I had a very, very haunting conversation with a good friend who is a pastor at a church in southern California. We hadn't seen each other for awhile and as we were catching up he was very excited about a ministry he was starting of having used clothing stores where all the profit goes to orphanages. Now my friend has had social justice and compassion ministries a major, major part of his church ethos since it began many years ago, definitely in the PB (pre-Bono) dispensation. He has had a passion for the homeless in his community and his church constantly has done things for them. He has taken trips globally for projects. It is really in his blood and heart and very visible in his church for many years.
As he was showing me photos of his latest venture about the clothing stores in raising funds for orphans - he stopped and then said almost with embarrassment "This sounds really trendy, doesn't it?"
He then went on to say how he now knows so many churches and ministries are awakened to the need of being aware and involved in what is happening with the poor, diseased and needy locally and globally. He said he nows feels awkward sharing about his ventures in this, as he now hears about them all the time from so many people. Saddleback and Willow Creek have both jumped in very strongly in being a global voice for AIDS and for the injustice that occurs in certain countries. I rarely ever go to a Christian concert - but the last two I went to both showed videos during their concert of one of the band members in Africa talking about helping with Compassion International and the Invisible Children. It seems every conference or event you go to the leaders now bring attention to some international compassion or social justice project they are supporting. This is all so wonderful and must please Jesus so incredibly much.
But...what an odd and interesting question to be thinking about - to actually be wondering if being involved in social justice and compassion projects sounds 'trendy' ?
What was haunting to me and what I have thought about since the conversation I had with my friend, is what if it is true?
Bono certainly caused us all to really evaluate the "sleeping giant" (what he called the church several years ago) and how the church was ignoring the poverty, injustice and AIDS crisis. He recently said the church woke up and has now taken notice. But, will it last or will it be trendy?
I guess why I am thinking about it, is I have seen the church get excited about "small groups", or excited about "seeker sensitive" or "Vineyard worship music" and the various things that the church jumps on for seasons. I wasn't part of the church culture - but I have heard how through time busing children was around for a while as a hot thing, or cell churches, or using the baseball diamond for assimilation, or the breakouts of laughing in the Spirit by certain types of churches, or radio preaching, or whatever it may be. There is excitement - then early innovators adopt them (maybe not the laughing in the Spirit) then after time most churches may do it. But then, it passes and we await for something else.
I keep wondering if all the attention the church at large is now rightfully and biblically paying attention to - could fade through time. Will we still see Christian bands showing videos of them in Africa in five years from now? Will conferences spend time promoting compassion ministries and AIDS awareness five or ten years from now? Will all the pastors and church leaders who now are such strong voices to the people in their churches still maintain that voice in the years ahead?
Of course, even if for some it is only a short-term trend - doing something short-term helps people and is greatly needed. So, I don't want to dismiss those who jump in while the conversation is prominent, as any help is very, very welcomed. But it seems horribly sad if this rising interest and churches getting involved is only-short term. Rather than seeing it as we are now awakened to the horrific need but then through time get busy back in our own local busyness and the social justice and compassion ministries and heart becomes a side issue again. That is what I hope is avoided and that the rising interest will not only be a "trend".
I don't know. But my friend's comment hit a nerve in my thinking. Hopefull we won't allow it to merely be a trend but instead see it as what it means to be a disciple of Jesus - and as a disciple of Jesus something we never see as something that passes, but is part of our life and fabric as a Christian. I guess time will tell.
