WEAVING SOCIAL JUSTICE INTO CRU MOVEMENTS
GOSPEL IN ACTION
Cover: Through the Mamalodi Initiative in South Africa, Ivy League students are tutoring township teens, empowering them to get into college, and sharing Christ on campus.
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BLENDING THE COMPASSIONATE WORDS AND WORKS OF THE GOSPEL IN YOUR LOCAL CONTEXT Shortly after the Campus Ministry responded to the South Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, Cru leadership decided to become more intentional about weaving the compassionate words and works of the gospel into our movements. Since that time, many Cru staff and students have blended good news and good deeds (or evangelism and social justice) together in various ways in their local context.
But it’s not always easy.
Perhaps you can relate to these comments by Cru staff members:
“I think that justification
and justice are joined at the hip and yet… in Christianity today, it seems like you
are either passionate about evangelism or doing justice.
I desire to be a part of both… I
honestly get confused on how to build movements that incorporate both.”
“As a Cru student and now as a staff member, I have often felt stifled in my concern for justice, specifically caring for
widows, orphans, immigrants, and the poor. There is a tension
between my heart for justice and
my heart for our mission and vision of winning, building, and sending college
“I think our
justice
components should compliment our
that’s difficult because we tend to work with the most privileged.”
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students.”
calling to students and faculty. Sometimes
Comments like these reflect the challenge of holding things crucial to Biblical Christianity in proper tension. It’s difficult to do in our own lives and certainly in our local ministry efforts. Thus, we often opt for something simpler, which means we gravitate toward one side or the other of the following “tension-producing ” categories:
• Evangelism/discipleship versus social justice (or, more simply, justification versus justice) • Personal salvation/individual growth versus transforming society and culture • Reaching leaders and influencers versus caring for the widow, orphan, poor, and oppressed • Organizational call versus personal passions for “the least of these”
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University of Washington Cru flood relief trip calls forth response to the gospel:
“There has to be a God!�
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How do we keep these things (that seem to conflict with one another) in proper tension? In many areas of life, holding things in proper tension is inherent in the way God made the world and crucial for following Christ. To understand Scripture and live the Christian life, we must wrestle, for example, with God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, God’s love and evil and suffering in the world, our own growth and the needs of others, etc. It’s a challenge to hold things in tension, but there’s 40,000 pounds of tension in a properly tuned piano - and it’s the tension that allows a well-trained pianist to produce beautiful music. So it is in life and ministry. When we learn to hold in proper tension…justice and justification, reaching leaders and the poor, organizational call and personal passion, and a host of other things, we can produce beautiful Kingdom music. In this article, you’ll find practical ways to face the tensions produced by these categories. Cru movements can weave evangelism and social justice together – and create a compelling blend of passionate proclamation and compassionate demonstration of the gospel – if we will:
• Lay a Biblical Foundation for Blending Gospel Words and Works • Cast Vision for All of Life Under the Lordship of Christ • Blend Personal Passion and Cru Campus Mission • Develop Strategies and Methods for Blending Gospel Words and Works • Train and Equip for Blending Gospel Words and Works
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LAY A BIBLICAL FOUNDATION
The Mamalodi Initiative: Tutoring South African township teens, empowering them to get into college, discipling them on campus.�
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When it comes to blending passionate proclamation and compassionate demonstration of the gospel, there are a series of battles to face. For starters, Satan will oppose us because he hates bold and clear proclamation of gospel truth. He also hates sacrificial service and justice initiatives that free those under his cruel schemes of oppression. We’ll also face “compassion fatigue” whenever we wade into the complexities of helping those in deep brokenness, especially the widow, the orphan, the alien, and the poor. Whatever the challenges of blending the words and works of the gospel, the Spirit of God uses a clear Biblical understanding of the issues and deep convictions shaped by God’s Word to keep us moving forward. A biblical theology provides a foundation to fight all these battles. The Scriptures weave together the apparent tensions between passionate proclamation and compassionate demonstration, and help us creatively resolve those tensions. The Scriptures literally equip us for every good work (II Tim. 3:17).
