Comments on: Act Justly http://www.faith-journey.com/archives/act-justly/ learning to walk as Jesus walked Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:53:00 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Paul http://www.faith-journey.com/archives/act-justly/comment-page-1/#comment-5140 Paul Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:18:10 +0000 http://www.faith-journey.com/?p=283#comment-5140 The first step, as with most things, is the hardest I believe (at least it is for me!). I think one of the best ways to start is by looking around your immediate surroundings (family, neighborhood, work, community) and begin looking for opportunities to serve. I think one hurdle to overcome is simply our tendency to be self-focused in our daily life. So a lot of it starts with attitude. Next, I think volunteering and getting your hands dirty would be a helpful step. Check out Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, local church food banks, homeless shelters, nursing homes, etc. I think that by taking the next step out of our comfort zone will help the heart of compassion to grow. Then as that compassion grows, I think that creative ways to serve and to help fix root problems will begin to come to our heart and mind. It is true that there are some people that are satisfied with living there lives in total dependence on the generosity of others, but I don't think we should let that stop us from serving. While the Bible is pretty clear that we should work for systemic justice (fixing the systems and structures) there are also lots of examples of how we should simply care for the poor and needy without hesitation and with no strings attached. That can be a hard pill to swallow. But, I think that's why we ultimately need a balance of compassionate serving and working towards a greater justice. The first step, as with most things, is the hardest I believe (at least it is for me!). I think one of the best ways to start is by looking around your immediate surroundings (family, neighborhood, work, community) and begin looking for opportunities to serve. I think one hurdle to overcome is simply our tendency to be self-focused in our daily life. So a lot of it starts with attitude. Next, I think volunteering and getting your hands dirty would be a helpful step. Check out Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, local church food banks, homeless shelters, nursing homes, etc. I think that by taking the next step out of our comfort zone will help the heart of compassion to grow. Then as that compassion grows, I think that creative ways to serve and to help fix root problems will begin to come to our heart and mind.

It is true that there are some people that are satisfied with living there lives in total dependence on the generosity of others, but I don’t think we should let that stop us from serving. While the Bible is pretty clear that we should work for systemic justice (fixing the systems and structures) there are also lots of examples of how we should simply care for the poor and needy without hesitation and with no strings attached. That can be a hard pill to swallow. But, I think that’s why we ultimately need a balance of compassionate serving and working towards a greater justice.

]]> By: Angela C http://www.faith-journey.com/archives/act-justly/comment-page-1/#comment-5121 Angela C Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:47:32 +0000 http://www.faith-journey.com/?p=283#comment-5121 Where does one begin? How can one person make much of a difference? How could we join with others to exponentially increase our efforts? Most of us have no idea where to start. Do we go to our church and ask how we can help with a project? I know I can give money but what if you want to get involved in solutions instead of stop gap efforts. I for one don't want to put my finger in the hole in the dam. I would rather build a new dam. I would rather teach someone how to fish than keep bringing them fish once a week. Unfortunately, there are some who would rather be given the fish than go out and fish for themselves. Where does one begin? How can one person make much of a difference? How could we join with others to exponentially increase our efforts? Most of us have no idea where to start. Do we go to our church and ask how we can help with a project? I know I can give money but what if you want to get involved in solutions instead of stop gap efforts. I for one don’t want to put my finger in the hole in the dam. I would rather build a new dam. I would rather teach someone how to fish than keep bringing them fish once a week.
Unfortunately, there are some who would rather be given the fish than go out and fish for themselves.

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