Why Social Action

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Why Social Action?

Four studies for reflecting on what the Bible says about social action and helping you to take action in your community.
Why Social Action? written by Concetta Perot, revised by David Arscott. Community Mission 2008 Registered charity number 1116530
Community Mission is ordinary people living out the radical message of Jesus. Its about combating poverty and isolation, bringing hope and transforming your local community. www.communitymission.org.uk
Contents
Introduction and Practicalities Session One Let Scripture speak Exploring what the Bible says about how Gods people should respond to injustice and social need. Session Two Good news to the poor? Identifying with poverty and powerlessness by asking, Who are the poor? Session Three The Gospel, the whole Gospel and nothing but the Gospel! Exploring imbalances in the way we live the gospel and redressing the balance. Session Four Its not what you do, its the way that you do it! Focusing on empowering as well as serving our communities. Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Feedback form The Prayer - Action - Reflection cycle List of scriptures for Session One Definitions and group questions for Session Two Example diagram for Session Three Role play and questions for Session Four
Introduction
This study series has helped many Christian congregations and groups to explore what social action is and to give a biblical basis for getting involved in our communities. It is designed for small groups but can also be used by individuals, within a larger congregation and with other congregations in your area. It aims to: Explore the biblical mandate for Christians to be involved in community and social justice issues; Challenge people to think about their lifestyle in the light of scripture and to take action.
Practicalities
For each session the material is split into two sections: For study and reflection and Taking action. Each session should last about an hour and a half but of course that is flexible and depends on the person leading, whether other material is introduced etc. Remember to build a break time into your session if it is likely to go on for any longer than that. A time for prayer is allocated within each study but each group can be flexible and choose their own length, style and timings of prayer. We cannot overemphasise the importance of prayer when using these studies. The Community Mission Prayer, Action, Reflection Cycle is a useful tool which we would recommend underpins the series of studies:
Prayer, action and reflection are equally vital in the cycle ensuring a long-term approach that is rooted in responding to God and his heart for your community. For more detail on this please refer to Appendix A at the end of the sessions.
Key
Group work exercise Facilitator explanation
For facilitators information
Session One - Let Scripture speak!

