Monday, 30 May 2016

Understanding Social Activism As A Christain

Social Activism and the Christian faith in this part of the world seem to be two parallel lines that can never meet. To most Christians, this world is not our home is a major phrase on our lips, and as far as we are concern, we should do little or nothing about the injustice going on around us or at best, all we should do is pray! I have been a Christian for 17 years, and over this period, the idea I have been fed with, is that social activism is an act of rebellion.

Though not clearly spelt out for us that way, most times, Christians frown at, or are indifferent about Strike actions, protests, rallies, etc. believing it is not for Christians to champion such course. So we have been surreptitiously taught that activism is wrong.
But a recent definition of social activism I stumble at got me thinking as i ruminate on the ideology of social activism, and I asked myself again, is social activism wrong for a Christian?

On the website of Amherst college; social activism was defined as “an intentional action with the goal of bringing about social change. If you feel strongly about a cause and are working towards a change, you could be considered an activist. An activist is anyone who is fighting for change in society. An activist can be a student attending a rally against tuition increase, a politician (or individual) fighting against international human rights abuses (or case of corruption as evident in Nigeria) or a mother of a child killed by a drunk driver talking to students about drinking and driving. Social activists consider the larger picture – how can they find ways to end injustice and to create strong communities which encourage economic, social and psychological health.”

If this is the definition of Social Activism, then on what premise is it wrong for a Christian to be an activist?

If Social Activism's aim is to fight injustice, then it re-echoes the voice of God through the prophets of old-the voice that condemns the oppression of the weak by the strong, and the moral flaws of judges in Israel. It is high time we awake from this indifferent slumbering that we have chosen to embark on. It seem to me that Christians can ‘shout’ only when an issue is directly affecting our religion whereas hike in fuel price, non-payment of salaries, human right abuses, evident in-humane corrupt practices and many other social ills are of no concern to us as far as it doesn’t directly affect our ‘religion’.

I hope someday we won’t regret our quietness, as Social Activism is turning out to becoming a tool in the hands of politicians (as evident in the recent protest against Saraki’s trial) if the likes of Pastor Tunde Bakare, Femi Falana, Pat Utomi, and various other serious minded, issue-oriented social activists take a bow off the stage of activism in this country, what will be the fate of social activism?

What then is my conclusion? It is that the role of the individual Christian is to be the salt and the light of the world- for sweetening, preservation and enlightenment of the society which has been held bound in darkness by men who feast on our ignorance, self-centeredness and fear in the heart of the masses, so as to entrench societal ills to their personal gain. The Christian should thus identify an ill in the society and lend his voice to ensure a change. Our responsibility is thus to pray, preach and protest. Pray to God from whom all change comes, preach to men whose responsibility is to effect change, and protest ‘to’ government whose policies will influence man’s response to change. We all must come to a point in our life where our resolve is to ensure that our society becomes a better place for all. We need to do more praying for our nation, more preaching on social justice and national patriotism and more non-violent, objective and issue oriented protest as done by men like Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, and Tunde Bakare etc.

If you cannot take to the street in protest, don’t condemn those on the street for a just course, go on your kneels and pray, take your pen and write, lend your voice to preach, let us all stand up en masse to ensure we get a society worth living in, one that if Christ tarries, posterity will be glad to have, and surely we shall overcome!

By Sam Olu-Makanju.
Feedback at makanjusamuel@gmail.com

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