Compassion with Courage Leads Us Outside
Posted on Mar 23 2006 | Tagged as: books, faith, faith in action, justice, leadership
A few weeks back I was in invited to a two-day training in Seattle sponsored by International Justice Mission. It was a test of my courage to respond to this opportunity because I knew I was going to be out of my league. As a result of the training I have committed to becoming a “Justice Advocate” representing IJM in our community. (If you would like to learn more I would love to talk to you about IJM - They are freeing slaves around the world!)
At the training I was given all kinds of materials including the book Good News About Injustice. In the opening page of this book Gary Haugen states that if he were only able to give his children one gift it would be that they become men and women of courage.
He then goes on to quote C.S. Lewis saying:
| Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means, at the point of highest reality. A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions. Pilate was merciful till it became risky. (Screwtape Letters, New York:Collier, 1982, pp. 137-38) |
Courage seems like an attribute we must have in order to effectively move out and express our faith in action. If I were to add courage to compassion the result would be an active expression of Christ’s love.
Like Gary, I have prayed for my children since they were born that they would have a heart of compassion. I am not so concerned about intelligence, athletic ability or good looks. Instead I have prayed that they would have a tenderness for other people. I think I will add to that prayer, courage.
Undeveloped Thoughts:
Compassion + Courage = Active expressions of Christ’s love
Westside Outside - I am wondering if this label could describe a movement within our school to respond outside of the world we are comfortable in. I am also challenged to move outside of a purely self-focused expression of faith. This is not a judgment of our current state as much as a challenge to examine where we are and where we feel called to be. I want to continue to explore this.
Gary Haugen is speaking at Sunset Presbyterian this Sunday at 9am, 11am and 5pm.
on 23 Mar 2006 at 11:22 pm 1 Steve said …
Amen and amen…if you want to see who’s driving another car like yours check out ipastor.blogspot.com….. Let’s go outside….
on 24 Mar 2006 at 9:57 am 2 Jon Knapp said …
Hey Andy,
I would love more info about becoming an advocate with IJM. I am very inspired by “Good News about Injustice.”
I love the concept of Westside Outside. If Westside is seeking to make disciples of it’s students, I don’t see how it is possible to do that souly in the class room. The best discipleship I have been a part of comes through life and mission lived together.
Keep pursuing your dream.