This is the first of what I intend to be a series of posts on how christians can bring about change, by engaging in love of neighbour, and working towards achieving God's kingdom on earth.
I contend it is impossible to separate politics from christian liberation and progressive theologies. They are intimately connected, symbiotic. Sometimes there is synergy, often there is conflict between faith and state institutions, there is even political/theological conflict within institutions. When we speak of institutions we are not considering abstract entities: we are speaking of the attitudes and actions of people within organisational structures. Decisions are made by people.
Cards on the table. I consider myself a democratic socialist. I am supportive of the concepts of postmodernism, and christian liberation and progressive theologies. For me, what are important are the hopes and aspirations of individuals, seeking to love our neighbour by helping at point of need and/or by campaigning for systemic change to achieve social justice. A bottom up approach to helping individuals, grassroots demands for change, inductive bible interpretation. With this comes the need to organise. However one should not overlook the countless examples of individuals acting alone: as a carer, shopping for the house-bound, listening, etc. But there are limits to what an individual can do alone in terms of time, resources and physical ability.
The answer for many is in collective action. Joining a political party, a faith based organisation or a secular voluntary organisation, either as an individual engaging in the activities of the organisation, or involvement in the strategic direction, management or administration of an organisation. Thus a person may volunteer to help at a club established to provide meals for elderly people by serving food, washing up, assisting in the kitchen, transporting clients. Others will become involved by joining the committee responsible for the operation of the club. There will be founder members who established the club. Some will make donations to sustain the financial viability of the club. There will be individuals working in other organisations who decide to provide the premises and equipment to enable the club to operate. For the lunch club and countless other voluntary organisations it is the coming together of individuals determined to ensure the successful operation of the organisation that is the key element. It is about individuals motivated to help others. What drives the motivation? Faith, experience, status, peer influence, education, environment, political leanings are amongst the many and varied determining factors.
For some the motivation to action is the desire to see systemic change to achieve social justice. The simplist way is to join an organisation campaigning in the field of interest. Where no such organisation exists an individual may decide to become the founder of a new organisation and build capacity.
Whether helping at point of need or seeking systemic change, at some stage it is very likely that there will need to be contact with the political process. It may be at local or national level. Again it is with people who represent the organisation. Government works through people. I know, it is an obvious point, but challenge has to be directed at those individuals responsible for the status quo and with the ability to effect change. See the white of their eyes! The purpose of contact may concern allocation of resources or changes in policy or legislation. Such contact is challenging, often bruising. For christians seeking to play out the tenets of progressive or liberation theology challenge and/or confrontation is a given.
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