Social Justice 101
Chances are, if you're like most, you have at least a touch of Compassion Fatigue when it comes to this subject. But it's important that we resist the temptation to grow weary in doing good.
Back in the 1980s when I worked in downtown Dallas, I had lunch every day with a group of young professionals, and two guys in that group were gay. Both of them and another guy they hung out with all died of AIDS. One contracted HIV after surviving a knifing--as he walked to his car one night he got jumped by some guys who felt they were doing society a favor. They sliced a kidney and he didn't even realize it, he told me, until he got home and showered, and then he saw the blood gushing out of his side.
That same year, we buried a friend from church whose daughter was in our youth group. And a sister church buried their music pastor, who had contracted the virus from a dirty needle before Christ changed his life. He left behind a wife and kids. All that was just the beginning.
Watching "The Age of AIDS," as a Christian I was struck by the contrast in various responses from Christ-followers. I had pretty much concluded that the producers weren't going to show anything other than Jerry Falwell's response (not too compassionate) and Reagan's hesitation. But then I viewed the second two hours and was glad to learn I was wrong. Amazingly, I heard the gospel. I mean the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, how He loves, and the ramifications for those who name Him as Lord--care for the poor and vulnerable. Franklin Graham and Bono and several others talked about Jesus' words, "I was sick and you cared for me...inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me." Witnessing Jesse Helms's change of heart in response to hearing those very Scriptures was really moving.
If you watch it, I strongly recommend that you view it all so you have a context for appreciating the contrast. I don't usually have a moving spiritual experience when I watch PBS specials, but this time I certainly did. And it's like taking Social Justice 101 (e.g., when the poor die because they can't afford what the rich can, we have a social-justice problem). You owe it to yourself and the world to get the education.
The program follows the history of AIDS worldwide, traces how governments have responded, and explores who is touched by it, and "what now?" It's such a huge problem it can feel like there's nothing we can do. And yet...
Yesterday I had lunch with friends from Rwanda--a former student and her husband, who got his PhD two weeks ago after writing his dissertation on reconciliation. He told of how a poor woman in the U.S., now dead, collected bottles off the side of the road to earn enough money to send to Africa so he could go to high school. Today he teaches reconcilation principles all over the world, including for African government officials in the world's most volatile places. What a difference that one quiet, unknown woman made. And she died without seeing how much her investment paid off.
We don't have to be rock stars to make a difference for one person.