Last night David Johnson came to JWU.  Biggest take-away was/is the PERSONAL quality in ALL of life.  The absence of social justice in Darfur (namely the genocide currently happening there) is a deeply personal matter.  Why do I say this?  Ultimately the entire idea of social justice is based on TRUTH (i.e. an absolute moral standard).  And here's the deal - TRUTH is infinitely personal.  John 14:6 tells us that the truth is a person (namely, truth is the person of Jesus).  Essentially, all truth is rooted in the character of God, and according to what God has revealved to us about Himself - He has existed for all eternity as 1 God in 3 persons!  When God created human beings He made them in His image, and this is the entire basis for the reality that every human being has a personality.  All that to say - the people in Darfur are REAL PEOPLE!  Persons!  They have personalities (e.g. they laugh, they cry, they hurt, they feel anguish, they get tired, they flirt, they want attention, they exhibit courage, they are strong, they are weak, they are in need, they play games, they work, they need water, they battle a corrupt government, they have enemies [on a separate, but related, note don’t you think the Psalms come to life for the persecuted people of Darfur??? For example, Psalm 35:1-3, which says, Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.  Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.  Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me.  Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”], they are REAL PEOPLE – and they are living [under a very real threat of torture, rape, and death] RIGHT NOW!).  This is the biggest take away for me because (as David pointed out) this is what will keep me motivated to help these persecuted people in Darfur!  If they are not real people, if this is “just a social movement” (wherein I fail to keep in mind that REAL PEOPLE are involved) then this will – “die out just like every other fad” (DJ).  If these are not real people (to me, in my American comfort) then though the oppressed brothers and sisters in Darfur have not given up hope, I will be ignorant that hope is needed at all, and I will stop caring (that is to say – If I ever truly care[d]).  Another reason that PERSONS are so significant in this issue is the simple but profound reality that that is what motivates us at all times.  “Love the Lord your God” (Matt. 22) is a call to love PERSONS!  In two ways:  (1) God is comprised of 3 PERSONS.  (2) God has created man in His image and thus endowed all mankind with PERSONALITY (i.e. inherent dignity & worth).  The reality is that this means that I am not only to have a concern for the oppressed in Darfur, but I am also to have a concern for the corrupt government leaders of Sudan.  I am to pray for their conviction, and their grace induced brokenness.  I am to pray for their hearts to be transformed by the power of the Gospel.  As the oppressed people of Darfur point out – they don’t just need water, and food, and medicine, and protection …they need the hate in the hearts of their oppressors to die …they need a selfless and sacrificial love to take its place.  There is only ONE definitive place where we see this in human history, and that place is in the person and work of Jesus Christ (namely the cross).

The picture at the top of this post is a picture of a mother and her baby at an IDP camp (i.e. a refuge camp) in Darfur.  Despite witnessing the torture, rape, and death of her friends and family at the hands of government appointed militia, and experiencing the daily threat of being eradicated by Omar Hassan al-Bashir - she has NOT given up hope.  The picture at the bottom of this post is Omar Hassan al-Bashir; the man behind the genocide HAPPENING NOW in Darfur.

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