Equipment. For every person: A Bible, copies of Appendix B, notepaper and pen. Maybe a candle and a source of reflective music.
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For group study and reflection
When it comes to understanding the place of social action in the Christian life, the scriptures speak loudly and clearly. The purpose of this exercise is to give people plenty of time to listen and reflect on scripture. In order to create a quiet and reflective atmosphere you may feel it is appropriate to have a lit candle in the centre, or play some music. Being creative with atmosphere will help people respond well to the exercise. Scripture feast Give out the list of scriptures below to members in your group. (There is a copy in Appendix B.) Take it in turns to read the references in the order given. Pause without discussion for a minute or two between each one. Encourage people to listen, reflect and let the Holy Spirit speak to them. Invite them to make a note of the scriptures that strike them and write down their thoughts. Explain that they can keep these private if they wish. Main references (where to focus if your time is limited) Proverbs 31: 8-9 Micah 6: 8 Isaiah 42: 1-4 Isaiah 58: 3-10 Isaiah 61: 1-3 Luke 4: 16 21 Jeremiah 22: 13-16 1 John 3: 16-18
Good secondary references (if you have more time or a larger group) Deuteronomy 24: 17-22 Psalm 72: 12-14 Matthew 16: 24-26 Matthew 23: 11-12 Matthew 25: 31-46 Luke 8: 21 Acts 4: 32-35 1 John 2: 5-6 James 2: 14-17 Galatians 1: 8-10 Galatians 6: 9
Other relevant references (useful for individual study)
Exodus 22: 25-27 Luke 6: 46-48 Isaiah 1: 15-17 John 20: 21 Amos 5: 2124 1Corinthians 13: 1-8 Matthew 7: 21-23 James 1: 27 Matthew 22: 34-40 James 2: 8 Matthew 23: 23 24 James 5: 1-5 Once all the scriptures have been read, go round the group and encourage people to share what scriptures most affected them and why. You could start by getting people to do this in pairs, maybe sharing their top three scriptures. Go round the group and give everyone a chance to share their responses before getting into any group discussion. Emphasise that this is a safe place to explore what people feel rather than people thinking they have to come up with the right answers. Accept any struggles and questions that the scriptures have provoked, maybe making a note to come back to them. Try and make sure that everyones perspective is heard. Then take time to pray for each other in the light of what has been read and shared.
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Taking action
Having read and talked about the Bible, it is now time for people to consider their response. As James says, faith without action is dead. Jesus tells us to love our neighbour. Ask people to spend a short time reflecting on the question: Who is my neighbour and how can I love them? Encourage people to think about their local community, their workplace and the global community to which we all belong.
Next steps Split into twos and ask people to reflect together on what action they might take to ensure that their lifestyle reflects Gods priorities for a gospel that is good news to the poor and oppressed. Everyone will be in a different place on his or her journey and that is OK. What is important is that each person has time to think and work out what their next step is, even if they feel that there are many steps to take. Hand out pieces of paper. Ask people to write out what they think their next steps into social justice issues might be. Encourage people to share this in their Community Mission is ordinary people living out the radical message of Jesus. Its about combating poverty and isolation, bringing hope and transforming your local community. www.communitymission.org.uk
pair and stick the piece of paper in a prominent place in their home! Commit to taking these steps and sharing with a friend if you are struggling to do it. Having made a note of the scriptures which most affected them encourage people to read them prayerfully every day for the next week, asking God to show them how he wants them to respond. Suggest people keep a journal of what they hear and feel. You can begin the next session by sharing any thoughts and reflections.
Session Two Good news to the poor

