Erika Fox: Why I'm at Pentecost
Over the course of the past year, especially this semester, I have been thinking a lot about what it means to live out justice and to be an activist. I have been trying to figure out where that fits into my goals and in my life, and whether my impact will be directly helping individuals or working to change social structures.
I feel more called to work directly with people, but I also feel the overwhelming importance of making political and structural changes in order to stop the problems in the first place. It seems overwhelming to know even where to begin, and I am hoping that this conference will help me to find direction in how to implement action in my everyday life upon these issues that surround me and fill my thoughts. I'm also incredibly interested in hearing what politicians have to say about the issue of poverty and how they hope to work to overcome an issue that permeates our entire society but somehow remains so often overlooked.
Erika Fox is a 2007 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and is attending Pentecost 2007: Taking the Vision to the Streets as an emerging leader.
I feel more called to work directly with people, but I also feel the overwhelming importance of making political and structural changes in order to stop the problems in the first place. It seems overwhelming to know even where to begin, and I am hoping that this conference will help me to find direction in how to implement action in my everyday life upon these issues that surround me and fill my thoughts. I'm also incredibly interested in hearing what politicians have to say about the issue of poverty and how they hope to work to overcome an issue that permeates our entire society but somehow remains so often overlooked.
Erika Fox is a 2007 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and is attending Pentecost 2007: Taking the Vision to the Streets as an emerging leader.
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Comments
Erica, I think that if those of us who support the values in "God's Politics" could "find one another" in our legislative districts, congressional districts, and states, we could begin to be at least as effective as those who oppose those values.
Posted by: Mike Hayes | June 4, 2007 10:56 PM
I'd never heard of the Sojourners organization until a few minutes ago when I clicked on a link in a news piece. After spending a few minutes browsing around their website and this blog, the strong emphasis placed on serving the poor and eliminating poverty is apparent--a goal that I also find to be worthy. I disagree, though, if the ultimate goal of this organization or any organization that claims the name of Christ is to merely fight poverty. I say "merely" because if we feed, clothe, house, medicate, and otherwise care for poor people, the reality is that they will eventually die regardless of our efforts. There is no eternal change for these people, if the focus is simply of their physical care.
As someone who has spent the last three years working extensively with the homeless in a major U.S. city, I believe in the biblical calling to care for those who are poor and downtrodden, and to care for them physically. But I believe that this physical care must not be the ultimate purpose, but must be a means by which Christians care for these people's souls, mainly through sharing the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. It is through the gospel of Christ, and this gospel alone, that we truly love other people and care for them in a way that lasts for eternity. No social gospel can enact this kind of change.
Thanks for all who read through this, even if you disagree.
Posted by: Ryan | June 5, 2007 4:39 AM
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