In Appendix 1, we’ve listed key passages of Scripture, articles, messages, books, and Bible studies that we have found helpful. Use them to help sharpen your own theological understanding and convictions as well as ministry philosophy. You will find that the Scriptures teach us to talk about the greatness of our God; to verbally proclaim the excellencies of His character (I Peter 2:9-10); to announce His saving power for all peoples (Psalm 67); and to rejoice in our firm hope that He will redeem the human race and restore everything that was lost in the Fall (Romans 8:1825). The Scriptures also teach us that God is filled with compassion, is Himself “the father of the fatherless,” and holds his people to a unique accountability to care for the widow, orphan, alien, and poor (Isaiah 58; Matt. 25:31ff). When Jesus breaks into human history with incomprehensible grace and mercy, He redeems a people for Himself, and so captivates their hearts that they have to speak of His great love (Col. 1:28-29) - and they’re so overwhelmed with His mercy that they want to extend mercy to those most in need (Titus 2:11-14).
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CAST VISION FOR ALL OF LIFE UNDER THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST Growing numbers of Cru MTLs are finding ways to cast vision for blending the words and works of the gospel, helping students and faculty see how evangelism and social justice fit together and express life under the Lordship of Christ. For example, App State Cru invites everyone involved to: Embrace the Gospel Personally (An honest recognition of personal sin and a genuine celebration of God’s grace to us through Christ.) Experience the Gospel Together (In authentic community.) Extend the Gospel to Others by: • Displaying it – becoming people of Christ-like character. • Demonstrating it - entering into the needs of others: physically, emotionally, relationally, etc. • Declaring it - sharing the good news of Christ’s cross and empty tomb and the wonderful implications of both. Appalachian State Cru uses this framework to give students a vision for “sharing the gospel in 3D” on campus, and a recent “iCare” campaign there provides a good example of how this works itself out on campus. Vision
iCare is designed to increase your love for God and people. We want to move you from a posture of distraction to ones that will allow you to be more present in people’s lives.
Mission
iCare
Every day for 2 weeks, you will be given an iCare mission. Many will invite you to participate with others in the Cru community. Some will be personal and private. Many will be formal and public.
Values
Faith // Sacrifice // Spontaneity, Gospel intentionality // Love-like-Jesus
iCare is a dangerous, two week pursit of intentional love.
Commitment
1. Be faithful to attempt each mission . 2. Don’t go alone. You must walk alongside others. 3. Keep a journal of your thoughts and actions.
iCare In an iWorld of constant distractions what if we are missing something big?
Over 200 students at Appalachian State did this mission and thought it was pretty cool. We have all the resources you need to pull off your own iCare initiatve. asucru.wordpress.com/icare vimeo.com/79479414
Communication
Every morning you will be texted an iCare mission of the day. Your journey begins when you sign up for our iCare group texts.
10 iShare Today we will open our
iServe Today is a day
iWonder Today we will invite our
iRest Honor the Sabbath with
iThank Who are the underthanked on our campus?
iGive What if we could keep a fellow classmate IN
A vision to display, demonstrate, and declare the gospel has led many Cru movements into natural ways of partnering with their university and other organizations to relieve suffering in the world, launch new movements, and increase impact. For example: • George Mason University Cru hosts an annual “GMU Love Week,” partnering with many organizations on campus, and with an NGO, to provide relief to a “global hot-spot” of need at the moment. (www.masoncru.org/love-guatemala-2014.html)
• The Denver Metro team has a relationship with a Jesuit university to help relieve suffering in Kolkata, India and involve students in campus ministry there. • Cru has a formal partnership with IJM (International Justice Mission), and many Cru movements have already launched annual “Justice Weeks” to help end modern day slavery and talk about Jesus the Great Redeemer. • Auburn University Cru partners with Chosen Children’s Ministry in Nicaragua over spring break. In the past 5 years, over 300 Auburn students have learned to share the gospel, have helped relieve crippling poverty, and have been motivated to spend a summer or year in East Asia at Auburn’s partnership location. 11
Nicaragua prodives a unique opportunity to share the gospel door to door, serve the poor, and cast vision for a summer or Stint in East Asia. Regardless of how we conceptualize our local movement, summer project, or whatever we’re leading—or what kind of language we use—weaving the words and works of the gospel starts with a vision for all of life under the Lordship of Christ, an ability to communicate that vision, and the willingness to forge partnerships. We’ve found it helpful to:
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Think in terms of blending good news and good deeds, weaving passionate proclamation and compassionate demonstration of the gospel, combining evangelism and social justice.
