy 101 I think it's fair of you to say it's the "tip of the iceberg." If you want people's credentials you would have to ask agency directors or someone more important than me. Personally, I think that is an odd request to make in the comments section of an article about an advocacy 101 handout. I hadn't caught until now that you are a lawyer. That sounds like a really interesting line of work.
Is this where the conversation about the DOD is going to center? Is the main topic of our conversation going to be on if the report is balanced enough?
The report does not say there were zero good intentions or there were zero positive outcomes in our history of missions in the Southwest. The report does not "deny" that side of the story or call it untrue as some comments imply.
The purpose of the report is to look at how culture economics and worldly values may have clouded our judgment in the past. I hope no one would deny it--that happened.
Just like the prayer of confession during a worship service isn't the whole story of all of the gospel and all that God is up to in the life of that congregation this report isn't the whole story of world missions or the entire history of the CRC and it's interactions with culture in North America. At the same Synod where this report is discussed we will also celebrate the work of world missions world renew and many other CRC ministries. We will give thanks for what God has done and look forward to what God will do in and through us in the future. God will also be honored if we take time at Synod to confess our mistakes and make a plan to learn from them.
The Fiene article claims that his generation doesn't march against Roe v. Wade but March for Life in DC has tens of thousands of participants from every generation. He also says that his generation doesn't care about poverty or human trafficking... umm... I think the Fiene article might be satire.
Righteousness received by faith is lived out by loving our neighbor. It makes people act in the interests of others, especially the least of these. Underscoring righteousness that is not our own and is credited to our accounts, in preaching and teaching, as suggested above, will only result in more activism.
I don't know if self-righteousness serves as a motive for activism in the CRC. I think that assigning motives usually turns out to be a pretty bad idea.
CRCers are invited to discuss the complexities of the issues. The OSJ would be happy to facilitate the Church Between Borders workshop at any congregation in the U.S. It receives outstanding feedback from all sides of the discussion everywhere it goes. (http://www2.crcna.org/pages/osj_churchbetweenborders.cfm)
Pew says the number of unauthorized immigrants in Oregon has "decreased" since 2009 by 20%.
I think this article from the Acton institute has some great lines like, "Humans are assets, fashioned in the image of God with creative potential and unbounded relational capacity. All is gift, and we are all destined to be gift-givers in God’s grand economy of all things. We are made to build and innovate, share and collaborate, and immigrants of whatever skill set from whatever country or political system are born with that same creative capacity."
And the author is generous in taking time to converse in the comments section. It is helpful read, imo.
The myth that immigrants (including legal immigrants) are a burden to society, the economy, jobs, and the "American way of life", is THE root reason that the U.S. immigration system has not been reformed in 50 years--the myth of the burdensome immigrant is more powerful than the political will to reform the broken system.
The bitter irony is that unauthorized immigrants, while being offered no options for legal status and while contributing over $80 million in Oregon state and local taxes and billions to Social Security, continue to receive most of the suffering and most of the blame.
Christians are called to be a voice that stands with vulnerable immigrants burdened by American myths. That is what #blessingnotburden is all about. I shared the article from Acton. If anyone has research or opinions from trustworthy sources to the contrary I would be happy to read them and learn more.
Thanks for the good reminder! I'm a deacon at my church and a small group that I am in showed a film called "The Stranger," about immigration, to a group of nearly 200 in the Holland, MI area. The response was very positive and it was a great collaborative effort with neighborhood participants and help from other organizations like the OSJ and the Methodist Church organization Justice For our Neighbors.
Posted in: Five Steps to Denominational Renewal - Part 2
I would love to hear from more churches on what I could do to help the congregation better fulfill its mission in the area of Biblical justice. National and local cooperation is critical if we are going to actually be effective in protecting the most vulnerable. The outspokenness or silence of the church in Florida has an real impact on the issues of poverty faced by members of my congregation in Holland, MI where I am a deacon.
Posted in: Five Steps to Denominational Renewal - Part 2
It also includes people who are volunteering for free.
Posted in: A Grandfather's Perspective: Why I Care about Climate Change
I think it's important to continue to trust in God's promises too. Creation is a gift and when we don't take care of it--whether it's toxic water that no one can drink, degraded soil that won't bear crops, or an atmosphere so polluted that it changes critical weather patterns--there are natural consequences.
For the families in this Kenya video (click here), who live in the vulnerable position of depending year to year on their small crop for survival, the threat of climate change hits really close to home. The weather patterns they relied on for generations have changed and the way they farmed isn't working anymore. They trust and depend on God with all of their hearts and their response to God's promises includes asking all of us in North America to have a more urgent awareness around the topic of climate change. The Paris agreement is one way that governments are working together in an attempt to protect the interests of the most vulnerable.
