163 Dec. 16
On most Friday mornings from 11:30 to 12:30, you can find me at the corner of Wellington and Princess Streets here in Kingston, demonstrating with other members of the local chapter of ‘350’, one of the oldest international organizations, acting against Climate Change. In that hour I usually have about a dozen people stop to chat or comment. I expect at least three to shout to me that it’s all a hoax, that even the forest fires of last summer were set by ‘leftests’ or members of some conspiracy. But most who stop are positive.
Yesterday I had a new comment. A young man, nice blue jeans, well cut black leather jacket over a white sweater, stopped and assured me that I was doing God’s work. I inquired if he went to church. “No way. Not since a kid,” was the answer. I assured him that I agreed with him, that I thought I was indeed doing God’s work, but that it appeared most churches didn’t agree with us, them being noticeably absent, not only in that small event, but in every other ‘climate event’ I’d attended. After a moment’s hesitation, he said that if any church would have been there, he might give it a chance. Then he left, wishing me well, saying that he’d try to schedule some free time next week and join us.
Churches, I know that many of you couldn’t care less about the state of things, knowing that in the Second Coming, Christ is going to make everything perfect, anyway. But others of you think differently. Why aren’t you out here with us? Don’t you really believe that “God so loves the world”? Don’t you think it’s our job to “keep and till”, to be stewards of the holy ground? I know that many of you are, as individuals, as concerned and act on your own. Why then, as churches, can’t you find the nerve and faithfulness to not keep this a secret? What is causing your silence and apathy? Why are you there if not to make a difference?
Climate Change is the one single biggest crisis we humans face. Does this really not touch your faith? To not address this in an active and visual way is to denounce and betray the meat of what Jesus did and said. Don’t you dare wonder why people are staying away. Even this person on-the-street knows why. You’re not offering them what they most need at this time. You are abandoning the playing field of Christianity to those of the extreme Right. You are making this choice. The wrong one. This wouldn’t solve all your problems, but why not show us that you’re real and care about the future? Why not show us that what you believe, really is connected to reality?
We’re downtown every Friday at 11:30. Surprise us, and everyone else. Keep on praying, it can’t do any harm. But Jesus didn’t get in trouble for praying. He went where the action was, as a disrupter. Please, churches, start to follow Jesus in this most needed way. The whole world needs you to find your roots and start to bear some fruit.
Anthony, just trying to follow the disrupting Jesus of Nazareth.
