The buzz in evangelicalism today, thanks to the work of Jim Wallis, Shane Claiborne, Brian McLaren and others, has bee social justice. The Evangelical Manifesto, released yesterday, says this:

We must follow the model of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, engaging the global giants of conflict, racism, corruption, poverty, pandemic diseases, illiteracy, ignorance, and spiritual emptiness, by promoting reconciliation, encouraging ethical servant leadership, assisting the poor, caring for the sick, and educating the next generation.

This is the second part of a five part review of the new book Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope by Brian McLaren. 

When someone says that everything must change, we all expect that person to back up their plea with mounds of data. In the realm of global politics, reports are issued using tons of data, statistics, percentages, and graphs to visualize what is necessary to make everything change. While John Wilson in Christianity Today laments that McLaren does not have the statistics and data to back up his ideas of how to change the world, I have been learning to applaud McLaren for his minimalism of statistics. Everyone wants to see facts back up an idea---an apologetics for welfare, for gun control, for building that new sanctuary---yet really where have facts gotten us in Africa, in Vietnam, in Iraq? There comes a point when statistics become meaningless before our morality, our ethics, our gospel, and our hope. We have been given such a great salvation, such a great hope, that why can we not fight for everything to change, even when we don't have overwhelming statistics to back us up. We have the light that burns within us, a call to care for the orphan and the widow, the poor and the needy---and statistics will certainly show that those people do exist. And what if we don't know how to be most efficient, or do our jobs the best, or go into Africa with the right mix of micro-financing and development aid? Does that mean we should not try? McLaren certainly doesn't think so. ... more

Please take some time to check out the Invisible Children project and see if their tour is coming to a town near you.   

There is an opportunity in the NY/NJ/CT area to help out with Invisible Children, a documentary and social justice project about children in Africa and their living conditions. Tomorrow at 7:00pm Holy Grounds Cafe will be hosting a film screening and discussion about Invisible Children as part of their Viewpoint series. If you are in the area try to stop by---the coffee there is amazing! ... more

UPDATE (3/31/08): Here's the link to listen to the Story Corps story "A Victim Treats His Mugger Right." 

There was an amazing story on National Public Radio's Story Corps this morning. Each week, a regular person tells a story about their life and it is broadcast on NPR and archived in the Library of Congress as a part of folk history. The story shared this week by a New Yorker commuting home from work on the subway was particular touching, and though he did not name drop Jesus or church, the gospel was alive in his actions.

Long story short, the man would get off a stop early on the subway each day to eat at his favorite diner. A couple of months ago the man got of the train and had a knife pointed at him by a young man, who promptly asked for his money. The man gave the boy his wallet, then as the boy was leaving called out to him, "Wait up!" The assailant turned around and the man offered him his coat as well. Shocked, the boy asked why and the man said, "if you need money so badly, I figured you might need my coat as well." The two struck up a conversation, and then the man offered to his assailant that he should join him at his favorite diner, so they walked out of the subway and went to grab a bite to eat. After the meal was over, the young man shared his astonishment at the whole ordeal, to which the man replied, "you have to pay for this meal, because you took my wallet---I'm broke!" The would-be robber paid for the meal and gave the wallet back. ... more

I don't feel that well today, so no posts---other than this one, which is what it is.

I read through Twenty Years At Hull-House last night and I understand the foundations of the social gospel movement better now.

A quote from the book and then I'll call it a day:

I believe that there is a distinct turning among many young men and women toward this simple acceptance of Christ's message. They resent the assumption that Christianity is a set of ideas which belong to the religious consciousness, whatever that may be. They insist that it cannot be proclaimed and instituted apart from the social life of the community and that it must seek a simple and natural expression in the social organism itself. The Settlement movement is only one manifestation of that wider humanitarian movement which throughout Christendom, but pre-eminently in England, is endeavoring to embody itself, not in a sect, but in society itself. ---Jane Addams, Twenty Years At Hull House ... more

Tall double mocha latte, vanilla frappaccino, grande caramel macchiato—where would you hear these words uttered?  Anyone that has grown up in the U.S. or has lived here for any time at all would quickly conjure from their mental library the word ‘Starbucks’.  Starbucks has become to coffee what Kleenex is to tissues.  It is a synonym culturally infused with so much meaning.  But as a Christian, I wonder if this culturally influenced trend has any drawbacks.  Is this where Christ would have gotten his coffee (if in fact he drank coffee)?  Let’s explore. ... more

I have pre-ordered the new Claiborne & Haw book Jesus for President and am excited about it arriving on my doorstep along with a suprise book for my wife (in order to receive the Free Super Saver Shipping on Amazon).  And to brighten my day even more, I read that Paul Soupiset did the illustrations!  So cool!  I think before I read it I will hug it and caress it...

As a supplement to the book Claiborne & Co. wrote a beautiful and haunting litany for use in worship that centers on the themes of their book.  It is reprinted in full below: ... more

I am delighted to invite you to join us at our Global Prayer Gathering, April 11-13, 2008, in the Washington, DC area. IJM field operations leaders from Asia, Africa, Latin America, Canada, the UK and the U.S. will gather with us for a powerful time of asking God to bring rescue to the oppressed. As friends and staff of IJM come together for prayer and worship, we will celebrate God’s goodness and righteousness and ask that He would continue to use us to fulfill His promises of justice. ... more