The Justice Conference

The Justice Conference came to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, from February 22-24. 

We had the privilege of volunteering at the conference and as a result we got to participate in the sessions and peruse the exhibits. 

Here is a glimpse of my experiences on the weekend:

I listened while Ken Wytsma told the crowd of 8000 people that we may not be able to fix the world, but we can change it. People were convicted when he said the temptation of this age is to look good, but not be good. And for those who cannot wait to pursue what is right and what is just he assured us, it is not about being heroic, it is about being faithful.

I agreed with Noel Castellanos when he told us we need a paradigm shift. The poor should not be our “target” of our mission.  Instead we need to embrace the poor as the launching pad for reaching the world for justice he said. 

I was challenged by Brenda Salter McNeil’s “messy” theology. She walked us through Luke 10, the story of the Good Samaritan and a man in a messy situation. She asked us: What do we think about God when we find ourselves in messy situations, that we may not even understand ourselves? While reminding us that Luke 10 does not address how or why the man ended up in the messy situation that he was in, she encouraged us to find a new theology. A theology that does not blame “messes” on people, or on God or one that exonerates us from getting involved.  In looking at all the reasons the other men may have walked by the man on the side of the road without helping, McNeil voiced many people’s greatest fear. Part of us fears that we are not good enough. But she assured us, while we can’t do everything, we can do something. 

I was convicted when Eugene Cho (like Ken) told us we might be more in love with the idea of changing the world, than actually changing the world. There is always a cost to justice, he said. But there are also many tangible things ordinary people can do every day. Be generous, he said. Bless others with your blessings. Carve out time to pray and listen and fast. Look people in the eyes. Be responsible in your story telling (Africa in not simply a continent that can be characterized by swollen-bellied children; it is so much more than that). Go deep. Be informed. Be tenacious. Be committed for the long haul. And no one can take your place in self care. 

I sat exhausted yet comforted by Gary Haugen’s words about love and justice. He told us we need a love that overcomes monotony, fear and tediousness. Because justice is a long and tedious work. If we are to have any hope, he said, we must not only recover justice, we must recover prayer (out of desperation more than discipline). 

I shouted with Stephan Bauman and Cyprien Nkiriyumwami, strength and together. (do-coon-may, zon-yah)

I was reminded of the importance of forgiveness when it comes to justice by Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff.  Forgiveness is going beyond what justice requires. 

I mourned the loss of 60 million missing females in the population today along with Sheryl WuDunn.  Women and girls are not the problem, she said, they are part of the solution.  

I found hope in Shane Claiborne’s words about non violence. He said, when Jesus disarmed Peter, he disarmed all of us.  And while there may be things worth dying for, there are not things worth killing for. Because grace has the power to dull even the sharpest swords. And even during those times when we buy into redemptive violence it is important to remember that none of us is beyond redemption and none of us is above reproach.  

I rejoiced with Chai Ling when she exclaimed “God is so awesome” despite her heartbreaking past and journey.

I was encouraged and motivated by the wise words of John Perkins. He once said, our mission, as a church, is to open the doors and invite pain and suffering in. 

Give a man a fish he'll eat for a day. Teach him to fish he'll eat for life.--That's a lie! We have to think about who owns the pond. They determine who can fish!