Take a deep breath. This one is a bit of a rant.
Recently, my friend, Laura, wrote about her family’s attempt to teach their kids to fight injustice.
She told a hypothetical story of bullies picking on a boy named Jacob with special needs. She informed her children she expected them to not allow Jacob to go down alone. She instructed her kids to make a decision to act, even if it is the wrong decision. She told her kids to quit watching, get off the porch, do something, do anything.
I cheered at her words. Of course, she probably didn’t hear me since she lives in Thailand, but I cheered because if I had to summarize what I believe about serving others in four words, it would be, “Get off the porch” meaning, go do something.
Collect coats, collect cans. Love addicts, love orphans. Run for awareness, run for office, but find a big cause that needs a little you, and get involved.
Good, good, good, right? But then, a few days later, Laura asked readers hard questions (dang her) and got me thinking of hard answers.
Therefore, the rant begins. Consider yourself warned.
I believe many Americans aren’t even standing on the porch. Instead, people sit happily on the couch, and they don’t notice if Jacob is being harassed because the ipod is cranked, and a really funny Modern Family episode plays on (yes, I’m pointing at myself on that last one, people).
I believe if many of us went to the porch, we would be shocked at all we could see, like our lonely elderly neighbor or that lost teenage mom.
I believe family comes before ministry. Tell me that makes my kids and husband idols, and I might agree, but it’s still true. Brennan Manning once said, “The landscape of the American church is littered with burned-out bodies and abortive ministries.” I think he's right.
I believe sometimes you are called to get off the porch and write a check. This sounds easy and boring, but it’s not. I believe it necessary.
I believe some of us don’t have the money to write big checks (ahem, talking to me again, people), and in that case, I believe we should learn as much as we can about the injustice that stings us, and then we should pray hard and often and bring it up in conversation as much as we can.
I believe sometimes we won’t have answers to hard questions. In fact, I believe many unthinkable atrocities face our world, and some issues don’t have solutions, and that sucks. I believe we can create the internet and Skype and other magical gadgets, but we can’t fix it all.
I believe there is nothing “naïve or contrite” about getting off the porch. However, I believe our job may be to take a hard look at a tough issue, evil eye it the best we can, and then, get right back on the porch.
And that concludes my rant.
Should you want to engage in some good conversation on this topic head over to Laura's.
Should you want to engage in some good conversation on this topic head over to Laura's.
What are your ideas on the subject of injustice and getting off the porch?
Image credit.
25 comments:
I agree with Brennan Manning's quote rings true. I think it's because people who God calls don't step up, but I also think that sometimes it's because we go in with an attitude that we are going to fix a problem. Then we work and we work and we work and don't see the fruit we expect, which leads to burnout. And sometimes, we stay burned out and we don't get back off the porch. Instead, I wonder if we realize that we are just the laborers and not the fixers and that the fruit that is supposed to come is the fruit that God ordains. We do only as much as He tells us to, which may be what you say in your last sentence -- take a hard look at a tough issue, evil eye it the best we can, and then, get right back on the porch.
JF,
Laborers and not the fixers. Yes, yes.
Oh, and your last sentence was what I meant in mine. Sometimes, we shouldn't get involved. He's not asking us to.
Reminds me of an old Keith Green song, Asleep in the Light.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik-XOVZcwow
Melanie,
Can't wait to tell my husband you were referencing Keith Green!
Off to listen.
Important topic and I appreciate your rant/encouragement Amy.
I really think it starts with parents. If engaging in efforts for worthy causes is a once a year activity that involves an hour or two, then I can hardly expect my little crew to see much value in it.
Fighting the good fight has to be an embedded part of my life.
First...
Love the comments-Keith-Green-reference--
While listening to one of his songs, I found the Lord.
And yes--
This is the wrestling.
It's so hard in this mama-stage.
This week we're knee-deep in a throw-up-bug.
I wonder how I can even open the front door to look at the porch.
But--
It's all about my willingness to listen to the Holy Spirit.
I don't have to find the causes.
Or seek out the needs.
They are everywhere...as close as the little neighbor guy who calls daily and wants to LIVE at our house.
That gives me a deep-relief-sigh.
Because it's about listening to His prompt, being willing to open my eyes to whatever, whomever He puts in our path.
I don't want to excuse...or teach our kiddos to excuse...or even to make an idol of that-which-is-good (like family).
But--I trust Him.
To show us where He wants us to invest and act and step in.
And what I want to pass on to our crew--
Is a willingness to listen and respond and obey...even when it means heavy sacrifice and risk.
GREAT post!
GET UP. i say to me. because my kids won't if i don't. and i love keith green. just sayin.
Oh my, couldn't agree with you more. I have been discussing the same exact thoughts with family members and fellow adoptive mamas over the last few weeks ... my old "self" would have thought I was insane to hear what I talk about now. But truly, Americans are too comfortable and indifferent about what plagues the world. Once God opens your eyes, there is just no going back. My heart is personally with orphans. We are all called to love and help others. All of us. How we do that looks different for everyone, as God calls us all in different ways.
You are so right. It's not that we see the injustice and don't do anything (or at least, that's not all of the problem). It's that we don't even see the injustice anymore. We're too busy with our own lives to look beyond ourselves. Great post.
Girl, you have my permission to go off on a rant any time you dang well please.
I'm feeling restless, like I want to run off the porch and go do something. Especially something sexy, like single-handedly rescue a bunch of sweet children from human traffickers or something. I keep asking God what He wants me to do but, so far, the answer seems to be keep typing words.
