Doing Justice and Loving Mercy: Compassion Ministries, Student Workbook, SW16

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D O I N G J U S T I C E A N D L O V I N G M E R C Y : C O M P A S S I O N M I N I S T R I E S

Believers in Jesus Christ are called to represent the life and ethic of the Kingdom of God, and as such, we are called to affirm and express a biblical vision of the concept of difference. Understanding culture is critical to understanding difference in the world, and culture can be defined as “that integrated, well-established, and communally defined pattern of behavior and worldview which influences the cognitive, affective, and evaluative dimensions of its expression.” The concept of difference has many implications for doing justice and loving mercy: differences are spiritually important, real, socially significant, and not necessarily bad or wrong. Differences tend to alienate and divide groups, and may erect barriers between and among people, leading to paternalism, suspicion, and malice. When differences are distorted or misunderstood they can become toxic, and lead to violence, abuse, genocide, and war. Historically, Christians have responded to issues of war in three ways: total pacifism, the theory of the “just war,” and relative pacifism, a view which has emerged in light of the threat of nuclear destruction. The response of Christian disciples in a world of alienation is to adopt a strategy of Christian peacemaking which acknowledges, celebrates, and welcomes differences among people in light of Christ’s incarnation. Such a strategy will cultivate practices which celebrates difference, encourages forgiveness and reconciliation, and strives to demonstrate to all people the love and mercy of Christ, all in light of God’s clear standard of righteousness in the Word of God. Now is the time for you to discuss with your fellow students your questions about doing justice and loving mercy as a world Christian. The following questions are designed to help you explore in what ways the particular concepts you have discovered relate to your own life and ministry. * In what ways do you identify yourself as a person who is “charged with the duty to apply his kingdom ethic of doing justice and loving mercy to the very ends of the earth?” Would you consider yourself to live, work, play, and pray as a “world Christian,” one who thinks globally but acts locally ?

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Student Application and Implications