2.
Develop a vision for your movements where win, build, send efforts change lives in our context while connecting with needs on campus, in the local community, and in the world.
3. 4.
Look for possible partnerships on campus or with other organizations.
Cast vision for students and faculty to let the gospel do its work of both changing hearts and setting things right in a broken world – Jesus over everything. You’ll find resources for clarifying your vision in Appendix 2. 12
WEAVE PERSONAL PASSION INTO CRU CAMPUS MISSION
A big vision to see everyone and everything brought under the loving reign of Jesus—and weaving our God-given passions into Cru’s mission—are crucial to keeping personal passion aflame for a lifetime. Here are just a few of the many examples of Cru teams successfully weaving personal passions for the widow, orphan, alien, and poor with our mission of reaching college students and professors. At Purdue University, Cru/IJM Partnership Coordinator Libby Swenson spoke to an audience of 1500, and was fol¬lowed by Melissa, who shared her story of being trafficked as a child. Chrissy, an ex-porn star, then shared her story of being rescued from the horribly dark industry
of pornography. In contexts like these, gospel truth about Jesus as Rescuer from oppressive evil become vivid to many, and people come to Christ. Libby’s talk was part of the 2014 Purdue “Symposium on Human Dignity, Slavery, and Human Trafficking” that drew 4200 students to a debate on human dignity. Over 10,000 people from 60 countries viewed the event via Live Stream. The debate was #1 on Twitter that night, and the video now has over 100,000 hits on You Tube. (Symposium resources: www.symposiachristi.com) 13
STRATEGIES AND METHODS FOR BLENDING GOSPEL AND WORKS When Pat McLeod and the Boston Metro team began their partnership in South Africa, they found few students, and almost no black students, on their campus. After talking with the university director about this, they found that few students in the area - especially the black students from the township across the street - could pass the entrance exam. In response to the problem, Pat and his team set up
universities. Many have come to Christ with a new vision for making their own impact in their home communities. As Pat and his teams have been intentional about tangible impact, they have developed a partnership that gives students a great picture of the “whole campus to the whole world” and the kind of multi-faceted impact the gospel can have. Plans are currently under way to launch
a tutoring initiative at the university for these high school students from the township. Hundreds of students participate every year and the program has taken a life of its own.
“Mamelodi 2.0” in a new location. And this time, it is the Mamelodi Initiative graduates who are leading the charge.
A new reality is now emerging in Mamelodi: high school kids with bleak educational opportunities are now graduating with honors and showing up in nearby
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A digital magazine of stories like these can be viewed at: crupressgreen.com/action/
“ If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” — Isaiah 58:10
The Scriptures teach that God has uniquely and intentionally designed the DNA structure of every one of us (Psalm 139); has intentionally orchestrated our every circumstance to shape us (Rom. 8:28-30); has specifically gifted us according to His wisdom (Eph. 4:1-8); and has created a set of good works for us to walk in (Eph. 2:10). This all points to the thrilling prospect of sinful humans like us, having been redeemed by the blood of Christ, now able to participate with God in redeeming humanity and restoring all that is broken in the world. If we apply these great truths to our Cru movements— as well as to our own personal lives, some great questions arise like: • How has God designed and gifted our staff team and movements? • What good works has God prepared for us to walk in? • What does God want us to help set right in Jesus’ Name?
• Where can we uniquely help bring Kingdom change to broken places and systems? • And how does “win, build, send” ministry on campus connect to all of the above? To answer these questions well, we need integrated thinking, partners, and resources. You’ll find a list of potential partners, and a lot of helpful resources at crupressgreen.com/action/ This is only a beginning. God is continually writing the story of how He is using His people to expand the loving reign and rule of Jesus over people, families, communities, and even over broken places and systems in the world. Through His life, atoning death, and resurrection, Jesus began the redemption of humanity and the restoration of all creation. Through His people, Jesus is continuing to redeem and restore. And when He returns, Jesus will completely redeem ALL of His people and set ALL things right. Everything sad will become untrue. 15
LASTLY, TRAIN AND EQUIP FOR BLENDING GOSPEL WORDS AND WORKS Even though high school football was a long time ago for me, I still have a vivid memory. I intercepted a pass and ran through the entire opposing team, all the way to the two-yard line. I got so excited about scoring that I fumbled the football into mid-air and missed my chance to score a touchdown. How embarrassing! If we develop good Biblical thinking about movements that blend gospel words and works, cast vision, find ways to weave personal passions into Cru Campus mission, and even identify the strategies, tools, and materials needed but don’t equip others to use them - it’s like fumbling on the two-yard line. We need tools, and we need to teach people to use them well.
