Slacktivism, don't fall for it!

I usually hate buzz words and catchphrases, but I do like: Slacktivism.

According to Wikipedia "Slacktivism (sometimes slactivism) is a portmanteau formed out of the words slacker and activism. The word is considered a pejorative term that describes "feel-good" measures, in support of an issue or social cause, that have little or no practical effect other than to make the person doing it feel satisfaction."

Examples of slacktivism include (but not limited to) internet petitions, joining Facebook groups, altering one's avatar to "raise awareness" of an issue...etc.

In other words, no REAL action is taken...nothing is really accomplished - except a self pat on the back.

Slacktivism, sadly, is a growing trend.

To make a change, to make a difference REAL ACTION is needed.  Good for us, not much effort is needed in some cases!

A donation, a letter, a minute of time, an ear, anything.

All real changes were made through action...just imagine if Martin Luther King, Jr. just wore a ribbon.  If Ghandi only signed "internet" petitions or changed his FB avatar.

Or if Jesus just walked around with a "Peace and Love" t-shirt.

Hey, I'm not immune - heck I wear a cross - which does nothing for no one but me (and sometimes not even me). It has not fed the hungry, housed the homeless, nor brought Christ to someone (as far as I know) but I wear it nonetheless...

So, I'm not suggesting we outright rid ourselves of slacktivism - it may (in the rarest occurrences) raise awareness to someone who's never heard of said issue and inspire them to do something, which might be reason enough - but let's not let it replace any real work, action, or effort to make a difference in this world.

Thank God the Church is full of hypocrites!

One argument against "church" is that it is full of hypocrites, liars, and two-faced people...and to that I say:

"THANK GOD!  I'll fit right in!"

If I believed for a moment that any given church was full of Saints, I wouldn't darken their doorstep.

I know, I know, there are some churches that give the appearance that all their folks are saintly and do no wrong, but don't fault them for that...do you like to flaunt your faults?

Neither do I.

No, churches shouldn't necessarily highlight their faults, but they shouldn't ignore the fact that they have them either.  Transparency is good - I think Jesus said something like that once.

Nor should a church degrade and harass folks for their faults - it is not the church's role to "change" people.  Let God work with them.

The church should be, and mostly is, welcoming...If a church says All are Welcome - I hope they mean it.  And I must say - many of the churches I have visited have been very welcoming.

Yes, we can all point out a bad church experience, but we all know better than to compare all churches by just one experience.

The folks inside the church doors (even the pastor) are just like us!  They ARE hypocrites, they ARE liars and thieves and adulterers and on and on and on....

We are in good company!

Who are the Least?

Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Who is the "least of these?"

Back then, people had value place upon them - rightly or wrongly - didn't matter.  You were a leper, you were "unclean" for example.  Unclean, such a nice word for: worthless.

Sadly, when I have read that verse in the past I immediately thought of: the homeless, the drug addicts, the "really bad" sinners of the world.  Of course, Jesus would consider them the "least" of his brothers, right?

Before I yell out YES! and pat myself on the back, I think I need to take a step back for a second.

This "value" that had been placed on people then were values placed on them by man - not by God.  When God chose the Jewish people to be his priests to the world, he didn't do so because they were better or more valued...they were just a people...God chose an ordinary, regular, group of people to display what would be his love for the world.

Needless to say they didn't do the best of jobs...neither to we now!

We certainly can't do a better job if we still consider people to be "least" of Jesus' brethren.  Remember, he said the last shall be first and the first shall be last.

Now, some people take that literally...but how could it be?  That would mean there are still values to people that God place upon them...but does he?

That certainly isn't what Jesus preached.  One thing that Jesus preached is that we are no better than anyone else...nor are we any worse...to God we are all equal.  (though how Jesus preached this has been a bit distorted)

There is no first, there is no last, there is no middle...there is no "least."

So I must change my thinking.  When I feed the homeless, they are not the "least" of anything.  I am no better than they are.  I have no more value to God then them.  Nor are they any less of a value to God.

When I feed the homeless, I'm feeding Jesus' brothers and sisters...your brothers and sisters...my brothers and sisters.