Context

Aung San Suu Kyi gained worldwide fame by her peaceful resistance to Burma’s ruling powers which imprisoned her, is now under attack for not using her powers as leader of the country to prevent appalling attacks on the Rohingya people.

The Pope’s visit to Ireland was overshadowed by protests from people angry at how a range of historic abuses committed by members of the Catholic church had been covered up.

There are increasing numbers of crowdfunding campaigns for a variety of causes and needs, both national and local. But a Philadelphia couple started a campaign for a homeless man, and then spent the money that was donated on themselves!

 

Reflection

Aung San Suu Kyi is a political figure who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her peaceful protests against military rule in Myanmar. However, her legacy is under threat as, now in power, she is failing to act against the military oppression of the Rohingya people. Her previous actions have led people to assume that she would continue to work for peace for all people, and she is now being judged in the light of her inaction in a situation which is being called genocide. The criticism highlights how people make assumptions about someone based on their actions in particular circumstances. When their future actions don’t match up to these assumptions, there is an understandable negative reaction. As Christians, we are all living with the assumptions that have come from people’s understanding of Jesus’ actions, as well as 2000 years of Christian activity, both good and bad (e.g. slavery and its abolition, the crusades, colonialism). We need to be aware of this as we try to proclaim Jesus’ message of truth and justice in our daily lives.

The ‘say nope to the Pope’ campaign in Ireland saw people protesting against the lack of transparency and accountability they saw in the church’s response to various historical abuses. It is clear that the actions of individuals and groups has undermined the mission of the Church in Ireland, and in other places. People judge the truth of the church’s message by the genuine grace – or lack of it – that they see in the actions of those who represent Jesus in front of them. Wherever we are living and working, it is entirely reasonable that people will judge our beliefs based on what they see lived out in our actions and attitudes. That isn’t to say that Christians don’t make mistakes, but we are called to acknowledge them quickly, seek forgiveness and look to be reconciled to those we offend.

The news of a couple in Philadelphia defrauding a homeless man of money raised by a crowdfunding page they had set up, sounds like thousands of other such stories of greed and deceit. However, it seems unlikely that it started out that way. The homeless man came to the aid of the woman who then looked for a way to help him. However, the temptation of having access to all the money that was raised as the story was promoted nationwide, appears to have been too much for the couple. No-one is entirely selfish or entirely saintly. However, there is a need to continue to recognise the selfish desires that are in all of us, continually seeking God’s renewing love and the strength to make good decisions in all areas of our lives.

 

Prayer

You could use this prayer as a prayer of confession.

For judging by outward appearance,
we are sorry, Lord.
For using our standards and not yours,
we are sorry, Lord.
For focusing on our behaviour and not our attitudes,
we are sorry, Lord.

In the people we work with,
help us to see your image.
In our neighbours and friends,  
help us to see your image.
In our families,
help us to see your image.
In ourselves,
help us to see your image.

Heavenly Lord,
help us to see each person we meet as you see them –
made in your image and deeply loved –
for Jesus’ name sake.
Amen.

 

Questions

• Have you seen anyone else acting in a way which didn’t fit with their beliefs or their position? What impact did it have on how you perceived them and how you listened to them from that point on?
• What are the perceptions among your non-Christian friends of Christians? Are they broadly positive or negative? Where does their information about Christians come from?
• If someone’s life doesn’t fit their stated beliefs within your church, how would people deal with it? Would someone speak to them about it? Would people gossip about it and avoid them? What is the appropriate Christian/biblical response?

 

All-age activity

Play a game of charades where each clue is a behaviour that might cause people to think less of someone: e.g. queue-jumping; dad-dancing; texting or whistling during the sermon; picking your nose; burping.

Write each answer onto a whiteboard or large sheet of paper when it is guessed. Then invite people to suggest adjectives that might describe someone who is behaving in these ways.

Are the ‘judgements’ entirely accurate? What does God judge people on? What can we do to make sure that, in our day to day lives, we do not judge other people based on their outward appearance and behaviour?

 

Young people

How should the church deal with mistakes? Imagine a Jeremy Kyle show set inside a church community. What issues might come up? Think of some topic titles there might be. Discuss how Jeremy Kyle might resolve these issues (e.g. surprise guests, confronting people with the effects of their behaviour on others), and then think about how Jesus might want us to support one another in leading lives that are authentic and have integrity.

 

Steve Taylor is joint vicar of St James, Alperton (CofE), near Wembley. He shares the job with his wife, Ali, and his home with their two daughters, two cats, numerous fish and a hamster.

 

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