Journey of a Thousand Miles
[Mu Yi & Xing Yi] Conclusion
Taking the "Third Route"
In September 2019, the new school year had just begun. A group of students at a high school in New York had a dispute and one of them was stabbed. About 50 students watched as he lay on the ground, bleeding profusely. Many people took out their mobile phones, not to call for help, but to take photos and videos and post them on social media. 1
From media reports and daily life, injustice seems to have become the norm. However, what is even more chilling is the "Bystander Effect" - the more people gather, the less it matters to oneself.
Starting from the summer issue of 2018, "Kingdom of God" magazine, written by Wu Shuyi, president of "Christ Abundance Fellowship", started the column "Muyi & Acting on Righteousness". In the article "The Third Pair of Eyes, the Third Route" in the 52nd issue, Wu Shuyi draws on personal observation, reflection, and personal experience to challenge readers to not only see the injustice inside and outside the church with the "third pair of eyes" of truth, but also to see the Lord. The “third route” Jesus took—the way of the cross:
“Jesus not only wept with those who wept, but He himself bore the pain in order to atone for us who suffer from sin, and to call us to comfort the suffering of the world with God’s comfort.”
These injustices caused by racial, gender, and class discrimination have accumulated over generations and are deeply embedded in social culture; the suffering caused by these injustices may occur in "hidden places and hidden people" that are very close at hand (Reference 56 issue of "The Invisible Gospel Workplace"), or it may become a refugee crisis of international concern (refer to issue 55 of "I was a stranger, and you invited me to stay"). Whether it is hidden or open, it is real suffering; whether it is far or near, God is there.
How can you and I, as followers of Christ, turn away and ignore it?
▲In the face of injustice, what is even more chilling is the "bystander effect" - the more people gather, the less it matters to oneself.
Show mercy and kindness
From the gospels and historical records, it is not difficult to find examples of "putting yourself within the realm of justice."
The protagonist in the parable of the "Good Samaritan" in Luke's Gospel did not plausibly condemn the hypocrisy of the Jewish religious leaders when faced with the injustice of racial discrimination, nor did he lament the inability to reverse the hostility that had existed for generations. He chooses to receive the hurting with mercy and kindness.
Callistus, a second-century Christian, organized Life Watches. This group of people patrolled the garbage dumps in Rome to pick up abandoned newborn babies and hand them over to Christian families for adoption. 2 In the injustice of devaluing life, they did not stand in the square to defend helpless babies, nor silently gave up on a culture that could not be changed. They choose to protect the weaker lives with compassion and kindness.
Today, there are also many organizations and individuals who choose to respond to the injustices in society and culture with acts of compassion and kindness.
The "Fengrong Fellowship of Christ" that Wu Shuyi participated in successively established "Fengrong Daughters' Home", "Fengrong Women's Home", "Fengrong Girls' School" and "Fengrong Community Center" in Cambodia. The gospel counters human trafficking. In addition to rescuing the injured women from the fire pit, they also gave them the opportunity to receive education and start a dignified life. In Cambodia's social culture that discriminates against and harms women, it is like a beacon shining in the dark night. (For details, please refer to the article "Justice and Mercy: Two Sides of the Same Silver Coin" in Issue 54.)
Zhou Lanhui, the art editor of this magazine, was invited to the "Pearl Home" in Taipei to give a painting class to a group of grandmas who had been engaged in sex work (see the cultural section of this issue "Pearl Grandma's Painting Life" for details). Although she only stayed for a short time, she used her expertise to bring a little joy and a lot of respect to the despised grandmothers at the bottom of the social pyramid. "This is the right thing to do," Zhou Lanhui said.
▲The road to "doing justice and loving mercy" may be difficult and long, but I hope Christians will walk humbly with God and take the first step.
act humbly
God spoke to His people through the prophets: "O man, the Lord has shown you what is good. What does the Lord require of you? To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. ” (Micah 6:8)
Jehovah God’s instructions are so clear that the Lord Jesus himself became human and practiced “doing justice and loving mercy.” As followers of Christ, how can we excuse ourselves for not understanding it, and what excuses can we have for not doing it?
After years of observation and personal participation, Wu Shuyi eloquently pointed out that the biggest challenge is not the seemingly unchangeable injustice that permeates social culture, but rather lies within the four walls of the church, among Christians. She saw that the church seemed to care more about the righteousness and law of individual Christians' spiritual lives and whether they all had "correct beliefs" than the suffering and oppressed people in the world. Think about the hypocrisy and self-righteousness that Jesus accused the Pharisees of. How much of it can be traced in churches and Christians today?
When issues of social justice arise, how do Christians deal with them? After examining how to interpret God’s word, should you use the Bible as a stone to throw at others, or as a cup to hold water? When victims of injustice appear around you, do you say to them: "I pray for you, go in peace", or do you share the pain with them and identify with the oppression and contempt they suffer?