Posted in: Advocacy Works!
Are you suggesting that all CRC Deacons and CRC staff who advocate with people who are oppressed or on the margins receive special CRC specific training and accreditation like Pastors do before they take on such work as part of the institutional church? That would be interesting. Obviously, CRC specialized ministries and agency staff people who do this work have degrees, experience, and outstanding records of effectiveness in the fields where they serve--if you want to question the legitimacy of that claim it would probably be more appropriate for you to ask those questions offline.
Posted in: Advocacy Works!
Since the title of the handout is Biblical Advocacy 101 I think it's fair of you to say it's the "tip of the iceberg." If you want people's credentials you would have to ask agency directors or someone more important than me. Personally, I think that is an odd request to make in the comments section of an article about an advocacy 101 handout. I hadn't caught until now that you are a lawyer. That sounds like a really interesting line of work.
Posted in: Why the Church Should Pay Attention to the DOD Task Force
Is this where the conversation about the DOD is going to center? Is the main topic of our conversation going to be on if the report is balanced enough?
The report does not say there were zero good intentions or there were zero positive outcomes in our history of missions in the Southwest. The report does not "deny" that side of the story or call it untrue as some comments imply.
The purpose of the report is to look at how culture economics and worldly values may have clouded our judgment in the past. I hope no one would deny it--that happened.
Just like the prayer of confession during a worship service isn't the whole story of all of the gospel and all that God is up to in the life of that congregation this report isn't the whole story of world missions or the entire history of the CRC and it's interactions with culture in North America. At the same Synod where this report is discussed we will also celebrate the work of world missions world renew and many other CRC ministries. We will give thanks for what God has done and look forward to what God will do in and through us in the future. God will also be honored if we take time at Synod to confess our mistakes and make a plan to learn from them.
Posted in: Hans Fiene challenges the motivations of self-righteous activism
The Fiene article claims that his generation doesn't march against Roe v. Wade but March for Life in DC has tens of thousands of participants from every generation. He also says that his generation doesn't care about poverty or human trafficking... umm... I think the Fiene article might be satire.
Righteousness received by faith is lived out by loving our neighbor. It makes people act in the interests of others, especially the least of these. Underscoring righteousness that is not our own and is credited to our accounts, in preaching and teaching, as suggested above, will only result in more activism.
I don't know if self-righteousness serves as a motive for activism in the CRC. I think that assigning motives usually turns out to be a pretty bad idea.
Posted in: Change the Conversation About Immigrants in the U.S.
CRCers are invited to discuss the complexities of the issues. The OSJ would be happy to facilitate the Church Between Borders workshop at any congregation in the U.S. It receives outstanding feedback from all sides of the discussion everywhere it goes. (http://www2.crcna.org/pages/osj_churchbetweenborders.cfm)
Posted in: Change the Conversation About Immigrants in the U.S.
That is a helpful comment, I agree!
Posted in: Change the Conversation About Immigrants in the U.S.
Pew says the number of unauthorized immigrants in Oregon has "decreased" since 2009 by 20%.
I think this article from the Acton institute has some great lines like, "Humans are assets, fashioned in the image of God with creative potential and unbounded relational capacity. All is gift, and we are all destined to be gift-givers in God’s grand economy of all things. We are made to build and innovate, share and collaborate, and immigrants of whatever skill set from whatever country or political system are born with that same creative capacity."
And the author is generous in taking time to converse in the comments section. It is helpful read, imo.
The myth that immigrants (including legal immigrants) are a burden to society, the economy, jobs, and the "American way of life", is THE root reason that the U.S. immigration system has not been reformed in 50 years--the myth of the burdensome immigrant is more powerful than the political will to reform the broken system.
The bitter irony is that unauthorized immigrants, while being offered no options for legal status and while contributing over $80 million in Oregon state and local taxes and billions to Social Security, continue to receive most of the suffering and most of the blame.
Christians are called to be a voice that stands with vulnerable immigrants burdened by American myths. That is what #blessingnotburden is all about. I shared the article from Acton. If anyone has research or opinions from trustworthy sources to the contrary I would be happy to read them and learn more.
Posted in: Prepping Students for Missions
Great article, thanks!
Posted in: What About Justice?
Thanks for the good reminder! I'm a deacon at my church and a small group that I am in showed a film called "The Stranger," about immigration, to a group of nearly 200 in the Holland, MI area. The response was very positive and it was a great collaborative effort with neighborhood participants and help from other organizations like the OSJ and the Methodist Church organization Justice For our Neighbors.