Video: Justice Revival Highlights (by Jim Wallis)
Last evening, more than 3,500 people filled the Vineyard Church of Columbus for the opening of a three-day Justice Revival.
The Columbus Dispatch front-page headline this morning read " Faithful aim to aid poor, as Jesus did." The story said:
"Leaders of the Justice Revival hope this enthusiasm will spill past the revival and into the streets, where they want people to work to end poverty and other social problems."
Here is a video clip of some highlights:
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Comments
I am tired of the issue of civil rights focusing on blacks. Non-whites have rights to be free of the epdemic of black violence!!!!!!
Posted by: Just me | April 17, 2008 5:22 PM
I am tired of the issue of civil rights focusing on blacks. Non-whites have rights to be free of the epdemic of black violence!!!!!!
Get used to it, because the violence won't stop until it's addressed.
Posted by: Rick Nowlin | April 17, 2008 5:44 PM
Just me: "I am tired of the issue of civil rights focusing on blacks."
Cool. What do you suggest we do to make it no longer necessary for this focus to take place?
Posted by: RJohnson | April 17, 2008 7:15 PM
How about preaching the real gospel -- the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. To the poor -- yes of course (Matt 5:3, Luke 4:18, Luke 7:22, Mark 14:7) -- but also to the rich, and anyone else who will listen. And then, LET GOD bring repentance and revival! True revival must be an awesome thing.
Posted by: Gavin | April 18, 2008 3:40 AM
Gavin, I was there Thursday night. Your complaint is totally without merit. The Gospel was preached. See my comments on Pastor Nathan's last post.
D
Posted by: Don | April 18, 2008 7:40 AM
Error: I was there Wednesday night, not Thursday.
D
Posted by: Don | April 18, 2008 7:44 AM
Good stuff. You all need to expand this to other places!
Posted by: MadHatter07 | April 18, 2008 8:38 AM
You can't get Gospel truth from what is peddled in the ideology and politics promoted by Mr. Wallis. Sorry, that is proveable fact. Many of the TV evangelists fool more people than 3500, so, numbers don't equal truth.
Posted by: Donny | April 18, 2008 9:29 AM
Posted by: Stephanie Berry | April 17, 2008 11:11 PM
Good question - don't expect much of an answer. Race will be the issue with some all the time. Violence - I think some see it as their first amendment right.
Blessings -
.
Posted by: Moderatelad | April 18, 2008 11:14 AM
Don, if the gospel is indeed being preached, all glory to God and his son Jesus Christ!
Posted by: Gavin | April 18, 2008 11:41 AM
Gavin, our prayers now are that the revival will spread out into the streets and throughout the city--and from there, to the rest of the nation and world. That was the stated hope of its organizers. On Wed. night, we asked God to hear us and in his mercy bring the revival that they had been praying and organizing for.
D
Posted by: Don | April 18, 2008 11:52 AM
Don,
thanks for attending Wednesday nite and weighing in at various times yesterday and today. Many of us around the country join you in praying for revival.
Posted by: carl copas | April 18, 2008 12:36 PM
I wish I could have seen this for myself. How exciting that God is starting to move again and more of us of the evangelical tradition are stepping forward to say, "no more!" to, as Wallis has put it many times before, "the hi-jacking" of our faith. Wedge issues are just that - those which keep us separate from one another instead of celebrating our hope and moving on with what we know is the true mission of Christ - spreading the Good news, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, and loving each other no matter what class, race, or creed.
Posted by: Laurie | April 18, 2008 12:56 PM
This isn't intended as a flame, to challenge anyone's beliefs or anything of the sort. I suppose I don't even expect a response. This missive is just something I feel I have to express.
Oddly, I've felt compelled to follow this event. I say oddly, because I'm not a Christian.
When I read about "revival", I'm curious. I have no faith in any Christian ( or any other, really ) God. The appeal I see here, and elsewhere, to help the poor is purely emotional. There's no detail. This alone usually calls me to dismiss the speaker as an ineffective dreamer. Without concrete action, there can be no change.
