About a half hour ago, I sat at my desk and listened and watched Kony 2012 II. As I listen to their theme song as heard on the end on their video, "I Can't Stop" by Flux Pavilion, I have really been thinking. I feel really pumped right now. Call it what you want but here are some of my thoughts.
One pervading thought that has invaded our culture is, "Why do we need to help others when we have so many people here the States that are hurting?" I used to be one of those people. I must admit though, on occasion, I wonder why our leaders make the decisions they do on our behalf when it comes to being involved in other countries politics.
Another thought that I have heard is, "I don't believe in God because there are so many people in other countries (even here) that are hurting. If God is so good, why are people in other countries starving?", etc.
I remember having a deep and very heated discussion with a friend of mine, who says he believes in God, but doesn't believe in the whole Christian message. Mind you, he claims to know the Bible backwards and forwards, but even with that knowledge he doesn't trust God. So in the midst of our conversation about sin, the devil, and world hunger, and "if God is so good, why are people going hungry".
With that, I said something like this to him, "God gave you the resources to help people. We complain about God not doing anything. Well, He's given you more than you need so that you can help the people that you are concerned about. You may be one person, but just think if everybody did something. We wouldn't be in the state we are in and maybe other countries wouldn't be in the state that they are in. What if God wanted to use YOU?" I'll tell you now, I know I didin't say ALL of that but it was in the same effect.
We blame God for so many things. Why doesn't He act to cure world famine or even the hungry (I don't know if I could use starving when it comes to the States because of the resources seemingly so available to us. You may think this way or that way about our current government but we still have our freedom...but I don't want to get off on another subject). Well, what if God wanted to use you? There is a reason why seeing a starving child or hurting person from another country affects you. Why? Could it be that God is using that to stir you into action?
You may say, "We have people hurting here." To that I say, "Well, then do something." Yes, you may be one person, we are a lot of ONE people!
Now back to Invisible Children and Kony 2012. There has been a lot of criticism and a lot of support at the same time. I became acquainted with Invisible Children back in 2005 or 2006 through my church at the time, FLOOD. I was deeply move by watching the documentary that they made. It also re-stirred in me a desire in me to go to Africa but it also sirred up my fears. What would I be able to do? Then there were trips to go to Malawi and later to Uganda. How would I raise the money? So many questions but also an admiration for the guys that went on their first trip. They, with the support of their friends and family, packed up and went because of their desire. And what they found, not only changed their view of the atrocities happening in different parts of Africa but thousands, if not more, lives, including mine.
I finally did get to go to Uganda but for other reasons than listed here and that's for another entry.
I don't want to stretch this entry longer than it has to be because many of you may have read a lot of opinions already and I'm just another opinion.
What I do have to say about Invisible Children and Kony 2012, is at least they are doing something! Even if just to stir up people's consciences that there is more to life then themselves. They are bringing an awareness of what is happening to human beings. Humans like you and me!
I understand it's a big problem and not everyone is called to go overseas and have hands on experience but what I do know is that Jesus calls us to love our neighbor and that true religion is helping the widow and the orphan. And he calls us to DO SOMETHING whether here in the States or another country.
What will you do?
