Ragamuffin: Christ’s call for justice

Millennium Development Goals

God’s call to justice is for all Christ-followers. Bono is calling people worldwide to a deeper faith and engagement with God’s mission. You can hear it in Bono’s lyrics. Songs like I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Pride (In the Name of Love), One, Yahweh, When Love Comes to Town and Beautiful Day all speak of a better world if we do our part. In the Gospel of Matthew 25:31-40 we see Jesus’ thoughts on social justice and making a difference.

What we can do is important. It is more important than what we can’t do. In Sept. 2000 the United Nations pledged to accomplish eight goals to reduce suffering in our world by 2015. I think the church should be a big part in reducing human suffering. Here are some facts about human suffering from the year 2007:

• 800 million go to bed hungry everyday
• Every 3.6 seconds a person dies of starvation
• Every year 6 million children die from malnutrition before their 5th birthday
• More than a billion people lack access to clean water and basic sanitation
• More than 5 million die from water borne diseases
• Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria
• HIV/AIDS kills 6,000 people a day while infecting over 8,000 more

Meanwhile the way we generate electricity…
And the way we travel…
Have implications far beyond our borders…

In 2008-2009 famine, drought, disease and war will combine to create unimaginable suffering in many parts of the world. In all, more than 1.2 billion people are living in extreme poverty. It doesn’t have to be that way. WE can do something about poverty. We can feed the hungry.

We can help obtain clean water for others. Play pumps are one unique way that happens in some countries. While children play on a merry-go-round it pumps clean water into a safe holding tank. We can help by healing the sick. We can assist in improving maternal health. The care for pregnant mothers is essential. We can help by reducing child mortality. We can help by offering schooling education for every child. Empowering women in many countries is vital for progress.

The Salvation Army often works through partnerships to maximize their impact in third world countries. The question today is what should I do? Do what you do plus one more good thing. You can give your money. A little bit goes a long way in many of the poorest areas. You can contact your elected officials. Share your concerns with others. Certainly vote with a conscience in your elections. Be involved. You can educate others and be an example. You can make smart responsible choice about what you buy. You can pray.

“As you did it for the least of these you did it for me” Jesus said.

Yes, do what you do plus one more good thing. A prayer:

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name.
Amen.

World Services mission money helps in doing the following in mission work around the world:

1. Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty.
2. Promote/provide primary education.
3. Promote gender equality and empower women.
4. Reduce child mortality.
5. Improve maternal health.
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
7. In many areas help ensure environmental sustainability.
8. Develop a global partnership for development with other organizations.

Would you like to be involved in this movement to make poverty history? Please support World Services, the work of The Salvation Army and check out this link. Thank you for doing your part to make this the world God yearns for it to be.

Ragamuffin appears every Monday on theRubicon. Find past Ragamuffin posts and a bio of Capt. Jay Davis here.

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