Kony 2012 and Gospel Action

So, I’ve watched this video:

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

It tugs my heartstrings. I want to do Something. Anything.

And then I read this short post discussing the video:
http://www.how-matters.org/2012/03/06/good-guys-bad-guys/

BUT the video AND the short post are each missing something.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m unashamedly hopeful about the ability of humans to change their own situations. But the events of the Arab Spring certainly remind us that lasting change must come from within.”

This is why political / social activism is not the complete answer. The Gospel must be the motivation and impetus of action because the Gospel will implant itself and true change will come from within– not that the political / social situation will change so much as true change that matters. But any political / social change for the good is, well, good, too.

We are NOT doing enough. I think we American Christians have gotten lazy and used to the high life (compared to the rest of the world), and we don’t like infringing on our cushy lifestyle.

This is something I’m thinking through– long and hard– what am I doing for the “least of these”?

I’m torn.

1) I want to spend more “resources” (e.g. money, TIME, effort, possessions, etc…) to meet needs and share the Gospel

2) I do not want to haphazardly “spend” all of my “resources” (see above) without much thought

3) I want to strategically spend my “resources” in the most effective way possible

4) I do not want my strategic spending as an excuse to do nothing right now.

The short post reminds me that I do not want to continue to be the one who tells the Jacobs of the world, “I feel your pain brother…go in peace” (James 2:14-15) and feel I’ve accomplished something.

There’s that tension in me, again, that’s coming into play.

As a friend of mine is reading through Generous Justice by Timothy Keller (see here), he shared some questions he’s wrestling through:

1. What am I personally doing?

2. Is sending a check enough or just soothing my conscience?

3. If I want to help the poor & disadvantaged in Greenville am I subconsciously being that “paternalistic” man trying to solve my brother’s problems?

4. What does doing justice and looking out for the poor look like?

5. How did the church (including me) get so calloused to helping the physical AND spiritual needs of both the lost and those of the household of faith?

Glad we have Miracle Hill here in town and it’s many ministries…but again wrestling through how do I personally do this beyond my Jerusalem?

Question: With the Gospel as our motivation and impetus to action, what are some action steps we can implement? IOW – what are some practical things (practical outworkings of the Gospel) we can do that are genuine and concerted efforts to obey James 1:27 et al?

Update: 3/9/2012

Situations are not always what they seem. The complexities are generally under the surface and difficult to detect. Yes, things are as bad as we’re told but the solution(s) are not so easily found. So, I present to you the following:

Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story

My Take on #StopKony
My take on #StopKony/

Kony 2012: A survivor’s perspective
Kony 2012: A survivor’s perspective

Christianity Today wrote a lengthy article discussing the situation of Joseph Kony and the children of Uganda: Deliver Us from Joseph Kony
Why the children of Uganda are killing one another in the name of the Lord.
Deliver Us from Joseph Kony

Plus, Tim Challies offers advice: Just breathe. Stop and think.

Update2

LoroJoro adds her 2 cents: On Kony, Criticism, History, Colonialism, and Conscience

Here is the continually updated article discussing the pros and cons of Kony2012 and the whole situation by the Guardian mentioned by LoroJoro: Kony 2012: what’s the real story?

Update3 3/12/2012

Medical missionaries in Uganda respond to Kony 2012: On Kony and viruses.