let justice roll down.

I wrote this while in Africa, but wouldn't post it. I’m still not sure.

But, I’ve decided that this week is about letting my yeses be yeses and my no’s be no’s. It’s about taking risks, and trying new things and shedding the insecurities, and excess everything’s that cloud my time and mind.

This week is about not wearing make up, and reading Ellen Degeners, and quitting jobs and breathing deep.

So on that note, here it is – let justice roll down.

Poor Stacie, my house mate.

We were coming back from an early Saturday walk through town, and she was stuck with me for a good 20 minutes. 

We got talking about nations, somehow, and off and off I went. Rambling, getting passionate, and probably – not making any sense. You see I’ve had a lot of thoughts, in recent years, in recent weeks, in days; about racism. And countries. And nationalism. And patriotism. And skin colour. And HIV. And wars fought over all these things. And apparently, as Stacie could second, I had a lot to say. 

And you may not agree with me, that’s okay too. 

It’s no news to those who know me, but I’m a fan of Shane Claiborne. A big fan. He wrote to me once, and I just about passed out. If you don’t know who he is, read “The Irresistible Revolution,” and be revolutionized. 

I found this book in the bottom of a throw out bin in 2009, and since reading it, and express posting it to my parents straight after - I’ve been making my way through his others. All fantastic. A particularly good one being, "Follow me to freedom", co-written by my now very favourite John Perkins. 

John Perkins, an African American pastor/ civil rights activist is a great, admirable man, and I have a lot of love and respect for him. A good and handsome friend of mine, knowing this fact – bought me his book for my birthday last year. And finally, having no power or internet sometimes, and being intentional, I got the chance to read it. It’s called Let Justice Roll Down. And it’s about racism, and whiteness and blackness and forgiveness, and greed, and pride, and deep seeded sin. And it’s got me thinking.

 I think it’s no accident that I read this book in Africa, where I am white, and in the minority. And as I said, it’s got me thinking. 

The second thing that stemmed these thoughts, and thus this rant, is a picture I took in the village. It’s one of my personal favourites. There’s a crowd, all blurry (intentionally) and right in the back, through the others, and in perfect clarity, is a mother and her child, breastfeeding. And, you can see a little breast. It’s a truly beautiful image, and I was a few thoughts away from posting it online. I even asked Stacie, is this appropriate? 

And then I really thought about it. If the woman were white, and this were Australia, would I even have to ask that question? Would I have taken the photo in the first place? And why do my answers differ, depending on the colour of their skin?

No I am not a racist person, my heart and head want to scream. Then where does this come from? And what does it mean?

I think it’s okay to be proud of your country. I mean come on, I know I love things about mine. I love beach days, and barbeques, and road trips and kangaroos. I love going to the ballet at the Sydney Opera House, and looking up on warm Summer nights to see the Southern Cross. Watching the Olympics is one of my favourite things of all time, and I’m proud and blessed to be where I come from. I like that Australians are rare, and that occasionally it’s okay to say crikey. But when that pride, becomes exactly that – pride, and manifestations of that pride, I can’t help but think it’s anti-Gospel. 

When that pride becomes hate, or violent, or even arrogant, or pompous, that’s a problem. When that pride becomes anti-asylum seekers, or wars, or even white girls in bike shorts strolling down the streets of Malawi, that’s when I have a problem. When pride becomes judgment instead of understanding, and the unequal valuing of peoples lives and dignity, based on the colour of their skin, or the size of their wallet, then that’s a problem. 

I’ve been to America, twice, to East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Canada, South Africa and now Malawi. And there are things about each and every one of these places that I love. And there are things about each and every one of these places, including Australia, that I struggle with.

Nations, borders, and to some extent race, like culture – are man made things. We get so worked up about something that isn’t really “real” in my opinion. And don’t get me wrong, I think culture is beautiful. I study culture, a lot of the time. I think differences are great and worth celebrating, and taking the time to try and understand them is so important, it’s half the battle and a lot of the joy. I think countries, and the people within them are very different, and I love that. And I think it would be a great shame if we were all the same. 

BUT, when Jesus came and died once and for all, first for Jew and then for Gentile, I think as Christians – we can’t stand like the rest of the world when it comes to nationalism. And racism. And patriotism. And violence. 

When the pride for our own country overrides the love we should have for others, all others, despite anything else, I think that’s a major problem. Despite the history, despite the colour of their skin, despite what you’ve always been taught and fought and lived for. That’s a heart issue. I think love, not borders, are what’s worth fighting for. Borderless love, now that’s worth fighting for. 

And I think Jesus’ life was a pretty good display of this. He talked to the woman at the well. He said love your neighbour as yourself, in light of the Good Samaritan. By dying once for all, Jesus took away the need for these distinctions. 

When I was at Open Day at Macquarie University earlier this year, campaigning my Orange HOPE cause, an old man walked past our stall. It was really early in the morning, I have no idea what he was doing there – but his comment stuck with me. He heard that we were about HIV and AIDS and he muttered something about “that disease for the blacks and the gays.” It broke my heart, and I felt a deep, great sorrow for that man. How hate and race and misunderstanding twist and ruin our perception of the world, and one another. When where we come from trumps our love for others, all others, no matter where they come from, I think that breaks Gods heart.

Who benefits from war and racial hate? All sin divides people. Anger. Lies. Unfaithfulness. Unforgivness. Bitterness. Judgment. Hate. Pride. Racism.

What comes from God is the opposite. What comes from God draws, and bring people together. Love. Understanding. Joy. Forgiveness. Trust. God is about building and strengthening relationships between people. All people. 

The God I serve, He was a homeless refugee. 

God Himself is trinitarian relationship.

John Perkins had to fight his entire life for justice when it comes to breaking down the racist border. His brother was shot and died in front of him, and he was near beaten to death in a US prison cell. And yet, using Jesus as His example, he forgave, and he fought, and he won. His stance on race, and its place in the church is beautiful. And I’m humbled by it. 

In thinking and chewing over all of this I have had to examine my own heart. What parts of my culture am I proud of? How do they align with the Gospel? How does my culture affect the way I see things, the world, other people? If I think it’s better, why? If I think it’s worth fighting for, should I? There is a lot of pride in there, this little heart of mine, and even though I would like to deny it – there is a lot of racism too. 

HIV is very much a coloured disease. If you look at the proportions of people who are infected, and the colour of their skin, then that’s no question. If they were white, would people care more? Do more? Know about it in the first place? 

I’m challenged here to love without limits, racial limits. Starting with my own heart, let justice roll down. 

Struth, I bloody love Australia! But that’s no reason to love less.