Why Faith Demands Action

Everyone knows that the world is not as it should be. When we hear stories of lives broken by poverty and look at the statistics about global inequality we know that the world is deep in trouble. The truth is that our world is sick.

Christians believe that this sickness is rooted in humanity's tendency to ignore God's way. Our constant ignoring of God's way of life has resulted in structures, systems and behaviours that maintain injustice. We may feel that we are powerless to change these things but the Bible allows us no room to wash our hands of the ills we see around us.

The prophet Micah declared God's anger about those who “covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.” (2:2) He condemned the political leadership of Israel and Judah, “Should you not know justice, you who hate good and love evil” (3:1-2) and said “But for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.” (3:8) Micah declared God's anger with social sin – the endemic legal, social and economic corruption that plagued his country.

Overall, the reality of poverty in our world is rooted in two of the most frequently identified sins of the Bible – idolatry and injustice. The world's obsession and idolatry of money, possessions, wealth and endless opportunities mean that a minority live in luxury whilst the majority suffer the injustice of poverty. Idolatry and injustice are the failures to live out the two most important commandments: to love God and love your neighbour. As Jesus says “All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments”(Matthew 22:40)

Jesus declared that the kingdom of God had arrived and that through him God's wholeness was available to all. Our broken world shows in that this kingdom has not yet come in fullness, but as followers of Jesus we are called to bring wholeness wherever we can.

Play Your Part

The Play Your Part resources were designed to inspire your church that it has a crucial part to play in seeing that justice is done around the world.

The Play Your Part concept is simple: we all have a unique role to play as part of the worldwide body of Christ. The Play your Part resources encourage churches to link the biblical teaching about the poor with the reality of 21st century global poverty and with practical examples of how we can effectively respond to the situation.
The DVD and educational resource that were produced offer an accessible and flexible format for churches to engage with the issue of extreme poverty in church services, youth groups or small group meetings.

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Download the Play Your Part booklet and DVD

To order a hard copy of the resource email playyourpart@micahchallenge.org.uk with your address. We would appreciate if you would make a small donation to cover the costs.

The Just People? Course

Ever wonder what would happen if your church took 'acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God' (Micah 6:8) seriously? We'd like to invite you to join us in finding out.

As part of Micah Challenge UK, Tearfund and Livability have developed a six-week interactive course called Just people? The course is designed for churches, small groups, students and youth groups to help them discover how tackling poverty and pursuing justice both locally and globally, are at the heart of Christian mission. The course brings together down-to-earth theology, reflection, inspiration and experience with practical exercises. It will help your church or youth group grapple with issues of justice and poverty and think practically about how they can respond effectively as an integral part of their mission.

The Big Idea: Integral Mission

Just People? explores the notion that Christian mission cannot be reduced to either verbal proclamation of the good news or social activism on their own. Authentic Christian discipleship and mission combine personal and social transformation; words and actions. Integral mission describes holistic Christian mission that involves actions and words. It is more than lots of things held together, it communicates the fullness and integrity of mission which leaves nothing out, embracing the fullness of God's work to restore and redeem the whole of creation.

Asking Questions

We believe that the UK church as a whole needs to wrestle with questions of what the teaching of the gospel and Micah 6:8 means for us today. Community Mission believes that the radical message of justice in Scripture needs to be re-awakened in the life of the church. We believe that faithfulness to God's word leads to a passion for justice and a personal and collective lifestyle that bears witness to it.

Structure

The course divided into six sessions, plus a day of action.Separate resources have been designed to cater specifically to large church groups, small groups, youth groups and student groups.

For more information and to order the Just People? Resources visit the Community Mission website by clicking here

Other Useful Resources

'Just Mercy' and 'You Have Shown Us'

Micah Challenge International have just produced a new book called 'Just Mercy' and an accompanying CD 'You Have Shown Us' which have been designed to be used as an accompaniment to 10.10.10 by churches or small groups.

Both will be available from June 2010 at www.kingsway.co.uk and www.cwr.org.uk.

'Micah's Challenge; The Church's Responsibility to the Global Poor'

“I warmly welcome this book”, writes Gordon Brown in his foreword to Micah's Challenge, “it is harnessing faith to unite Christians globally…to deepen…commitment to people living in poverty through prayer, service and advocacy.”

In this new book, the prophetic word of Micah to “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God” (6:8), is explored for its application to today's church. Drawing together insights from Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo, René Padilla, Joel Edwards, Ron Sider, Njongonkulu Ndungane, and others, Micah's Challenge explores the theological, ethical and practical dimensions of this call to act with justice, mercy and humility.

Micah's Challenge not only calls Christians to think afresh and act redemptively as individuals and as communities, but speaks prophetically into a culture asking what can be done in a world of great need.

Micah's Challenge - editors Marijke Hoek and Justin Thacker – published April 2008.

£9.99 – paperback – Paternoster Press – 9781842276068

Order through bookshops, www.amazon.co.uk or www.wesleyowen.com or www.authenticmedia.co.uk

Other Resources

Other resources may be included here from time to time but to keep up to date with any other cool resources we come across keep an eye on our Facebook page.