Good Trouble Brewing

My dear Friends!

I thought I would like to share this article with you (Church in Community, The Herald 2023), mainly to pique your curiosity, and because “good trouble” is brewing. Tebogo, Ardiela and I have something exciting in store for all of you.

I do think you will join us in creating some trouble – some “good trouble” that is…

The art of “good trouble” by Gail Charalambous

Every day, it seems, we throw up our hands in disbelief and frustration.

We rant, rage and sometimes we use the odd swear word in response to the latest scandal involving money or resources that have been misappropriated, infrastructure that is dysfunctional and traffic lights that are lying on the pavement or centre island, smashed and broken.

An endless list of disappointments and heartache.

We are not powerless to make a difference and to put a stop to the evils which beset all levels of our society.

Dear friends, as followers of Jesus, I believe it is time for us embark on a journey of bringing about meaningfulchange by practicing, preaching and inspiring change by focusing on issues of social justice, by showing love and compassion for vulnerable, the marginalized, financially poor and unemployed residents in our metro.

Therefore, it is time for us to show up, speak out and create “good trouble”!

“Good trouble”! “How?” I hear you say.

Here’s how I think we should embark on creating this “good trouble’.

Firstly, we need to examine our individual motives and shortcomings, pray for guidance and healing, and encourage and engage in dialogue with each other, our church community, other denominations, various political parties and government structures.

They need to hear that there is a desperate and urgent need for our metro to function properly and efficiently, to actand behave in good faith and be willing to bring about change by creating goodwill, respect, dignity and sense of self-worth in each and every resident.

Our discussions could lead to assisting and empowering various governmental, provincial and local governmentpoliticians and staff to work towards a common purpose of practising good governance with honourable intentions.

It is also time for grandstanding, petty politics and continuous “motions of no confidence” to stop. They are very damaging, negative, disempowering and do not serve the residents of this metro.

All those who love Jesus, who preach and minister to the residents in this metro, are called upon to give advice, counsel and address pertinent issues that affect us, your congregants, on a daily basis.

Don’t be afraid, to lead us, to challenge us in addressing poverty, hunger, unemployment, crime and corruption.

Of course, you are going to offend some folks, even upset a few. Take courage. Jesus regularly upset those in power.

Let’s take courage, comfort and guidance from the Gospel writers Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Come

let’s stand firm, be offensive, pray, speak the truth and make some “good trouble”.

Recently, I listened to a wonderful on line interview entitled “Faithful Witness” – a conversation between Rev Rowan Rogers, (Newton Park Methodist Church) and Rev George Irvine.

In discussion, George stated that the church, in his opinion, had lost sight of what it is supposed to be doing in the world.

He mentioned that our role is to love the world by living for the Kingdom.

For example, we need to pray for councillors who believe in justice and truth, who have integrity and are willing to represent the church by loving the world and living for the kingdom in confronting injustice and corruption.

Secondly, we should encourage and appeal to folk of all religious persuasions, who work in government, provincial and municipal structures to obey God’s highest order.

They need support to prevent the truth from being repressed, to shine a light on the issues that are evil and destructive, as well as encourage and protect those colleagues who show great courage in their quest and willingness to speak out against corruption and wanton abuse of finances and assets.

If enough people co-operate and work together creating a mighty force that seeks to speak and practise truth and righteousness, in other words to make “good trouble”, then surely those is power will be forced to take note and obey God’s highest order by conducting themselves with integrity, love and humility.

The cost of remaining silent includes little children dying of hunger and neglect, and clinics so ill- equipped and shortstaffed that a young rape survivor is callously turned away, only to die on the floor of a charge office in a police station.

If we continue to fail to question those in power and influence about their appalling behaviour, then we followers of Jesus must be held accountable for the results of their malfeasance and corruption.

“Love cannot be theoretical. Neither is it soft or weak, but there is a violence to love, not a violence that hurts people, but a violence that resists all that hurts people.

“It stands up to the powers that exploit and destroys God’s beloved children, it is a violent passion that shouts – No more! In the name of Christ, no more!” (St Oscar Romero Archbishop of San Salvador.) Gail Charalambous: A person who cares about other people.