Even the word "change" isn't defined. Change how? What aspects are to be changed and in what degree? I suspect the word "change" is code for something I don't understand; a goal understood by the speaker and the listener as a result of shared culture.
Yet, still, I find myself seeking out stories of this revival.
I blame it on my local NPR station, which carried an interview with Jim Wallis and Rich Nathan, for even making me aware of this. :-)
All that said, some thoughts on poverty and helping the poor.
* From the social workers I've talked to, the largest percentage of the homeless are comprised of those who are substance abusers ( drugs / alcohol ), the mentally ill or both.
* Of those on welfare locally, a large number have one or more children which they gave birth to at a young age.
* Family, as a concept, is in decline among the poor. It's not unusual for one parent to have children from multiple partners; in some communities it's the norm.
* Violence in some communities is endemic. While some here may pooh-pooh the concern, and it's certainly not PC to discuss it openly, the black community is doing it's level best to kill itself off. This creates fear in other communities; that's a disincentive for people outside the community to help, let alone the outsiders desire to avoid being labeled a racist.
Frankly, I don't really expect this to be posted. Nor do I expect any dialog or exchange of ideas. This seems the place for emotion, not debate or discussion.
If this does get posted, thanks.
Either way, I can only hope these feelings go away.
Posted by: rus | April 18, 2008 11:47 PM
Rus,
I attended all 3 nights in Columbus and there were many opportunities available for people to get involved in concrete action to impact and help change our city as you had mentioned there should be.
One example is mentoring with children in our city schools. I attended a follow up meeting this morning that really helped me to see one way we can actually make a difference by committing one hour a week to a child. I see the disturbing state of our society on the news everyday and I agree it will take decided action by many to get things going back in the right direction. Reaching out and coming along side our youth is just one way because we can have an impact on their future and their education.
We had the opportunity to hear from kids already in the program and how having a mentor has changed their lives for the better. One said he doesn't get in trouble or fights anymore, grades are coming up, belief in a real future is rising.
You are right about the statistics and info you listed above. In middle and high school, kids are going through alot of changes and possibly experiencing difficult family life. These kids expressed how it helped them be more positive, get in less trouble and believe in themselves because they had a mentor who was there to support them and guide them. The mentor is often easier to talk to than parents (we all know that..I never told my parents anything!)
Looking back on my school life, I can see where I longed for some adult guidance though I never would have admitted it. Could you imagine if each child had someone who gave them unconditional support, listened to them, helped them develop decision making skills, believed they were important enough to spend time with every week, etc, etc. What an impact to know you are loved and encouraged. I am going to be a mentor because I see the true value in investing in our children.
The things I see going on with our youth is very disturbing and I never knew of a way I could help change it. There is so much garbage being marketed to them and shoved at them and terrible role models that I think positive role models can really make an impact. If kids aren't cared for, they are dropping out at alarming rates and then what? Continue the cycle of poverty?
This program has already seen results and has only been in place for about a year or so. Anyways, this was just one real opportunity presented to attendees as a way to get involved with our community.
One goal of the revival was to open our eyes to see we shouldn't leave it up to politics to solve the problems in our society but to put our faith into action and care for our community and city and the people in it.
Posted by: mcgoo | April 20, 2008 1:27 AM
Rus,
P.S. I forgot to say this:
I don't see anything wrong with your post at all. I think you bring up valid questions and concerns and that is why I wanted to respond.
Even the event speakers had said (in so many words but these are mine...) that attending the 3 day event was useless unless we were going to commit to actually getting involved in our community, our city, our neighbors, our children. You are right...it does no good talking about it if there is no real plan to do anything. Thanks for posting. I hope knowing they gave us many opportunities for plans of action makes you feel better. :o)
Posted by: mcgoo | April 20, 2008 1:51 AM
Mcgoo,
Thanks for your comments, and good luck with mentoring. It's definitely something I'm not comfortable doing. A male with children is the stuff news exposés are made of.
Guess I'll just have to stick to helping people one person at a time.
Posted by: rus | April 24, 2008 10:46 PM
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