Loving God, Loving People

Ihave a dilemma. Some days I’m simply overwhelmed by the raw magnitude of economic distress, violence, and vitriol I see in the world. But other days, honestly, I don’t notice it at all. Let’s be clear, the elements by which my overwhelm is created and sustained still exist on those days — I just don’t notice them. I never forget them. I’m just blind to them, sometimes. I think I suffer from acute socio political blindness. Many of the risk factors are there: burgeoning career, financial debt, ambitious academic pursuits, family care, selfcare, and home repair — just to name a few. Simply put, my dilemma is that I really would like to help address the elements that so often overwhelm me, but I don’t know what to do.

And so it was with me in the not-to-distant past. To be honest, I’m still recovering from acute socio political blindness, but I’ve discovered a therapy. During my tenure as a student at Shaw University Divinity School I was introduced to the life and work of Dr. John M. Perkins. Dr. Perkins is a remarkable theologian, civil rights activists and community leader. He is a cofounder of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA). Inspired, in part, by the poem above, he helped to establish CCDA on three key components: redistribution, reconciliation, and relocation. Since its founding CCDA has expanded this list to include five additional key components. In no particular order they are: leadership development, empowerment, (w)holistic approach, church based, listening to the community. Together, these eight key components guide would-be practitioners through the process of making a positive impact in their local communities.

While I’m not able to cover all eight components within the space provided for this article, I will discuss the original three, briefly. For additional details and to learn more about Dr. Perkins and CCDA visit ccda. org. As previously stated, Dr. Perkins began his ministry of Christian Community Development based on the three guiding principles redistribution, reconciliation, and relocation.

Redistribution. In large part, the cycle of poverty has been held in place by a powerful few. Those that insist on hoarding resources for themselves, while building walls of division amongst the rest of us. Redistribution is a call for the decentralization of power. It is the notion that all people should have equitable access to the tools necessary to change their lives. Note, that redistribution is not taking assets from one individual and giving them to another. There is a proverb that states that giving a person a fish allows them to eat for the day, but teaching the person to fish ensures they eat for a lifetime. Redistribution is a reminder that this principle only holds true if the person has equal access to the lake.

Reconciliation. This is the recognition that all of humanity is created in the image of God. And it is an acknowledgment that we accomplish more when work together than when working in silos. The United States is a nation with a fractured narrative, to say the least. Reconciliation is a call for the church to intentionally address the systems that divide us — namely race. During the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the time of Pentecost, the book of Acts tells that the early church members had all things in common and that there was no lack among them.

Relocation. It is one thing to advocate for a stranger regarding an issue that does not impact you. It is a completely different notion, however, to advocate with a friend against a mutual foe. The relocation component compels us to become neighbors again, to live in solidarity with those often marginalized by society at large. In doing this, we will never lose sight of the cause for which we strive. When God provided the ultimate solution for sin, God started by entering into the neighborhood called Earth. While here, and in the form of Jesus, God suffered as we may suffer.

This is how we make a difference. We stop trying to give back and we start going back. We join with the people already intimately involved in carrying out the will of God for their local community. We do this in reverence to God and to God’s creation. In summation we live a life based on loving God and loving people.

Lorenzo A. Watson

Are

Philippians 3;14,15