Which doesn't seem very sexy. But here I sit.
First, I love that you listened to Keith Green. Bet that got Shane's attention for sure :)
Get off the porch...love this. I need to do this more. I hear God telling me this in a variety of ways, one of which we talked about earlier today.
I love your point about bringing up a cause as often as you can in conversation. get people talking and together we can get off our porches.
Two things struck me. 1st - I don't think family comes before ministry, I think family IS ministry. I have a heart for discipleship, and God is showing me that the most captive audience I have is my 3 boys, not necessarily a big women's group or even lots of followers in social media.
2nd - I do like the idea of getting off the porch. Part of my church's mission is "Everyone, Everyday, Everywhere." We are all called to be the church wherever we are with whomever we come in contact. That's getting off the porch.
You rant well, by the way. :-) Thanks!
I SO agree ... but I'm a couch sitter! I have been so convicted of this lately and have been looking for opportunities to serve. But so often, we look for the BIG things, all the while missing the many little things literally surrounding us. Sometimes, those things are so much harder because they're messy, they're not resolved quickly, and they demand time, emotion, and sacrifice.
That being said, I do think that for so many of us, writing a check is a huge step. We can "do" all day long, but when it comes to sacrificing financially, excuses roll off the tongue. When I find myself in a rut or selfish or just plain cozying up on the couch, GIVING is the key. Once I let go and give, my heart is unlocked to so much more of what God is calling me to DO.
Just my two cents, but I'll def be mulling this one over!
Missionary Bob Pierce said, "Let my heart be broken for the things that break The Heart of GOD."
Evil is rampant and the thought can overwhelm us; but we must have the courage to "get off the porch" for the one GOD puts in front of us.
Heading over to give a "well done" to Laura for prompting us all.
absolutely perfect! we heard a speaker from the international justice ministry speak at church this past sunday. of course his message--justice. but his reminder--it's God doing the work. our job--availability.
so when we jump off the porch, we do so with a mighty God lighting that fire under our pants, and accomplishing the great work. He just invites us along for the ride, really.
when i look at it that way, it makes me really WANT to be part of the privilege.
steph
Hmmm... feeling convicted. I've recently stopped focusing so much on international issues of justice and focusing on our little community. I feel, sometimes, that I have a very limited capacity to effect change and that I need to focus on the things I have some control over. But, that's not really right either, is it? And, I need to not be focused on fixing, but on giving and on loving. I think of the verse Jesus says, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." We, as Christians, are the few. So, we need to get out there and work!!
I love the thought of "evil eyeing" something. We always included our children in the talk about "issues." That included providing books for them to reinforce what we were discussing. Sometimes the response was a what we could give up to support a "cause." Other times we added to our prayer list. There were many times I felt defeated because I wanted to do more. Which is why I love your comment to Jen --"we shouldn't get involved. He's not asking us to."
I'm hanging on to this one line today:
"find a big cause that needs a little you"
I just returned home from Haiti -- a big cause -- and I felt so very small there. But your words, quoted above, are a reminder that a big God works through our little acts. I know that there was more truth that you conveyed in your insightful post here, but I really needed to read those words in particular as I process what I've experienced.
Here is an old(er) woman's perspective ... one whose kids are grown.
This is an area that required careful balance. Our families motto was "when we work, we work hard and when we play we play hard." We first planned simple ways to teach the girls how to be on the porch. Then we involved them in our ministries whenever possible. Then we sent them off on their own.
With lots and lots of time in between to rest, read good books, watch great movies, take walks etc.
It is great to do both parts well.
ps. I just had this chat with my daughter who is a missionary. She is working on this balance.
Thanks so much for this, Amy. I've been asking God to allow me to do more "ministry" with the things that my heart gravitates toward, but it hasn't worked out that way yet. I can do work in church, etc. but my ministry has really been my job, even if it is "secular." I am trying not to divide secular and spiritual. Getting off the porch for me means that I can make working in the home with kids and families no matter if that seems "spiritual" enough for me real ministry, because it's changed my heart toward injustice, toward the poor, made it softer, more loving. I don't know if this makes sense. It is spiritual, and it makes me want to bring it up more when others gloss over some of these people so easily in conversation, like they are unwanted. Sorry for MY rant..:(
Everyone, everyone,
Thanks for the insight and all the conversation you bring here. Thanks for making me think.
I know I'm kinda late to the party. I've thought about this a lot, a lot, a lot. On Sunday our pastor went through the whole "Jesus getting angry and clearing out the temple". He said that it is good to have righteous anger---anger about the things that would anger God, and even sinful to turn our heads and go back in the house, rather than getting angry about injustice and getting off the porch.
I'd never heard that before. Just sharing the KONY video or clicking "like" on facebook doesn't count as getting off the porch, though we'd like to think it does.
I don't have answers, I'm just mulling it all over.
LOVE Modern Family too! :)
I believe that your thoughts are right. It is sad to say that, but it is true.
Also, I love Brennan Manning, and that can't be said enough.
I love your rant :) It convicts me. I pray that God would give me tha grace and that's would have the compassion and nerve to fight for injustice. You are a great example to me in this.
Blessings to you...
Good grief. Read your post and followed the link and read that post too.
I have been fighting a losing battle in my household - trying to instill kindness and compassion.
And this is exactly the "what if" conversation that needs to happen around our dinner table.
Thank you so much for this.
Post a Comment
Talk to me, friends.