Activists

Loving God Through Confrontation

Description

“Activists serve a God of justice, …their favorite Scripture is often the account of Jesus cleansing the temple. They define worship as standing against evil and calling sinners to repentance. Activists may adopt either social or evangelistic causes, but they find their home in the rough-and-tumble world of confrontation. They are energized more by interaction with others, even in conflict, than by being alone or in small groups.”

(26, from Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas)

Cautions

  • “Activists tend to see the world and its issues in ‘black and white.’”

  • “There is only one kind of person who can fight the Lord’s battles in anywhere near a proper way, and that is the person who by nature is unbelligerent; at least it looks that way. The world must observe that, when we must differ with each other as true Christians, we do it not because we love the smell of the bullfight, but because we must for Christ’s sake.”

    (121)

  • “The church has frequently had an uneasy relationship with activists and prophets. We fondly remember those who have died, but often loathe those who are still living.”

    (132)

  • “The ‘shadow-side’ to this temperament shows itself in acerbic tactlessness, running roughshod over others, not waiting for God or seeking discernment.”

Suggested Activities

  • •Consider God’s faithfulness in the light of so much undone in the world. Consider His great patience. He is working even when we see no evidence of it. Don’t give up.
  • •Ponder John 4:34
  • •Seek to develop tact, gentleness, persuasiveness, true love for others. Seek a mentor.
  • •Invest energy in: producing and transmitting literature; social reform; “marches”; prayer walks; food pantries; crisis pregnancy center. Be creative.
  • •Thoroughly research any activity before joining it. Ask God for wisdom first. Seek counsel, confirmation and accountability.
  • •Be careful that intervention doesn’t become accusation. Understand the difference between, “That’s wrong!” and “I don’t like that.”
  • •Remember that everything you say must be truth. But you don’t have to say it just because it is true.
  • •Consider carefully the outcomes you desire from your efforts.
  • •Develop your ability for self-examination and contemplation of God.
Activism

Scriptures to Reflect On

Proverbs 24:11–12

11Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

12If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

NIV — New International Version

Study Questions

  1. What action does God call us to?

    • –Rescue those being led away to death (v. 11)
    • –Hold back those staggering toward slaughter (v. 11)

  2. What excuse does God reject?

    • –“But we knew nothing about this” (v. 12)
    • –God, who weighs the heart, knows what we perceived

  3. What is God’s posture toward injustice?

    • –He weighs the heart (v. 12)
    • –He guards our life (v. 12)
    • –He will repay everyone according to what they have done (v. 12)

Takeaway: God holds his people responsible to act against injustice. Ignorance is not a valid excuse when the need is visible — the one who weighs the heart already knows what we perceived. Activists are people who take this calling seriously: they are energized to stand in the gap, speak out, and work for change because they know God himself is a God of justice.

Reflection Questions

  1. 1.What issues make God angry?
  2. 2.Think of the last social or Christian cause you were involved in. Did it draw you closer to God? In what ways? Was there anything about it that pulled you or others away from God? Explain.
  3. 3.How do your activities fit into your worship of God?
  4. 4.How do you feel when you are working for a cause and other Christians don’t seem interested in it, or, even when they are interested, don’t do anything to help? Are you able to resolve these feelings? How do you do this? What other things might you do?
  5. 5.Is your current church involvement one in which you can use your activism? What would you like to see different? What would you like to try?
  6. 6.How does your desire to motivate and change affect your relationships with other people? Are there changes you would like to see in your interpersonal interactions, your approachability? What might these look like?

Well Known Activists

William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce

British abolitionist & Member of Parliament

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

American civil rights leader & Baptist minister

John Wesley

John Wesley

Founder of Methodism & social reformer

Elizabeth Fry

Elizabeth Fry

Quaker prison reformer & philanthropist

Charles Colson

Charles Colson

Founder of Prison Fellowship

Francis Schaeffer

Francis Schaeffer

Christian philosopher & cultural critic

Resources

  • Merton, Thomas. Contemplation in a World of Action. (1999). Univ of Notre Dame Press.
  • Schaeffer, Francis. The Mark of the Christian; Bad News for Modern Man.
  • Schaeffer, Franky, Francis A. Schaeffer. A Time for Anger: The Myth of Neutrality. (1982). Good News Pub. ISBN: 0891072632.
  • Schaeffer, Franky. Bad News for Modern Man. (1984). Thomas Nelson. ISBN: 0840799047.
  • Is Capitalism Christian? Toward a Christian Perspective on Economics. Good News Pub. (1985) ISBN: 0891073620
  • The Matthew Video – “Jesus and the Religious Leaders – the woes,” Mt. 23

Sources