Saturday, June 06, 2009

Sometimes, 'Churching' Is a Human Rights Thing ...

'Churching' can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people in a lot of different places. Please take a moment to read - and share! - this post at West Texas Missioner for some insight into what it means to people on Christian mission in southeast Asia.

It's the latest installment of a long tradition of men and women of faith stepping forward to place themselves between the oppressors and the oppressed. In medieval Europe, one could seek sanctuary from secular authorities in a church. In early American history, the Society of Friends in Pennsylvania offered refuge to those escaping from slavery. In the 1960s, civil rights marches in the American South included women in habits and men in collars or yamulkes.

And now, it's happening - again! - in southeast Asia, where faith-based, non-government organizations (NGOs) are demonstrating God's love to victims of conflict and oppression. One of those organizations is the
Free Burma Rangers, which reminds us to ...
• Love One Another
• Unite for Freedom, Justice and Peace
• Forgive, and Don't Hate Each Other
• Pray with Faith, Act with Courage
• Never Surrender


Onward, Christian soldiers.

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