Equipment. For everyone: notepaper and pen. At least one Bible. Copies of Appendix C for groups or pairs Some copies of this weeks newspapers Flipchart, or big pieces of paper, and pens to record ideas At the start of this study take time to reflect with the group on what was discussed in the last study. Encourage people to feed back their thoughts and comments. How have they got on with their next steps? What have been the challenges to putting them into action? What have they been really encouraged by? Have they taken time to read the highlighted scriptures during the week? Have they had new insights and learning?
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If the gospel has no power to transform situations of social injustice, oppression and poverty, it is not good news to the poor! But who are the poor? Who are the poor?
Ask two people to read Luke 4: 18-19 and John 20: 21. Ask if anyone has any immediate thoughts or comments they would like to share with the group maybe in the light of the discussion at the start? The Bible reveals Gods special concern for people who are poor, oppressed and vulnerable. These are some of the words it uses to describe them:
Oppressed, downtrodden, humiliated Powerless Yearning and insistent Defenceless and open to exploitation Needy and in want Subject and dependent Diminished and impoverished Destitute and bereft Dispossessed and evicted
(This list, and a copy of the questions below, is at Appendix C so you can print it off or you could write it up on a flipchart.) For each definition, ask people to think of examples of the ways these states of poverty reveal themselves in every day situations particularly locally. (e.g. groups of people who might be open to exploitation, situations where power is being misused, circumstances in which people are kept dependent on others rather than encouraged to develop for themselves, areas of the world where people are dispossessed or oppressed.) Hand out a selection of daily papers to people and use these to give your group current, real-life examples. Ask people to find articles and stories that are to do with the aspects of poverty they have been exploring. Make a list of the different ways of being poor that they find in the newspaper. An alternative way to run this exercise is to split into pairs and allocate one or two definitions to each. Then get them to feed back to the larger group. Exploring poverty Discuss the following questions in your group (or split into two groups). Give space for diverse opinions; do not try to find all the answers! What are the causes of poverty? Having read and thought about some of the biblical words for poor, is poverty just about money? What extent do the way things are run, the social structures and systems, play a part? If an individual is poor is it their fault in some way? Is there a spiritual dimension to poverty? Is poverty part of our culture?
Then encourage people to think about their own experiences. Community Mission is ordinary people living out the radical message of Jesus. Its about combating poverty and isolation, bringing hope and transforming your local community. www.communitymission.org.uk
Are there times or places where you have felt oppressed or powerless? Do you know any local people who are experiencing any form of poverty? How are Christians working alongside people who experience poverty? How are they challenging the things that cause poverty (like organisations, people and the ways people think)? How effective do you think they are? How much of a difference are they making?
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Taking action
Explain that, What you see depends on where you stand. A lot of Christian activists feel that it is difficult to understand issues of injustice and social need without experiencing them themselves or hearing the stories directly from others.
What do people think about the statement What you see depends on where you stand.? You may have time to use the following questions to encourage discussion in the whole group .: What can I do? Does it resonate with their life experiences? Do they have experiences of injustice and social need? If not, how should they respond? Are there ways in which they could gain more understanding? Pick up on the positive actions that people have suggested they could do. Maybe write them up on a flipchart. Look for a spectrum of opportunities such as ones for individuals, pairs, small groups, the whole group or church and a group of local churches. It may be appropriate to suggest other actions, such as speaking to a local volunteer bureau to find out about befriending schemes (e.g. for refugees) or to get in touch with a project in your area working with marginalised people and get involved with it. Encourage people to seek to form new friendships with people in need and listen to their experiences.
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Spend time praying about your responses. For bigger ideas you will need to break them down into smaller steps and think how you can involve others. Arrange to report back at the next session and later on
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Session Three The Gospel, the whole Gospel and nothing but the Gospel!
Equipment. Big pieces of paper or flipchart with big circles on. Pens At least one Bible At the start of this study, take time to reflect with the group on what was discussed and learnt last time. Have people had further thoughts on the material since you last met? Has anyone found out any more about the biblical view of people who are poor and oppressed? Who has taken action? Has anyone brought along a journal, or any specific comments about what they have done as a result of the last session?
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Jesus death speaks life into every area of our lives. It is a whole gospel. The restoration, salvation and freedom from sin that we can know as individuals can also be known where there is corporate sin and injustice, such as where people are kept poor by unjust and oppressive structures and the way people think and talk. The purpose of this exercise is to help people consider where Christian congregations and groups are involved in activities to live out the gospel and what we need to do to keep the gospel whole, making a difference to all of life. Making things right
Ask two people to read out the following Bible passages: Isaiah 42: 1-4 and Micah 6: 8. The two key words that are translated as Justice in the Hebrew Scriptures are mishpat and sedeqah. There is no literal translation into English but the meaning of biblical justice is making things right. To do justice is to make things right wherever they are not right.
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On a large piece of paper, put the heading Making things right. Then draw a large circle on the paper and split it into four sections, labelled as follows: (See Appendix D for an example) Between people and the environment Between people and God Between individuals or groups and big organisations and governments Between individuals such as couples, friends, people in families.
Ask the group to name activities where the Church is actively engaged in making things right. These might be local, regional, national or international initiatives or just individuals who are doing things. As you come up with ideas, write them down in what you think is the most appropriate section, e.g. The Alpha course could go in the Between people and God section. Here are some names of initiatives to get you going: Make Poverty History, Movement for Christian Democracy, Christian Ecology Link, Church marriage preparation courses, Martin Luther King, Micah Challenge, your local Christian homelessness project. Gather all your ideas (try and get at least twenty) and put them in the circle. Then read aloud the following scriptures: Amos 5: 21-24, Isaiah 58: 3-10, Matthew 23: 23 and Matthew 5: 14-16. Talk about what you have done using the questions below. Are some parts of your circle fuller than others? Which section was it hardest to think of examples for? Do you think our culture focuses too much on individuals (It is all about what I wantbecause Im worth it!) and that this affects the way we understand the gospel? How do you think God feels about his people when they focus just on individualised faith and neglect dealing with other justice issues? What is the impact on the Churchs reputation when we (a) ignore issues of social justice (b) take action on issues of social justice?
