Activist Faith

Over 99 percent of voters in Southern Sudan have voted to secede from the North. While I am thrilled at this change, one element of surprise was a statement made by Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir, who is expected to lead the
independent South.

Specifically, Kiir has urged the Southern Sudanese to forgive the North
for the years of violence during the civil war. According to ChristianPost.com, some 1.9 million
people died during the war between the North and South and more than 500
churches were destroyed in the South.

“For our deceased brothers
and sisters, particularly those who have fallen during the time of
struggle, may God bless them with eternal peace,” said Kiir at Catholic
Cathedral in Juba on Jan. 16.

When a leader calls for a nation to forgive those responsible for the deaths of so many, we cannot help but be overwhelmed at the notion. Our human tendency is for revenge. Yet Kiir knows revenge is not the answer. Forgiveness is.

As Jesus once said, may we “Go and do likewise.”

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DILLON
BURROUGHS is an author, activist, and co-founder of Activist Faith.
Dillon served in Haiti following the epic 2010 earthquake and has
investigated modern slavery in the US and internationally. His books
include Undefending Christianity, Not in My Town (with Charles J.
Powell), and Thirst No More (October). Discover more at DillonBurroughs.org.

In the aftermath surrounding new conservative Christian rhetoric concerning the evils of green religion, I though it appropriate to note, once again, what God says about the earth in the Bible:

God says,

1. I made it.
2. I called it good.
3. I want you to take care of it.
4. This earth is temporary, but important.
5. The earth, and all creation, points toward me. I’m the one to worship (Romans 1:20).

Conclusion? Caring for the earth is not false religion, but a natural extension of God’s ongoing pattern of concern for all he has made, whether trees, clouds, animal life, or you.

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DILLON
BURROUGHS is an author, activist, and co-founder of Activist Faith.
Dillon served in Haiti following the epic 2010 earthquake and has
investigated modern slavery in the US and internationally. His books
include Undefending Christianity, Not in My Town (with Charles J.
Powell), and Thirst No More (October). Discover more at DillonBurroughs.org.

A Huffington Post article this week noted how faith communities are stepping in to help military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. It serves as a great reminder of the need to “be there” for those who have been there for us by serving in the military.

Regardless of our views on military policy, the individuals who serve and have served deserve our utmost respect. When a military veteran suddenly returns and switches from daily life and death scenarios to an office cubicle, a new set of challenges arise, often ones that turn toward both spiritual and practical needs that even a dose of encouragement can help.

My big “Activist Faith” challenge for the weekend is not to change the world or even your community. My challenge is to take a moment the next time you find a military veteran and show some respect. Thank them for their service, give them a moment of your time, and encourage all you can. It’s the least we can do.

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has announced its findings that it expects the number of Muslims worldwide to doubt in the next 20 years. Is this true? And if it is, what does it mean for the non-Muslim world, specifically Christians?

First, these estimates are based on population growth, not growth of adherents. In other words, it’s not exactly accurate to say that if X number of more people are born in Pakistan over the next 20 years, they will all be Muslim. Socially they may be, but individually the numbers will be different, even if only slightly in some cases.

Second, the study is an estimate based on projected growth based on current rates and other variables. Of course, no one knows for certain, but it’s safe to say there will be far more Muslims in 20 years than today.

For Christians, this information can be taken as a helpful tool for future planning. Christian universities need to make sure their students know the main ideas of Islam well enough to serve within an increasingly Muslim context. Churches have a glaring need for members to both better understand their own faith and understand the basics of other major belief systems, including Islam. And each of us as individuals could likely use a little more education about what Islam teaches and how it compares with our own beliefs (keeping in mind Islam has a variety of subgroups and is not a monolith).

Lots of tools exist and books abound in this area. I’ve worked on some you can check out on Amazon or elsewhere. You can also click here for a comparison chart.

The main point is that if there are more Muslims in the years ahead, will we who claim to follow Jesus understand its beliefs enough to minister to those in that context? If not, we will be under-equipped to do what Jesus has called us to do, both to show love and to share the message of Jesus to those who have yet to hear.

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DILLON
BURROUGHS is an author, activist, and co-founder of Activist Faith.
Dillon served in Haiti following the epic 2010 earthquake and has
investigated modern slavery in the US and internationally. His books
include Undefending Christianity, Not in My Town (with Charles J.
Powell), and Thirst No More (October). Discover more at DillonBurroughs.org.