You’ll find the following tools – and more - at www.crupressgreen.com/action. “The Christian and Good Deeds” (Student Bible study) “Misunderstood” (Sharing the gospel to explain good deeds) “The Gospel – Key to Change” (Tim Keller article ) “Imagine Life” (Gospel conversation guide) “Perspective” and “Soularium” (two relational ways to engage people in gospel conversations)
ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD Jesus alone satisfies the deepest longings of the human heart. He alone can rescue and save individuals, communities, and our broken world. There is salvation—in its fullest sense of the word—for individuals and for the entire human race, only in Jesus’ Name. By God’s great grace, let us build movements of faculty and students who disciple leaders and influencers, gather orphans into loving arms, happily sacrifice time to tutor at-risk children, work tirelessly to help rescue minors trapped in the sex trade, and give their lives to loose the chains of injustice and bind up the broken-hearted in Jesus’ Name—all the while 16
employing words to point to His supremacy, proclaim His excellencies, and explain the saving power of His character, atoning death, and resurrection life. Always, our hope is for the glory of God. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16)
APPENDIX 1: KEY BIBLICAL PASSAGES AND RESOURCES Key passages about Declaring and Demonstrating Gospel Truth There’s a host of Old Testament passages that teach us to proclaim the excellencies of our great God and Savior, and to show compassion for—or seek justice on behalf of—the widow, orphan, alien, and poor. For instance, Old Testament writers, especially the Psalmists, repeatedly exhort us to “tell of the wondrous works of God” (e.g. Ps. 145) so that his ways “may be known on earth, [his] saving power among all nations” (Ps. 67:2). At the same time, Moses, the Prophets, and the Poets also repeatedly exhort us to show compassion for the poor and oppressed—to “loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free…to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house…” (Isaiah 58:6)—because God Himself “executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing” (Dt. 10:18). Some key OT passages re: proclaiming God’s greatness: Deut. 32; Psalm 67; Isaiah 40:9 Some key OT passages re: showing God’s compassion for the widow, orphan, alien, and poor: Ex. 22:21-27; 23:1-9; Lev. 19:9-18; 25:35; Psalm 41:1; 68:5,6; Prov. 3:28; 14:31; 19:17; Isaiah 58:1-12; 61:1-6; 65:17-25; Jer. 22:16; 29:4-7; Ez. 16:49-50; Micah 6:8) When we come to the New Testament and observe the life of Jesus, it’s obvious that He was continually proclaiming the Kingdom, teaching people the liberating truth and wisdom of God, and bringing help and healing to the hungry, paralyzed, leprous, lame, deaf, mute, blind, demon-possessed, and brokenhearted; and new life to those in the grip of death (Eg. Mt. 4:23 and 9:35). And, of course, the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ take
perfectly righteous life of Jesus, his death, resurrection, and ascension that form the foundation for the redemption of the human race and for the restoration of all creation. (Key passages re: the work of Christ to redeem humanity and restore all of creation: Acts 3:1-26; Romans 8:18-25; Eph. 1:3-10; Col. 1:15-20; Rev. 21:1-27.) Following their Master, believers in the book of Acts prayed for boldness to speak the word of God, even in the face of opposition, and for power to heal—and God answered their prayers in a big way! Jesus had inaugurated a new Kingdom, and the signs (or “previews”) of that Kingdom began to show up in the midst of—and all around—the newly founded Church of Jesus Christ. Joyful worship, hunger for God’s Word, faith-filled prayer, meaningful fellowship, sacrificial sharing of material goods, explosive growth (Acts 2:42-47; 3:23-37); bold proclamation (Acts 2:14-41; 4:29-31); the lame “walking and leaping” (e.g. Acts 3:1-26; cf. Isa. 35:6); care for the vulnerable (Acts 6:1-7); the “nations” gathered in through gospel proclamation (Acts 8:26-40; 10 & 11); and sacrificial giving in the face of famine (Acts 11:27-30) all revealed new life in Christ, a new community of faith, and a new Kingdom where the King uses His people to begin His long-intended redemption of the human race and the restoration of a broken world. The Apostle Paul is known for his zeal to preach the gospel (Acts 20:25; Rom. 15:20-21), and by his own testimony, was “eager” to care for the poor (Gal. 2:10). Paul also continually reminds his young protégés Timothy and Titus to teach sound doctrine (the gospel) and to cultivate zeal for good works in the people of God. For example, Paul wrote to Titus:
up a major section of all four gospels—for it is the 17
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14 (cf. 3:4-8) Likewise, the Apostle Peter taught believers scattered all over the known world that the Christian gospel is: Personal – The gospel saves individuals, causing them to be “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” and guaranteeing them an “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1:3-5). But it is also… Communal, Cultural, and Transformational – The gospel creates a new community with a new culture that is different from the prevailing culture and has a
transforming effect on it through good deeds (2:1-12). This culture is characterized by personal purity; by sincere, earnest, and pure love toward believers; and by good deeds for the lost, even those who persecute us (1:13-25; 2:12; 2:15; 3:9, 13-17; 4:19). (N.b. Drawn from Tim Keller’s “Gospel Centered Ministry,” listed in following section of resources.) In summary, the Scriptures teach us to proclaim the greatness of God, the excellencies of His character, His saving power for all peoples, and to rejoice in our firm hope that He will redeem the human race and restore everything in all creation that was lost in the Fall. The Scriptures also teach us that God is filled with compassion, is Himself “the father of the fatherless,” and holds His people to a unique accountability to care for the widow, orphan, alien, and poor. When Jesus breaks into human history, with incomprehensible grace and mercy, he redeems a people and so captivates their hearts that they have to speak of His great love, and they’re so overwhelmed with His mercy that they want to extend mercy to those most in need.
APPENDIX 2: MOVEMENT LAUNCHING TOOLS (All at http://crupressgreen.com/action) “Evangelism and Social Justice” – Ron Sanders “Joining in God’s Story” – Ryan Berg “Launching Justice Movements” – Libby Swenson “Win, Build, Send in the Context of Love” – Chip Scivicque “Why Justice Matters” – Libby Swenson NTS
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Resources Brief Articles: “In Their Steps” Bill Bright (http://crupressgreen.com/in-their-steps/) “Evangelism and Social Justice” Ron Sanders (http://crupressgreen.com/evangelism-and-social-justice/) “Cru: Joining in God’s Story” Ryan Berg (http://crupressgreen.com/cru-joining-in-gods-story/) “The Gospel – Key to Change” Tim Keller “Why the Rising Social Awareness in the Church Should Encourage Us,” Justin Holcomb Longer Articles: “Triaging Your Broken World” Jay Lorenzen (http://crupressgreen.com/triaging-your-broken-world/) “Learning to See” Emily Malloure (http://crupressgreen.com/learning-to-see-a-lesson-on-dignity/) “Gospel Centered Ministry” by Tim Keller “Lausanne: Evangelism and Social Responsibility: An Evangelical Commitment” “Converted to the Kingdom: Social Action Among College Students Today “ by Evan Hunter Video or Audio Messages: “The Both/And of the Gospel” (Tim Keller) Bill Hybels’ interview with Bono (Willow Creek Leadership Summit) The Gospel and the Poor: A Case for Compassion (Tim Keller) Poverty, Charity & Justice in the Early Church (John Dickson) Gospel Centered Ministry (Tim Keller) Books: Generous Justice by Tim Keller The Externally Focused Church by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert Unfashionable by Tullian Tchividijian Good News About Injustice by Gary Haugen Charity and Its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards Bible Studies: The Christian and Good Deeds (http://crupressgreen.com/the-christian-and-good-deeds/) IJM / Cru Social Justice Studies (http://crupressgreen.com/ijmccc-social-justice-bible-studies/) The Faith Effect: God’s Love in the World Micah Challenge: Who is our Neighbor?
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“When they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, and lame walking, and the blind seeing... they glorified the God of Israel.” — Matthew 15:31
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