Pray over the issues that have arisen in your discussion.
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2.
Taking action
Righting the wrongs
In your group (or pairs or smaller groups) identify an issue or a concern, where you think something is not right, preferably a local one or a national one that people are deeply concerned about. Then talk about the following questions and make a note of your responses: What type of response to this injustice would be in line with Gods character? How do you think God feels and what would He want to do? What type of response would be out of line with Gods character? What action can you take, no matter how small? What things might stop you taking action?
Discuss your obstacles, work out ways of overcoming them and make a plan on how you will take action! Then pray together about your plans. Another idea for encouraging others to action is to go and find out more about an area of injustice that concerns you (global, national, local to your community), for example the plight of refugees, the discrimination faced by people with disabilities, the barriers to poorer people getting to university. Write an article for your parish magazine, local newspaper or other publications to raise awareness and encourage others to get involved.
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Session Four Its not what you do its the way that you do it!
Equipment. Big pieces of paper or flipchart Pens At least one Bible
At the start of this study, take time to reflect with the group on what was discussed and learnt last time. Remind people of the issue you discussed. How have people got on with their action plans? Has anyone written an article that has been published?
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Remind people that over the last three studies you have been listening to Gods specific call to make a difference to the injustices and poverty in our society. This calling motivates us to take action. But listening to God and listening to our communities must go hand in hand. Its not just what we do, its also the way we do it, that makes all the difference. Listening to others
Ask two people to read Matthew 23: 11-12 and Matthew 20: 20 28. Does anyone have any immediate thoughts or comments they would like to share with the group? Go round the group and ask people to think of a situation where they were not listened to or consulted, e.g. someone making a decision which affects you without asking; going to the doctors and being told what you need without properly being listened to first; someone making assumptions about your life without actually talking to you. Then ask for responses to the following questions: How does it feel to not be listened to and to have people act as experts of your life? Was it easy to resist their behaviour and challenge their assumptions?
Take time to reflect on these experiences together. Community Mission is ordinary people living out the radical message of Jesus. Its about combating poverty and isolation, bringing hope and transforming your local community. www.communitymission.org.uk
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Ask someone to read the following aloud: People who are poor often feel that do-gooders who have not lived in their situation parachute in and set up projects to help them without even involving them or talking to them. We must engage with people in poverty before doing something to help. If we do not, we are assuming that we know what they need and that we are the experts of their lives. We become like benefactors to the lowly poor rather than partners in their struggle. Such attitudes in our social action create and sustain imbalances of power. They keep people dependent on the benefactor rather than empowering them to be in control of their lives. They fail to demonstrate the attitude of servanthood that Jesus talked about and modelled. In our attempts to make a difference, we must always ask ourselves the question: Are we doing things to people, for people or with people? Benefactors or servants? Divide people into two groups: Group A will act as BENEFACTORS TO PEOPLE Group B will act as SERVANT PARTNERS WITH PEOPLE Explain that both groups feel God is calling them to do something to help local young people who have hardly any facilities or things to do in their area because of cuts in the youth service. Each group, in their role, needs to think about how they would go about responding to this situation. (Appendix E has copies of these prompts and the follow up questions) Each group should record their thoughts on flip chart paper Give particular consideration to the following sub-headings: Attitudes that would be held by your group (e.g. sympathetic, humble, superior). Practicalities of how they would they go about responding (e.g. pay someone to run a project, do research in schools, use ideas that have worked elsewhere).
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The Outcome for the young people, what difference will it make for them (e.g. provide new skills, keep them occupied, help them to make decisions). The Outcome for the planning team i.e. your group (e.g. challenged our attitudes, had our guilt relieved because weve done our bit) Ask each group to present their findings, either in their role or as straightforward feedback. Then take time to discuss these questions: Why is it easier to be a benefactor to people rather than a servant partner with people? What are the positive and negative sides of each approach? What things can you do to engage with people to find out what they are thinking and feeling rather than just do things to them or do things for them? If we are to empower the poor and the powerless what do we have to do? Can you think of practical examples of this?
Follow with a time of prayer.
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Taking action
This is the final study in the series of four. It is important to spend plenty of time now closing the series with a time of recapping, reflection, commitment to positive action and prayer. This needs to be a good time of support and encouragement for people. The way forward
As a group, reflect together on the actions that you have already taken in recent weeks, in response to the issues highlighted. Encourage discussion together using the following questions: What are the most important points that you have learnt? What has God put on your heart in your times of reflection or prayer? Where are you passionate to see change?
Ask people to identify their first small steps towards action in this area. It may help to work in pairs. Then share these plans as a whole group. Encourage each other in these decisions to continue acting to create change. Decide how you want to proceed at different levels: as individuals, as pairs or small groups interested in a certain issue; as a church; as a group of churches.
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You will not have all the plans ready at this stage but identify where you could start, how you could find out more, how you could get support from others, who you could work alongside. It is all about making a start, praying and seeing where God opens doors for you to walk through. Then close the series by spending time praying for each other. Focus on the passions and ideas that God has stirred in each individual and pray for direction and action.
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Appendix A Prayer-action-reflection cycle

