Part 18. Putting flesh on the bones

So far my posts have consisted of a brief snapshot of the main features of my interpretation of scripture and its application.  My specific interest is inclusion in the context of community engagement in areas of multiple deprivation. What are the factors driving Christians to engage with such communities? How is this achieved?  What is the purpose of engagement?  How is 'success' measured?

Community engagement is a subject which brings out my cynicism in industrial quantities. Central and local government, quangos,  private companies, secular and religious voluntary organisations and sundry bodies such as the police and health services have been and are participants in engagement. For the amount of effort expended and the vast sums spent the results show that little lasting improvement has been achieved.

The failure to make significant inroads into the issues of disadvantage and deprivation I believe to be self-evident. Such progress as has been made has been driven by political short-termism,  party advantage and concentrating on alleviating symptoms rather than tackling deep-seated underlying causes. After all, the pursuit of social justice is hardly a election winner; far better to cosy up to the better off, the affluent.

Whilst the merry-go-round  of research,  reports,  debates, political point-scoring and short-term 'initiatives/projects' continues the disadvantaged in our society,  for the most part , stoically try and make the best of their circumstances with a weariness and resignation borne of years of broken promises and failed policies. But also there is deep discontent,  resentment and anger.

So against this background what is the Christian message and what do we do?