Charter Of Justice

"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed." - Psalm 82:3

Defending the weak does not exploit a position of power but journeys alongside in a spirit of humility.
Defending the fatherless does not patronise but displays empathy.
Upholding the cause of the poor not only provides welfare but addresses the issues behind poverty.
Upholding the cause of the oppressed not only alleviates distress but addresses the issues of injustice.


"Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow." - Isaiah 1:17

Doing right is not conditional upon popular opinion or political advantage but a moral alignment with a holy God.
Seeking justice is not determined by social, ethnic or religious status but a shared humanity with a just God.


"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk Humbly with your God." - Micah 6:8

To Act Justly...

Lord God, stir in our hearts a holy indignation for injustice. May your righteousness so burn within our spirits that we are compelled to stand up for the vulnerable, defenceless and voiceless of our society. Open our eyes and hearts to the injustices of our world. Challenge our own attitudes and actions that may inadvertently contribute to injustice.*

To Love Mercy...

Lord God, may we not only be a people who speak up for truth, but be a people of grace that displays your mercy and kindness to a lost and hurting world. Give us a deep compassion that sees people the way you see them, so that we may serve them as you would. Soften our hearts and quicken our hands so that we may “do for the least of these” as though they were Christ.*

To Walk Humbly with your God...

Lord God, give us “the same attitude as that of Jesus Christ” who humbled himself “taking the very nature of a servant”. Remove any pride that would cause us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Restore within us a right image of ourselves so that we may see what our Creator sees. May everything we think, say or do bring glory and honour to you, O Lord!*

* Prayers taken from my book 'Divine Conversations - A Journal of Prayer" - https://divineconversationsbook.blogspot.com.au

- See more at: http://ephesiansfour12.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/divine-conversations-1.html#sthash.qdpiGMMq.dpuf

You Restored My Humanity

Share Their Stories

Amidst politically driven and socially divided opinions about asylum seekers and refugees in Australia emerge remarkable stories from beautiful people who restore a sense of humanity to the discussion.  Here is a snapshot of a few real stories that are indicative of others that are being discovered by those taking the time to positively engage with people seeking to call Australia home:

Ali & Sarah came to Australia about 18 months ago from Iran on a student visa looking for religious freedom.  As cultural Muslims they were tired of living under oppressive Islamic law and believe Christianity to be a religion of "peace and freedom."

Haluel is a refugee from Sudan who escaped the war of Sudan when she was a child and spent 12 years in a refugee camp in Kenya before embarking on a dangerous and complicated journey towards settlement in Australia.
 

Ihab & Amaal recently left the conflict in Egypt on a tourist visa and are looking for refugee status in Australia due to persecution from a Muslim landlord that led to false charges against them.  They lament the current turmoil in their country and the burning of their Christian churches.

Athula was a Buddhist man who left political persecution in Sri Lanka because he supported the opposition party.  Since seeking asylum in Australia Athula connected with our church, had a revelation of Jesus and is now a Christian man.

Farzana is a student from Afghanistan who is studying a Diploma of Community Services to serve and support asylum seekers and refugees in Australia.  She now volunteers at The Salvation Army and is assisting to establish a multicultural playgroup.

Tahir is a Muslim from Pakistan who is an active member of his local Islamic Community Centre who has a heart to engage in inter-faith dialogue with Christians.  He is a gracious man who wants to deepen the understanding between each others faith perspectives.

These are real people, with real hopes and dreams, facing very real adversity!  Share their stories and stop the dehumanizing of people seeking the same basic human rights that we celebrate and defend in this country.

The Human Face Of Asylum Seekers

There are some things in life that cannot be truly known unless experienced.  We may seek to understand the world we live in by a variety of sources of information, but when we listen to people's stories and experiences we gain a perspective of life that you cannot really get from a secondhand report.  

This was brought home to me last night listening to the courageous story of a Sudanese refugee who had escaped the war of Sudan as a child and spent 12 years in a refugee camp in Kenya before a complicated journey that enabled her to settle in Australia.  As she spoke into the challenge for Australians in understanding the plight of asylum seekers and refugees, she made the most gracious statement I think I have heard in recent political and social discussion about this issue.  Haluel said, "I don't blame Australians because you will never feel something you have never experienced."  

This profoundly humble statement put a different colour skin on the prayer of St. Francis, "O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love."  Despite the pain of her own journey, Haluel had the humility to recognise how difficult it is for people who have not traveled her pathway to feel the depth of desperation that compels vulnerable people to make a dangerous journey towards the hope of a better life.  

It is my sincere prayer that all Australians would reciprocate this humility by listening more to the stories and experiences of others when considering the challenge for asylum seekers and refugees, than the politically motivated rhetoric that is dehumanising this humanitarian issue.

Human Trafficking Repackaged?

Disclaimer:  This post is a personal reflection expressing my own opinions, which may not reflect the official position of The Salvation Army. You can find official statements on asylum seekers by The Salvation Army at www.salvationarmy.org.au or www.justsalvos.com

In the wake of the recent Australian government policy shift on asylum seekers, many Australians are left reeling over the perceived inhumanity of our Prime Minister's tough stance on people smugglers and "boat people".

While detention centres and off-shore processing has been the strategy by both sides of politics in one form or another, this recent move has seen the Australian government broker a deal with the Papua New Guinea government to transfer unwanted "boat people" to our neighbours with no chance of settlement in Australia, regardless of the legitimacy of their claim for asylum.  

In other words, we have come up with an economic arrangement to offload unwanted human cargo with a no return policy attached!  

