We are responsible.

"The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we as Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly." - Soren Kierkegaard

Though I read it in Irresistible Revolution (by Shane Claiborne from The Simple Way these words have been running through my head. Not necessarily because of the premise that the Bible is easy to understand. In fact, as a Communications Major I have learned too much about the misinterpretation of ANY sort of text... But that's for a later post.

Today, what is sticking with me from this quotation is the obligation to act accordingly with the knowledge we receive.

As I come to the close of my undergraduate degree I think back on the things I have learned that have shaped who I am.

Introduction to Global Studies my Freshman year OPENED up my heart and mind to see the nations woven throughout scripture. The gospel is NOT to be kept in one people group, I learned. In fact, God blessed Abraham originally so that he would be a BLESSING to the nations. Why? So that the name of the LORD would be proclaimed to all nations.

I wrestled with God's desire for His own glory - and ended up in AWE of the grace he uses to reveal it.

The slums of Mathare opened up my eyes to see firsthand the effects of extreme poverty.

Learning that the homeless have names - in Mathare and in Riverside began the process of ISSUES becoming people.

New Delhi, India shocked me with its culture and taught me to love those I do not understand. I began to see the power of a story, and the deep spiritual darkness that can be broken with NOTHING aside from Christ.

International Justice Mission taught me at last year's Global Prayer Gathering that the most powerful weapon we have in the struggle against injustice, is coming before the Lord on behalf of others. Together: In community. Oh, and that we should stop asking "Where is God?" and begin to ask... "Where are God's people?"

An internship at the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force revealed the web of human trafficking RIGHT next door. It EMPOWERED me to know that there are resources available for victims, but it is the responsibility of EVERYONE to keep their eyes open and REPORT things that look suspicious.

Of course there are many other things we learn every day that we are responsible for. And it does not seem like that trend will end any time soon. Today's information?

At least 200 North Korean Refugees to China are forcefully returned to the DPRK (North Korea.) Their whereabouts are unknown. Most likely they are sent to detainment camps. Those that do escape live in fear of being found. What a recipe for victimization. Women end up in trafficking, and have children who are born without a state to belong to. Abandoned, because there is no way to support them. It is illegal in China to adopt these children.

I also read an update on the situation in Morocco from the BBC.

Responsible for the information above, I hope that those of you who know me well have heard about these at some point or another. It may get annoying that I can't seem to find anything else to talk about than what I am learning...

But I... and now you... are now responsible for what we know.

If you feel like leaving a comment, I would like to know what you have learned that you now feel responsible for.

Here in...

"In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand"

Today, 6 aid workers were attacked and killed in the Pakistan World Vision office.

As we sang these words in chapel, I could not help but think about the power of the words that we are singing.

During this season of my life, the reality of the strength of Christ - BEYOND what I can reason and explain... has been part of my everyday reality.

A dear friend has parents who work and live in North Africa, and who recently had 20 (foreigners) expelled from the country for "proselytizing."
That's a whole group of children who have been rejected and neglected, who will once again have those that they trust have to tell them that they are leaving.

On a global scale, with the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and these two events...
and on a personal scale with heartache of my own and those that are near to me...
I am reminded that as we stand in chapel, whether our eyes are closed and our legs are tapping...
The words we sing proclaim TRUTH, HOPE, and RESCUE in the middle of situations that are otherwise overwhelming.

"No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand"

The Story of Stuff

A friend posted this link on facebook - so I looked it up. 

2o minutes later, I had been taken through a brief summary of The Story of Stuff.

The information shared is a great introduction to understanding the history of consumerism in our society. There are many great points, but also some underlying theme which my wonderful fiance continually reminds me of.

1. The growing fear of death (particularly as a growing motivator for why we need to care about the environment) 

2. The "bad-ness" of everything that is manmade. I think there are more reasons than just to pollute our environment that "stuff" was made - perhaps having to do with the idea of "convenience" - making things easier.

3. The idea that changing the power structure in the government is possible... that we can take away the power from the big corporations is a wonderful idea - but (as a very uneducated non-economic minded young adult) seems (like to video says...) idealistic. This does not mean that we should not care about the things that the video proposes.

Contrarily, as Christians we should care about this even more than those who are not following Christ. Our approach to the issues surrounding injustice in the world ought to be centered in prayer. Perhaps we can learn from "another way" that Annie Leonard suggest, but learn even more from "another way" proclaimed by Jesus.