delivered 27 September 2009
by Rev. Dr John Evans
It seems almost redundant, certainly it would certainly very sad, that we would need a special Sunday each year to be reminded about the social implications of our Christian faith: a special Sunday to consider social justice. Our Christian faith always should have that twin foci of the gospel’s importance for ourselves personally – what does it mean in my relationship with God, my own sense of peace and well being; and then the second focus of what that faith means in relation others. In understanding the depth of our faith, unless we are complete hermits, it must have a social implication. My faith has to be worked out in relationship with others, and within society.
The history of Social Justice Sundays has been that on this one day we are asked to consider the church’s wider social engagement. And so the Sundays have focused on an aspect of our society and our world about which we may know little, or perhaps indeed know too much and need to be challenged to actually do something different. Social Justice Sunday brings before us the least of God’s children. So in the past the themes have been, for example, about the plight of prisoners, or of refugees, and those who in general terms live in poverty. They have also been about the big issues of war and peace, and the impact of war, like with land mines, on innocent people, and the very nature of the weapons used – in particular nuclear weapons. Increasingly the concern has been for the sustainability of this God given planet of ours. And so the themes have been energy, climate change and the environment generally. Our faith has a broad social implication and we always need to be reminded of this.
This year the theme is simply – Hope for the Common Good – a reflection on what lies beyond the Global Financial Crisis. For us here in Carlton, this surely is important; just as it has been for leaders of the world this past week in New York and Pittsburgh, as they grappled with this and other critical issues. The resources which the National Council of Churches has produced provide us with the challenge to think who has actually suffered the most as a result of the so called GFC – the Global Financial Crisis. It is indeed the poor and the marginalized, while it would seem those at the helm of the banks and finance industry, have been sheltered and protected by governments around the world. For me, now twelve months on – I am tempted to ask, what has indeed changed?
One focus of the impact of the global financial crisis has been unemployment. Often in the commentary on the GFC, unemployment or as we are finding this recession, underemployment, is just seen as a cog or lever in the great machine of the modern globalised economy. Something that macro economic policy needs to just tweak or oil. However, unemployment has a profound human face. And, as always it is the poor, those just on casual or informal arrangements, who would seem to be the most greatly affected. What is the phrase – they are “let go” first. As the resources say
“Work is a fundamental aspect of human life. It is one of the most significant ways that people find meaning in their lives and the means by which they make their contribution to the common good. “
And unemployment affects us locally here. I want to now interview Sarah Howe, the Church of All Nations Community Support, Co-ordinator of our Carlton Employment Opportunities project. Our endeavour as a local church to provide social inclusion for people, and here on the Carlton Estate, typically they are people from the Horn of Africa, who are unemployed.
1. You began with a survey, a study of the Carlton Housing Estate – what came out of that?
2. And so what have we done in response?
Union partnership
Hospitality course
Other partnerships – Aged Care
3. Successes?
4. Challenges?
5. Yirgalem Ferzghi– her story.
From Eritrea
Establishment in Melbourne
Difficulty in finding work
The CEO project
Thank you.
All this is great, and congratulations for all those involved.
I want however, to conclude with reiterating my opening proposition: every Sunday should be Social Justice Sunday . I want to do that with brief reference to our rather motley, awkward, readings from the end of Mark 9 .. . and not what might be regarded as more usual readings for such a day – from the prophets or for example more challenging teachings of Jesus about wealth and money.
Here we have a strange collection of seemingly disparate, unrelated and frankly odd and puzzling teaching from Jesus.
* John complains that the disciples, had seen another person healing people in the name of Jesus, but Jesus is not troubled by this.
* Those who “put a stumbling block” in the way of “little ones” following Jesus will face severe consequences.
* Then there are the grotesque passages that suggest that removing one’s hand or foot, even an eye, is better than the consequences one would face for sinning.
* And finally there is the significance of being salt of the earth.
In the context of today, I want to suggest that these teachings do point to the social, the wider dimensions of our faith. They are profoundly counter cultural. They challenge us not to just think of our self. During the week our household received the following brochure. “It is all about you!” Well these reading indicate it is not.
When John starts whinging that there is another healer in town – he really feels aggrieved. He and the disciples will not get the honour and the glory they deserve. And we can relate to how he might feel. The problem is that he does not see the big picture: rejoice people are healed – it does not matter who does it. John exhibits a selfish focus on what was right and proper, and really was seeking his own faithfulness being rewarded. Jesus however, says simply – whoever is not against us, is for us. Always hold a wider picture in your heart.
This can be a challenge for us with our engagement with this community. We might start something – and all of sudden others are doing something similar. Like John we can feel aggrieved. Or we can feel, what is it, jealous that another congregation may be growing, and we are not. Jesus is saying, heh, have a cold shower, they are also doing good. Consider the wider social implications and not just yourself. Indeed always consider the wider implications – especially if one is endeavouring to help the “little ones” into a fuller life. Such involves a significant responsibility, and if you fail – that is where the millstone comes in.
Similarly with those awkward amputated limbs and organs. It is assumed by commentators we have operating here a figure of speech, some form of hyperbole. An insider’s reference of some sort. Certainly they are meant to be an indictment of a person who only can focus on the so called “perfect” nature of their relationship with God, and that they believe they are pure or righteous. Jesus is effectively saying “get real”. Eugene Peterson puts this paraphrase this way
“If your hand or your foot gets in God’s way, chop it off and throw it away. You are better off maimed or lame and alive, than the proud owner of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire.”
Jesus is attacking a brand of piety, which somewhat prissily is wanting to be perfect and right – and in turn not engaged with our world; perhaps not taking risks, just sitting back within the comfort of mother church. The great reformer Martin Luther memorably said, “sin boldly” – and it was in this sort of context. Don’t die wondering what the implications of our Christian faith may mean of our community. You need to get out there and live out the love of God and your discipleship. Get our there and be something, do something.
Finally Jesus says recognise you are the salt of the earth. You have to be within the community giving to it flavour or preserving it – and if you are not, that is if you are not salty, you are useless, and you should be thrown away. There is a social dimension of your faith.
Today we have been reminded of some specific dimensions to our engagement with the world. . . such as our concern for the unemployed. More generally however, every aspect of our faith, and the life of the church should be seen in a broader and wider context of serving our community and advocating for social justice.