As offensive as that sounds, it characterizes how Australia's political behaviour appears not that far removed from the behaviour of the people smugglers they are attempting to deter.  People smugglers relocate vulnerable human beings for economic advantage, whereas this new policy plans to relocate vulnerable human beings for political advantage.  While the two operate on different sides of the law, human beings are still being traded and transported with little regard for their basic human rights into another form of captivity and increased vulnerability.  Whichever way I look at this new asylum seeker policy, I am left wondering if it inadvertently falls into a politically justified form of human trafficking?

Beneath the distorted justifications for this policy, you can't escape the fact that an economic deal has been brokered with another country to trade human beings, who are not breaking the law, into an oppressive situation against their will.

This point of view may well be overstated and even a little controversial, but I hope it compels us as a society to critically assess and challenge any policy that increases the vulnerability of people who are exercising their internationally recognised right to seek asylum, which is not conditional upon their mode of transport.  We need to strip away politics and set aside prejudices so that we can reengage in a meaningful discussion that puts human rights back on the agenda to find a more appropriate and unified response to this human catastrophe!

Stop The Boats!?

There is a lot of political rhetoric flying around Australia at the moment about stopping the flood of boats carrying asylum seekers from reaching Australian waters.  Both sides of politics are playing the blame game, promising the impossible and in it all seem to be completely missing the point!

Politics, parochialism and prejudice only serve to distort and devalue the very real issue of desperate human beings seeking refuge from poverty and persecution.  These boats are filled with some of the most vulnerable people on earth, leaving unthinkable circumstances for an uncertain future.  Stopping the boats may win votes but does nothing to address why people are on the boats in the first place!!

Stopping the boats does not solve the problem!

 

Stopping the boats redirects the problem to someone else!

 

Stopping the boats exposes the passengers to even greater risk!  

Stopping the boats denies our responsibility as global citizens!

I recently discussed the biblical mandate for how to treat foreigners in my post Kingdom Citizenship, but add to those thoughts a plea to all Australians, as we approach the upcoming election, not to allow emotive and deceptive campaign slogans to corrupt the essense of what makes us human.  Instead, let us resolve as a nation to stop any form of injustice that creates the demand for the boats.  Let us redefine the political agenda so that stopping the boats has no political advantage.  And let us refuse to turn our backs on those who are seeking what we celebrate as a nation to be a fundamental right for all human beings.

Dear Mr Kim Jong-un

Dear Mr. Kim Jong-un,

As a global citizen I am deeply grieved when the basic human rights of people are violated, regardless their culture, creed or class.  I acknowledge that western nations have not always exercised fair and just citizenship, but I appeal to you to join me in respecting our common humanity to end the cycle of injustice.

As a follower of Jesus Christ I am ashamed when religion is used as a tool to oppress and abuse people, from all expressions of faith.  I acknowledge that the western church has not always demonstrated the love of God we profess, but I appeal to you to join me in exercising a common humility and submit to the Creator of all humankind.

As a husband and father I am concerned about the safety of my family living in a world faced with the constant threat of terrorism and war.  I acknowledge that western governments have contributed to global unrest, but I appeal to you to join me in creating a common haven of peace and security for our families and future generations to come.

You and I share a mantle of leadership that grants us great influence over the people for whom we are responsible.  You lead a nation, I lead a local church, but the decisions we make impact lives.  May we share the prayer of King Solomon who understood the need for wisdom and discernment in carrying out his role as a leader: “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.  Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.  So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.  For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Yours in the hope of a better future...

The CROSS Road at Gethsemane

“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”” (Luke 22:39-46)
 


The first CROSS Road at Gethsemane was faced by Jesus. Here, in the garden Jesus was confronted by the paradox of His humanity.

• Weakness of His flesh
• Willingness of His Spirit

The second CROSS Road at Gethsemane was faced by the disciples. Here, in the garden the disciples were also confronted by the paradox of their humanity.

• Weakness of their flesh
• Willingness of their spirit

Today, you and I face the same CROSS Road at Gethsemane:

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)

Cultural Revelation

Today, I had a cultural encounter at the office that has deeply touched me.  An Indian woman and her father arrived with a food donation for our Community Support Services.  When I enquired if the donation was personal or from another organisation, she explained that it was a family fulfilment of a Hindu custom when a close relative dies.  Her father-in-law died in January and every month on the anniversary date of his death for a year, they donate food to assist the poor in honour of their loved one.  She has lived in Australia for 30 years, and has found a way to honour her Hindu culture in the context of Australian culture.

It is hard for me to articulate why this has impacted me so much, except I was the recipient of an act of grace that transcended religious barriers and expressed the very heart of humanity.  The words of an old Salvation Army song took on flesh today: 

Except I am moved with compassion,
How dwelleth thy Spirit in me?
In word and in deed
Burning love is my need;
I know I can find this in thee.

Too often when we engage with other cultures or religions our focus tends to be on what divides us rather than what unites us.  As human beings we share a common humanity that is a reflection of our Creator.  While the brokenness of creation has distorted this reflection, the same Spirit who breathed life into us is drawing ALL people to a restored relationship with their Creator God, through the person of Jesus Christ.  The way in which Christians engage with other cultures will determine what reflection of God we project and whether or not that image reveals Christ who is "the way, the truth and the life" or a Church that is a road block to a revelation of Christ.

Heart & Mind

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:7)

The heart is emotionally fragile and the mind intellectually vulnerable in a world of complex relationships and conflicting messages. As human beings we are largely shaped by what we feel and what we think, bringing internal conflict when our feelings are trampled and our thoughts are confused. 

In addressing a conlict between two women in the Philippian church, Paul redirects their attention away from their conflict towards Christ.  His encouragement reminds them that amidst their brokenness there is a unexplainable peace that can be known and experienced by presenting the fragility and vulnerability of their humanity to God in prayer.  Prayer opens our spirit to receive an inner peace that defies human logic, giving us confidence to entrust our heart and mind to the protective custody of Christ.