When Christians pursue spiritual depth and growth, the results they can see are more powerful preaching, more exciting Bible studies, more exciting songs and worship, or more active participation in the crowd and weeping with those who weep. ? In addition to distributing gospel tracts and evangelistic meeting invitation cards, have you given time and effort to accompany the suffering people with kindness and seek justice for the persecuted people?
"Following Jesus" may be the ambition of many Christians. However, have you and I ever carefully examined where Jesus’ footsteps went? Christians who are devout and love the Lord are willing to “follow” them to where?
John Chapter 9 records Jesus healing a blind beggar. When religious leaders were obsessed with "right and wrong," the righteous and holy Lord Christ chose to find those who were expelled outside the temple.
Are you and I willing to "walk humbly with God" and go beyond the four walls of the church to find those who have been excluded from the temple?
▲The hot food supply station provides hot food and friendly care to the homeless. (Picture provided by: Lu Rendi)
Walk on the least of your brothers
The source of mercy and kindness is the gospel, and the abundant spiritual life of Christ flows out and is manifested in serving the oppressed, the sick, women, the poor, Gentiles and other people on the margins of the gospel. Wu Shuyi said this in the article "Where Is He" in the 53rd issue: "Social care is rooted in spiritual deepening, and spiritual deepening is commended in caring actions!"
The gospel of the kingdom preached by the Lord Jesus is a subversive gospel and a gospel full of action.
However, looking at the injustice in today's social culture is like wildfire. In front of the raging flames, what can you and I do? Just start with the bucket of water in your hand, start from the side.
Randy Lewis, who lives in Palm Beach County, South Florida, said he never understood how there could be hungry people in such a wealthy land. Until one Saturday afternoon 14 years ago, he came to the park near his home, joined a group of young people, and handed out burritos to the homeless. Life will never be the same again.
The "Burrito Project" currently uses the spacious and well-equipped kitchen of the nearby Palm Beach Chinese Christian Church to prepare dozens of burritos every Saturday morning, along with clean clothes and toiletries, and distribute them to children. The homeless and working poor in the town (working poor, also known as the working poor and the working poor, refer to those who have regular jobs, but the salary is not enough to sustain their lives), and care about their lives when the homeless receive bread and meals. Encourage them with the Word of God. The team has sent out nearly 50,000 burritos so far.
The ministry gradually expanded. Lu Rendi and a group of committed Christians also set up a hot food supply station on Tuesdays, inviting homeless people from nearby towns to come and enjoy it. They contacted about 250 homeless people every week. He kept thinking about how he could serve these homeless people besides providing food, so as to truly help them.
In recent years, Lu Rendi and another partner who has the same vision and ambition have established the "South Florida Sanctuary" organization, actively raising funds and applying for government subsidies in order to build a place that can provide homeless people with A place for bathing, catering, medical treatment, and vocational training. 3. We hope that after providing basic needs, we can help the homeless move towards independence, because what they need is not only a life with enough food and clothing, but also a life that is recognized and valuable. For example, they collect work boots for homeless people so that they can wear safe and durable shoes and participate in labor production.
As far as Lu Rendi knows, many homeless people suffer from drug and alcohol addiction, and many suffer from mental illness but do not receive appropriate medical care. Palm Beach is an affluent area, but just a few streets away from the ocean-view mansions and new suburban communities, you can see a completely different scene. Poverty may be the result of individual unwise choices, or it may be the injustice caused by systemic oppression. The homeless phenomenon in big cities such as Los Angeles has received renewed attention recently. How to deal with and solve the problem has become a topic of debate among residents, politicians, media, etc.
Lu Rendi said sincerely: "I don't know what the authorities of big cities with thousands of homeless people living on the sidewalks are going to do, but I know what individual Christians who want to live according to God's will can do." He suggested that in Put some snacks and bottled water in the car, and give them a kind look and a word of encouragement when handing them to homeless people on the street.
Matthew 25:40 is printed on the T-shirts of Anqi Sheng: "As you have done these things to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done them to me." Lu Rendi said that this was something he and his colleagues did. workers’ beliefs. Aren’t these homeless people the youngest brothers among us? They are real people, and they can feel cared for while being served.
For Lu Rendi, there is no greater encouragement than seeing the homeless people he has served for many years not only starting to live on their own, but also coming back to thank their co-workers and willing to join the service.
▲Lu Rendi (right) reminds Christians: homeless people are real people and the youngest brothers. (Picture provided by: Lu Rendi)
[Muyi & Xingyi] The column has come to an end, but God’s instructions have not stopped nor changed. How can you and I, as followers of Christ, take the first step to "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God" when we put down the magazine?
1. New York high school students gathered around to watch the victim (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/nyregion/ny-teen-murder-oceanside.html).
2. Christians who “watch life” rescue abandoned babies (reference:https://world.wng.org/2000/06/a_new_opportunity).
3. For more information about "South Florida Safe Shelter", please go onlinehttps://www.southfloridasanctuary.com/.
For all the articles in the [Muyi & Xingyi] column, please refer to the cultural section of issues 52-57 of the magazine online.http://www.shen-guo.org/culture.html.
Linda Pang, writer, Sunday school teacher, loves to study and share God’s words.