For those who believe following Jesus demands campaigning for social justice and systemic change the following quotations are pertinent.
"There is no true commitment to solidarity with the poor if one sees them merely as people passively waiting for help...The goal is not to become the voice of the voiceless, but rather in some way to help ensure that those without a voice find one."
Gustavo Gutierrez
Following Jesus means being political and advocating for the 'least of these.'"
Mark Sandlin
Clearly campaigning for change in priorities, in the allocation and redistribution of resources, in laws relating to factors causing marginalisation and discrimination etc, cannot be done without being political. We seek to engage to change entrenched attitudes and privilege. We are competing. We are advocating on behalf of the poor, downtrodden, marginalised and discriminated against. Without our advocacy, and that of others seeking social justice and systemic change, nothing would happen.
That said, Gutierrez makes the valid observation that we should not simply see ourselves as advocates for the voiceless: we should work to provide the voiceless with the tools to enable them to engage. The phrase 'community engagement' has been coined to describe this process. Laudable and desirable but exceedingly difficult to achieve.
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