As we continue on the topic of Social Justice in our Sunday School class more and more questions are raised. It is interesting to watch how we've (we being Christians) have labelled and divided ourselves up. It seems that it is "liberal" christians who have worn the title of being socially active proudly while the "conservatives" much less so.

Politically speaking you can see it in the particular agendas - 'conservatives' would see their moral agenda strong on abortion, gay marriage & homosexuality, while 'liberals' would say there is much more to be concerned about.

Jim Wallis from Sojourners said it well:

"I think the Religious Right makes a mistake when it suggests that there are only two religious values issues: abortion and gay marriage. Many care about other things, but when it comes to politics, these are their primary political, public issues ... As an evangelical Christian, when I find 2,000 verses in my Bible about poor people, I insist fighting poverty is a moral values issue, too."

I must agree with Mr. Wallis.

I am so thrilled to read that the three remaining Christian Peacemaker hostages have finally been released. Jim Loney, Harmeet Sooden, and Norman Kember were released and in rejoicing with them and their families we remember with sadness Tom Fox who was found dead on March 10. I'm especially happy for the family of Jim Loney - CBC had many stories about them and it was difficult to see this family struggle with grief, fear and to stand strong in their faith during this ordeal.

It makes you wonder if it is really worth it? How far do we take "love your enemies"? How many times do we put ourselves in harms way for the sake of others? Non-violent change. That's what these men are about. Justice. Peace.

Jim Loney has said it well:

"With God's abiding kindness, we will love even our enemies.

With the love of Christ, we will resist all evil.

With God's unending faithfulness, we will work to build the beloved community."

Words to think about....

I was reminded that I didn't post my update on Monday. Now I actually feel like I'm being held accountable!! Very good!

Last week I lost a pound but more importantly I'm feeling GREAT. I am really enjoying the lifestyle change. Today - well, no weight loss but even that is okay with me. I've got a long long way to go and as long as I'm heading in the right direction it doesn't really matter how long I take to get there. Hmmm, probably some great spiritual truth in that as well....

Exercise is good. Walking lots. and the girls have finally been able to use the rollerblades they got for Christmas so we've been out a lot.

Last night on the National, I watched a segment on this pro-life/pro-choice debate in Mississippi. It left me feeling sick.

I am pro-life. I am against abortion. I do not think that I am against women in choosing my stand.
The image that stuck with me however, was that of a boy - probably 5, certainly no older, pacing outside of a fence circling an abortion clinic, holding a big black Bible, yelling "repent!" and other far less kind words. It was disturbing to me.

I'm not sure of the answer to these debates. I'm not sure that passing laws outlawing abortion clinics is the answer. I'm not sure that having legal abortion clinics has addressed the problem either. I do know that people standing outside an iron fence, yelling Bible verses, among other things, at young women is not helping the problem.

Once again I am reminded that Jesus was all about relationships. We need to be involved in peoples lives. Listening, loving and caring.

Now that may just be part of an answer.

Interesting how when God wants you to think about something He keeps bringing the subject up over and over and over.....

In Sunday School today we were beginning a discussion on 'Social Justice'. Interesting thing to think about in context of the Church. We, in the last few years, have tended to separate the two and let the Government or para-Church agencies pick up the ball. Our time together began with brainstorming all the areas of Social Justice - that were brought about by Christians. Things like education, universal medicare,sufferage, civil rights, trade unions, soup kitchens, homeless shelters. You've got your Mother Theresa's and World Vision. The numbers are staggering and these all came about because the Church saw the injustice in the lack of these things. The discussion then moved to 'globilization'. and we discussed the economics. and we realized how HUGE the topic is and how little we are. AND YET, it is at our grassroots level that things change.

Of course it came up about how when a multi or trans national company comes into a village and sets up a factory it provides jobs and money for the workers it hires. Then we protest the sweatshops and the company shuts down its factory and all those workers are now unemployed. Weren't they better off before? At least they were making some money??

Well, my first thought is that those questions are maybe fine and dandy for a non-christian to ask. They are only concerned with money. They think that if you've got money - you need nothing else. So if we throw the dog a bone - they are better off. What my thoughts are as a Christian are - have we given them respect? Justice? have we allowed them dignity in their work?

The child sex trade in some Asian countries is huge. For some families to provide their daughter for use by some sick man - provides them with money. If I protest that this is wrong - we can't allow this to happen - and suddenly they don't have the income that this work provides any longer - well, I've just taken away their income! Weren't they better off at least with some money? Obviously not.

Its a huge issue. There's no easy answers. I just know that God has called me to "love mercy and justice." He requires me to walk humbly with Him. I KNOW this. and it seems to me that I cannot love mercy, or justice or walk in humbleness, if I'm happy just to throw money at a very human problem and turn a blind eye.

May God have mercy on us all.

Monday - accountability day. Really good week. I am down a total of 10 pounds. I'm very pleased. It's coming off slow and steady. Eating and exercise were great this week. Walking lots and really choosing wisely with my food.