Community Mission encourages Christian congregations and groups involved in their communities to maintain a cycle of a prayer-actionreflection. This is important, particularly for local congregations seeking to build authentic and lasting relationships together.
Prayer, action and reflection are equally vital in the cycle ensuring a sustainable approach to restoring communities. At one extreme, activism by itself can easily lead to burn out. On the other hand, without any real community engagement, our prayer or Christian reflection can easily become inward looking, empty and irrelevant.
Prayer
There is a wide range of different ways of praying. Some congregations are used to open, spontaneous prayer. Others favour set prayers and liturgies, or more meditative styles using music or pictures to help focus on God. Whatever your preference, prayer can be a powerful way of bonding Christians together in a common purpose. If you are planning any kind of meeting for congregations in your community, beforehand spend some time thinking creatively and sensitively about prayer. Who will be there? How can you make those on the edges feel comfortable and included? How can you focus the prayers on your local area? Ideas include: pictures of local scenes on an overhead projector, press cuttings from the local newspaper, different prayer stations around a room, prayer walking around the local streets.
Action
Actions really do speak louder than words. Conversation and prayer between local congregations is vital, but relationships are likely to grow far more quickly when we act together. Whats more, it can be a powerful demonstration of unity to other congregations and people within the community.
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Take time to find out about what you could do together in your community. It can be helpful to start with a one-off event, which can lead to longer-term involvement. There are many ideas for joint action, such as decorating a community centre, a family fun day or community carnival. Often this provides a shared story, with lots for those involved to discuss and reflect on together.
Reflection
Once begun, community action gives us plenty to reflect on. Spending time in reflection, on our own and with others, is a great way of gathering encouragement and seeking guidance for further action. As we return to the Bible, which is packed full of inspiration and wisdom to help us work together for Gods kingdom, we have a deeper appreciation of Jesus teaching and the Church that he calls us to be. www.communitymission.org.uk has links to resources that can help us draw on the biblical stories. As you reflect, think about how you can share your stories to encourage, support and learn from others. In turn, our reflection brings us to a new place of prayer, where we recommit plans, ideas and hopes to God and humbly ask him to move us forward in action and unity.
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Appendix B A Scripture Feast!
Main references Proverbs 31: 8-9 Micah 6: 8 Isaiah 42: 1-4 Isaiah 58: 3-10 Isaiah 61: 1-3 Luke 4: 16 21 Jeremiah 22: 13-16 1 John 3: 16-18
Good secondary references Deuteronomy 24: 17-22 Psalm 72: 12-14 1 John 2: 5-6 Matthew 16: 24-26 James 2: 14-17 Matthew 23: 11-12 Galatians 1: 8-10 Matthew 25: 31-46 Galatians 6: 9 Luke 8: 21 Acts 4: 32-35 Other relevant references Exodus 22: 25-27 Isaiah 1: 15-17 Amos 5: 2124 Matthew 7: 21-23 Matthew 22: 34-40 Matthew 23: 23 24 Luke 6: 46-48 John 20: 21 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8 James 1: 27 James 2: 8 James 5: 1-5
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Appendix C Who are The Poor?

