Justice Conversations
Justice Conversations That Have an Impact
by Veena Kulkarni
On January 9th, Adult Ed hosted Kris Van Engen, the Congregational Mobilizer for the Office of Social Justice of the CRC. Kris did a wonderful job addressing how to have justice conversations–as a congregation–that have an impact. First, he briefly defined the biblical call to justice:
Christians are called to be active citizens who work to shape the laws and systems that make life better for everyone.??
Secondly, he gave an overview of biblical justice by recalling God’s commissioning of us in Genesis to be stewards of all of creation.
Kris’ overview of biblical justice included a tenminute film on a specific village in Mali. A long-time CRWRC missionary in Mali, a young dad in Iowa, his Congressman, and the Malian government worked together to fulfill villagers’ long-held dreams of irrigating nearby land to grow cotton. Our own Adult Ed discussion highlighted the difficulties inherent in doing social justice work: “How do we know that growing cotton is the best thing for these villagers if they had been surviving for generations without growing it?” Nevertheless, it was inspiring to see the desires of an overlooked and impoverished community brought to fruition by faithful and informed followers of Christ.
Kris concluded with five steps that CRC Churches have used “To Engage in Justice Conversations that Have an Impact.” Here they are, printed directly from the Kris’ handout on January 9th.
1. Listen to what God’s Word says about justice and injustice.
God intends for people to have the freedom to be fruitful and to provide for the well-being of themselves and their community. God’s Word calls Christians to work for justice when oppressive forces hinder this freedom.
2. Work on concrete issues that concern members of the congregation.
Talking about poverty, debt relief, climate change or hunger in the abstract might be compelling, but for most of us, an issue has to affect us or someone we have a relationship with personally before we are compelled to act upon it. Connecting policy with realities as we experience them makes for an effective and satisfying Social Justice effort
3. Take small steps.
It can take years to see change when there is injustice. In some ways this is a good thing. Can you imagine what would happen to our system if laws were easy to pass? Understand that small victories are still victories and perseverance causes lasting change.
4. Avoid partisanship.
Party politics are divisive, but there is no need for the congregation to work at that level. In fact, being nonpartisan – and giving legislators of all political stripes your attention – is often more effective than hitching your wagon to one party.
5. Remember who we are.
You and everyone else in the world are made in the Image of God. We were created to be stewards of creation, including human systems. It is a high calling to reflect God’s reign in our practice as citizens and it is a humble calling because it reminds us that we are not God. We are servants walking in relationship with Him.