Social Justice in YOUR Life

"I believe in my heart that faith in Jesus Christ can and will lead us beyond an exclusive concern for the well-being of other human beings to the broader concern for the well-being of the birds in our backyards, the fish in our rivers, and every living creature on the face of this earth." - John Wesley, 1701-1791

I think it is important to explain the social justice idea behind Creation Care, and what impact it has on modern Christians. As the quote from John Wesley above indicates, many Christians are concerned with "the well-being of other human beings" and rightfully so. What many people fail to understand, however, is that the actions we take in our daily lives often have far-reaching and in fact, global justice consequences. Julie Clawson (in her book, Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of our Daily Choices) argues that encountering justice issues in our choices means

Our lives are no longer just a series of unrelated tasks and errands with the occasional leisure activity thrown in when there's time. Our lives are part of a bigger picture. Our local, everyday choices reverberate around the world. And at the center, pushing and informing all of those choices, is our faith. [...] Acting justly every day means developing awareness about the problems in the world; it means changing how we shop, how we dress and how we drive; it means starting to see our each and every action as an ethical choice.

I often hear of very noble and admirable missions trips overseas to work with under-served populations. I believe that these trips are important, formative, and allow some of us to serve in a beneficial way. However, there is an often-overlooked and missed opportunity to be servants and act justly during our daily lives. As Clawson points out in her book, developing an awareness of the issues surrounding a consumerist lifestyle is the first step, the second is seeking the right path via decision making. Turning a blind eye and denying the facts of consumerism are not an option. There is no doubt that extractive practices in industry, food, and energy sectors (amongst others) have adversely affected the lives of other people in this world.

The goal of the Creation Stewardship Initiative is twofold. First, to discover as a community the best practice for acting justly as a group. And secondly to inspire or spur people to think and act justly in their own lives.