James 2:14-17 ‘Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?’
For so long, Christians have been at the forefront of public life, shouting from the sidelines and also from within. Indeed the story of Daniel shows us someone that was at the forefront of his sector [Dan. 6:3]. Yet for many people, they’re left struggling to move their desire for change into tangible action. How do we move from the rhetoric to action? This paper uses the Jubilee Debt Campaign and the Robin Hood Tax Campaign as examples of how ideas can develop into fully-fledged campaigns and policy suggestions.
The campaigns of Jubilee Debt and the Robin Hood Tax both are now at more pivotal points that they could have anticipated. We are now within the period of recovery for the Western economy and thus the opportunity arises for us to have a more influential say in how our economies will be shaped. The eventual framework that is created and built upon will impact millions worldwide.
This article looks to develop an understanding of how to advance from a conversation and put it into practice. The passage at the start, James 2:14-26, alludes to the thinking that when faith is built into our life, action has to be a by-product. Is does not merely mean words but the implementation of our thinking. By being part of a coalition within a campaign, we as a group of Christians are able to impact the world and follow Micah 6:8: ‘No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God’.
We first need to realise that campaigns are always more effective when individuals and groups join together bringing their resources and time in one place. One of needs for many of these campaigns is to emphasise the need for individuals and groups to set aside their personal agendas and interests for the collective cause. This often makes the giving of resources and time even more sacrificial. Isn’t this what Jesus wanted [Heb. 13:15]?
The essence of these campaigns is something that we have to consider first. The essence of the Jubilee Debt Campaign [JDC] is a desire to see poor countries stop paying to the rich world. The actual concept of Jubilee can be found in the Old Testament [Lev. 25:10] where debt relief was given to those who were sold into slavery or lost land caused by bankruptcy.
The JDC seeks to expose practices that are binding countries to continuing debt interest payments. This mission of JDC resonates with some of the core values of CSM: ‘We believe in personal freedom, exercised in community with others and embracing civil, social and economic freedom’. The nature of the crisis facing many developing nations is alarming, the poorest 128 countries owing $3.7tn, mainly to the rich nations should break our heart when we consider Jesus’ command to ‘love our neighbour as ourselves’ [Mark 12:31] and his call for us to ‘forgive our debtors’ [Matthew 6:12].
The Robin Hood Tax tries to influence the richer nations in a slightly different way. By pressuring for a financial transactions tax, a future where increased spending could be used on reducing inequality is foreseen. From its beginnings as a idea, the four biggest Eurozone economies; Germany, France, Italy and Spain have now come together in coalition to say that they wish to push plans forward to implement the tax. More countries now need to come forward and realise the part that they need to play in an interdependent world by taking responsibility for sheltering industries that cause instability in the developing world.
Despite the prominence of these campaigns, many of us; Christians who aren’t leaders of nations, charities or large NGOs can often be accused of merely talking about these issues without transferring this initial interest into something more substantive. What can we do about this? We need to first realise and acknowledge the positions that we all have and the influence that we can impart on others.
Certainly as a student I have found that it’s all too easy to sit and pontificate on life, just remain in the comfort zone of debate and never move the conversation on. You become well versed in the debate and arguments, even forming your own opinions that you may passionately believe, but this is only ever as far as it goes.
Just as the leaders of countries are pressing on in action, so should we. Often, their involvement in campaigns does not occur without the grassroots lobbying. How much of a practical example is this to us about the image of the body of Christ [1 Cor. 12:12-14]? We as a part of the body are able to push through campaigns and issues that we feel are important to us and leaders are able to respond. All decisions are incredibly important and Jesus wants all of us with our different roles to serve him in our decision making and action.
Now that we’ve seen the campaigns and the issues that they are highlighting, how do we go about changing our mentality from being just well informed to being active and dynamic in our passions and beliefs? How do we take on the future?
We firstly need to appreciate the past. If it’s never recognised how far campaigns have travelled and what they have achieved then we can easily become cynical at the prospect of new campaigns combating different problems. We need to realise that change is happening in this debt crisis world. As people living in the we can become immune to seeing new campaigns emerge and not ever see the fruit or benefits. Things are happening and need to be used as an impetus for further things to happen. On 26.6.12, became the 33rd country to qualify for debt cancellation through the Highly Indebted Poor Country [HIPC] initiative. The overall debt that has been cancelled is now at $123bn. Whilst this may appear to be just a drop in an ocean, it’s the start of the something, the momentum gathered from more countries being somewhat released from their shackles will press for more action to take place.
There are other countries that are being considered for debt relief but as yet they have not qualified. These include countries such as , , and . In order for these nations to receive debt relief they first have to qualify as a HIPC.
Nevertheless, in order to receive debt relief, countries will have had to have been on their way down for many years to reach HIPC level yet they will not receive help until their debt burdens are unsustainable. By this point the composition of fiscal spending will have altered to allow for increased debt repayment and likely causing a decrease in spending on essential sectors such as health and education.
Often, the easiest thing for a group of people, not just Christians, is to launch a campaign or act around something where their own agenda will also be promoted and put at the forefront. We’re called to be more than that however. When collectively we put our resources, monetary and non-monetary, greater consequences can be seen. Often this can mean that we have to give sacrificially to causes or issues where our own views and agendas are not seen and the only positive outcome from our action is not self reward but a movement closer to the goal of the campaign.
As Christians we should be called to follow and lead campaigns; not to try to put our own initiatives at the forefront but realise that we are part of something collectively that is bigger than our own campaigns.
Let us move from just rhetoric into action. Not all of us are able to lead large NGOs or Charities and therefore we all need to evaluate what we can do as individuals. Suggestions are listed below:
- Start with the small. We hear about many of these campaigns and ideas. From this place we need to find out information about the issues and become acquainted with the campaign more than the average person.
- Step out. For most people moving out of their comfort zone happens when sacrifice occurs. This could come about in the form of giving money and/or time.
- Being proactive. From just passively giving financially or in time we need to be dynamic. Start telling others about the issue, align your life with this problem taken into consideration more. You need to recognise what interests you and how you can be proactive in this area. If it is being an activist, political lobbying may begin to
- Watch yourself grow. When we alter our lifestyle we may notice how little we know about an issue. But watch yourself grow. As you begin walking with a new understanding your passion or interest for an issue will begin to grow in a new understanding of the importance of this issue within your life.
- The growth of you does have an impact. Others notice a change when they see the importance of this issue in your life.
Practically though, how do these points relate to getting involved in campaigns such as JDC and the Robin Hood Tax?
In the world of social media and integrated communications, getting in touch to firstly find out information is easier than ever before. So, starting with the small, here are the links for you to get involved with:
Jubilee Debt Campaign: http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/ and click ‘Get Involved’
Twitter: @dropthedebt
Robin Hood Tax: http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/
Twitter: @robinhood
How do you then step out? You take that leap of faith, you pray, you listen to God and find out how he wants to get you involved. Does he want you to give money, to lobby or to campaign on the ground?
And then watch yourself grow, watch as your passion for issues increases and you become inspired to get others involved.
James 2:14-17 ‘Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?’
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