I decided that today would be a great day to roll out this new post on how activism can be a way of worship. Part of my own personal spiritual growth plan this year is to cultivate this part of my heart so that I can grow. I realized it is indeed time to step in deep and push myself to take the responsibility of bearing witness, learning, and then changing in regard to the social issues surrounding us today.

Can I be honest? This is a huge step and it feels really, really, hard. And not because I don’t care about injustice, I do. My struggle isn’t with standing up for what is right, but rather with the mode. I have an aversion toward loud and angry confrontation. 

I am an introvert and I won’t apologize for it. There are just certain things I won’t do, not necessarily because they are wrong but because they are not the right way for me. In order to make any kind of difference I must learn to operate out of who I am, not who I am not. The truth of the matter is, I could find ways to justify why activism doesn’t have to be a part of my life, but I feel increasingly more convicted about how activism can be a way of worship. That conviction resonates with my heart because worship is what I was created to do.

So, just to be clear, there will be no politics in this, just a deep dive into what things in the soul need to be shifted and how this process can bring glory to God. The fact of the matter is, things need to change and right now there is a huge divisive divide in what those things ought to be. 

God is Just

Where do we even start, right? No doubt about it, this is overwhelming, but the first step we can take is to commit to listening and learning. We do this by not turning away. 

You see, activism can be worship when we start by seeing injustice through the eyes of Jesus. The intentional choice to not look away is the first step, which should then lead to obedience. Simple, right? The bottom line is that as Christ-followers, the revelation of God should always lead to action. 

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

-Micah 6:8

Justice is more than important to God, it’s actually an attribute of His nature and character. You and I? We are made in His image, so this need for justice is also interwoven into our DNA too. This idea that activism can be worship begins to make more sense when we see it in this light. Loving God by aligning with what is just and good is the very expression of trust and faith. 

The obedience of choosing righteousness and then faithfully living it out produces the most glorious aroma of praise. This is how worship works. Keeping God first always requires surrender, and surrender is never once and done, it’s a process. 

So, this is where we start. Activism can be an act of worship, when we commit to not look away when things are messy and hard. We must be willing to dig deeper and see through the lens of Jesus. This very simple first step is how we orient our hearts toward the heart of God. 

Activism can be…

The dictionary defines activism as, “The doctrine or practice of vigorous action or involvement as a means of achieving political or other goals, sometimes by demonstrations, protests, etc.” (www.Dictionary.com)

I think it’s important to clarify this definition because when we look at it as just an activity it can become a tool of the enemy. The problem with politics is that issues get caught in the power struggle for control. Anything can become politicized if we don’t walk in alignment with God and let me tell you, that subtle shift happens faster than you think it can. 

Activism can be a lot of things, and we’ve certainly seen that played out before our eyes a lot over this last year. Demonstrations and protests are often the big definers of justice fighters, but these modes are certainly not the only tools available to the activist. Anything, really, that exposes injustice is a tool of activism. That’s a helpful insight as we look to apply justice in our everyday moments. 

Activism can be worship when the goal is to bring glory to God; it’s about truth-telling. I don’t know about you, but I like to think that I stand on truth. But what happens in your spirit when you begin to see that what you thought was right isn’t true? 

Go ahead and just sit with that question for a minute. 

Let me be honest with you, I don’t like it when I see places where my arrogance has created blinders. Even more, I hate it when those blinders have contributed to the oppression of others. What we do with what we see matters; revelation should always lead to surrender and obedience. 

The heart of faith-filled activism

For me, the heart of faith-filled activism is about right living. You cannot advocate for something until you practice it in your everyday life. That includes thoughts, beliefs, and our daily practices. 

When advocating for right-ness, it is also important to remember that the end goal is about God, not vengeance. So, for the activist, there is a burden of responsibility to stay closely connected to the LORD, to listen, to watch, and to obey His instructions. It’s not just about being right, it’s about doing it right too.

God is the standard of justice, and make no mistake about it, when the day of reckoning comes, He will sort it through. In fact, all the way through the Bible, the Lord testifies that He is our defender and a righteous judge. That’s His role, not ours.

I really believe that our role in activism is about maintaining God’s holy standard, which starts in our own individual heart first. Let us be equally as passionate about correcting our own unrighteousness as we are of others because isn’t that the heart of the issue of hypocrisy? 

Standing in agreement with God is not a compartmentalized process. It’s organic and comprehensive. Yes, we must stand up for what is right, but we must also remember that no issue is separate. Everything is connected and these issues live in the context of real people. Solving the issue is complex and usually much more involved than what meets the eye.

Justice seeks to help others through correcting and redressing wrongs. It treats others fairly and shows no favoritism.

Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook | Practices that transform us, Downers Grove, Il.: Intervasity Press. p.193

Activism can be worship when it is used as a vehicle of love, not a weapon of punishment. The reality is, God’s desire is that all would be saved. Jesus came as a light to nations to point all people back to God. 

How activism can be cultivated as a way of worship

I mentioned earlier that activism can be worship when we purpose to orient our hearts toward God. Knowing the heart of God can only happen through intimate communion. Oh, we all like to think that we know God’s heart, but we’ve not arrived-not by a long shot. There is still so much more.

So, with that in mind, as I’ve been working on my spiritual growth plan for this year, one of the areas I am going to intentionally work on is cultivating the discipline of justice. This is my first post of a new monthly missional feature where I will talk about the things I’m seeing, and doing in the process of this journey.

I’ve included a list of action steps, which I expect will probably take a more clarified shape and form as I go. These are broad by design because I want to find a rhythm with God that matches the design of my soul. How this all plays out will look different for me than it will for you. That’s okay. The goal is about movement, growth, and obedience in the call to justice. 

Action steps

An active commitment to listen and learn.

When I hear a name mentioned in a manner that suggests I should know the backstory but don’t, I will do the research to educate myself. I will take the responsibility to figure out the missing gaps. I also have begun to read through a book list, specifically of autobiographies (but not confined to) over the next year. The goal is to help change the lens by which I see life.

Use my sphere of influence to advocate for justice.

You don’t know what you don’t know, so I will actively work to expand my community beyond what feels easy and comfortable. I want to be present. The goal is to practice mercy and compassion, by exposing the root causes of oppression by shining the light of Jesus on it. I can do this with my words and with my behavior. 

Put my money where my mouth is.

I am working and researching so that I can compile a list of retailers that actively lift social justice issues. I want my money to stand up for justice too. 

 

How about you? What does pursuing activism as a way of worship look like for you? If you want to join me in the journey, sign up for Uscripted Musings (a monthly update) for all the extras and bonuses. You’ll get links to all the recent blog posts, tips, resources, and curated goodies simply to encourage and inspire as you chase after the more of God.