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The Spirit of Allelon vs. WMD's (Weapons of Mass Distraction)
By Iggie Krug
http://www.iggie.com/
Social Justice is the action that many Christians, as well as non-Christians do
as a response to many of the world's "weapons of mass distraction". (Which is
anything thing that distracts or separates us from acknowledging the Love of
God; some examples would be AIDS, War, Starvation, Disease, Cancer, Depression,
Lack of Community, Lack of Family or Broken families, Loneliness, Violence,
Various Addictions, Busy Lives, the "American Dream Syndrome", and
Homelessness).
Yet conviction and the example of the life-parables of the church convince me
that social justice in reaction to the world's tragedy just isn't enough
God's justice is not merely a lofty cause that can be taken up with good
intentions. Nor is it simply something we donate, or pass out. God's justice is
demanding of struggle and anti-violence. It is found by "bearing one another's
burdens" or Allelon. Yet ideally it is something greater. To literally be in
opposition to another's struggles. To hate another's pain, to hate another's
burdens to the point of taking them upon yourself to make your neighbor's life
better. You cannot do this by simply passing out food baskets, or giving money
to a charity. You must saturate yourself in other people's lives and bear their
burdens. It requires a greater devotion than writing a check, or handing out
food. Bearing the burdens of those afflicted by WMD's by being in relationship
with them and sharing in their affliction and offering them the peace of God.
2000 years ago, God did this for us, by bearing the burdens of a fallen humanity
and in His death he offered them the Peace only His Father could offer.
Jesus passed onto us this mission: the mission of Allelon, bearing one another's
burden and showing them the Love and Peace of God. This is the mission of God's
people. It is far more concerned with loving of one's neighbor and with mercy
and justice; than with the color of carpet, the baptismal proceeding, the form
of gathering, the organizational structure, or the building you gather in.
I can't paint the picture of what Allelon looks like for you. Peter was led to
the Jews, Matthew to the Africans, Thomas to the Indians, and to each his own.
But when all the paintings are joined together in unity by a loving Creator in
eternity there will be a masterpiece of great witness that will show that God is
still alive and active through the spirit of Allelon.
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