The Bible reveals Gods special concern for people who are poor, oppressed and vulnerable. These are some of the words it uses to describe them: o o o o o o o o o Oppressed, downtrodden, humiliated Powerless Yearning and insistent Defenceless and open to exploitation Needy and in want Subject and dependent Diminished and impoverished Destitute and bereft Dispossessed and evicted
Some questions to talk about 1. What do you think are the causes of poverty? 2. Having read and thought about some of the biblical words for poor, is poverty just about money? 3. To what extent do the way things are run, the social structures and systems, play a part? 4. If an individual is poor is it their fault in some way? 5. Is there a spiritual dimension to poverty? 6. Is poverty part of our culture? Based on your own experiences 7. At what times or places have you felt oppressed or powerless? 8. Who are the local people experiencing a form of poverty? 9. How are Christians working alongside people who experience poverty? How are they challenging the things that cause poverty (like organisations, people and the ways people think)? 10. What sort of a difference are they making? Are they being effective?
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Appendix D The Whole Gospel.
Between people and God Between people or groups and big structures in society like organisations or governments.
Within relationships between individuals, couples, families and friendships Between people and the environment
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Appendix E Its the way that you do it.

In role play as a group decide and write down
What Attitudes would be held by your group (e.g. sympathetic, humble, superior?) What Practical things would your group do to respond to this situation? (e.g. pay someone to run a project, do research in schools, use ideas that have worked elsewhere.) What would be the Outcome for the young people? What difference will it make for them? (e.g. provide new skills, keep them occupied, help them to make decisions.) What will be the Outcome for the planning team i.e. your group (e.g. challenged our attitudes, had our guilt relieved because weve done our bit)
As yourselves, discuss these questions:

Why is it easier to be a benefactor to people rather than a servant partner with people? What are the positive and negative sides of each approach? What things can you do to engage with people to find out what they are thinking and feeling rather than just do things to them or do things for them? If we are to empower the poor and the powerless what do we have to do? Can you think of practical examples of this?
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Feedback form
We really hope you found this course useful. It has been revised at least twice and we are eager to hear of any ways we could improve it. Please use this form, write an email to communityinfo@livability.org.uk or a letter to give us your ideas and send to: Livability Community Mission, 50 Scrutton Street, London, EC2A 4XQ. Thank you! 1. Please rate each section 1 to 5 (1 poor 5 excellent) Session One Session Three Session Two Session Four
2. Please describe what you liked / disliked about each section? Session One
Session Two
Session Three
Session Four
3. What would you change or add to the pack. Do you have any other comments/suggestions on the course?
4. What other topics would you like to see covered by future packs on Christian social action? Name: Address:
Email:
Phone:

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1

Why Social Action?

For facilitators information

Session One - Let Scripture speak!

For group study and reflection

Other relevant references (useful for individual study)

Session Two Good news to the poor

For group study and reflection

For group study and reflection

Pray over the issues that have arisen in your discussion.

For group study and reflection

Follow with a time of prayer.

Appendix A Prayer-action-reflection cycle

Appendix B A Scripture Feast!

Appendix C Who are The Poor?

Appendix D The Whole Gospel.

Appendix E Its the way that you do it.

As yourselves, discuss these questions:

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