Freedom, Faith and Community.

By Trish Patrick in All Sorts

the 'common good' is a concept we must cherish

Freedom, Faith and Community
Freedom is imperiled in these days of geopolitical unrest. Currently a
number of countries are effectively a minefield where freedom is
threatened by a pathological need for 'power over'. Inequality,
ethnicity, and poverty disempower their peoples, and personal
freedom is a concept only dreamed of.
At a national level, NZ responded vehemently when the nuclear issue
was in hot debate. The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior called for
outraged response from the Government and the people. There was
swift and ongoing support for Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion.
On a more personal level, we have the right to free association, for
free assembly, to peacefully protest, although that right has been
challenged more recently. Te Tiriti, Te reo, Maori affairs and rights are
vigorously debated, and equality in many areas requires ongoing
vigilance and protection.
When it comes to personal rights, a sense of erosion is being felt by
many, and rightly so in many cases. Court cases challenging the actions
of some citizens deemed to be restricting the personal rights of other
citizens happen regularily. These can be lengthy costly disputes but
invariably there is some sort of resolution, leaving some rightly or
wrongly with a sense of grievance. While there is much to celebrate
there remains much to be sorted. Religious freedom, the right to
worship whenever and however is enshrined in law but plenty could
still be discussed around that topic.
However the 'common good' is a concept we must cherish. What is
going to contribute to a community at large is the heart of democracy.
Social justice is at the heart of the gospel and very much at the cutting
edge of our communities. The elevation of the rights of the individual,
when not set alongside the common good, becomes a threat to
society. We are witnesssing this happening in the USA where the right
of an individual to bear arms has over-ridden the common sense need
for the common good. Mass shootings are becoming very much a part
of society. Sadly, the rights of the Individual have drowned out the
voices pleading for change. Sadly, influential billionaire tech giants and
the gun rights lobby have the ear of the powerful. Elon Musk has said
quite openly that ' empathy will be the down fall of civilization.'
Elon Musk aside...
...It does ones heart good to watch a 'good sorts' clip on Tv. Its an
excellent reminder that many communities in many countries are
doing an admirable job of inclusion in drawing disparate groups of
people into the heart of community. Eat your heart out Elon Musk!
Personal freedom has obligations. Philosopher Simone de Beauvoir
said that 'personal freedom means the freedom to break free from
unfair rules'. Freedom comes with personal responsibility, not just for
ourselves, but for others.
Many moons ago, in another life I was taught in Sunday school and
bibleclass that unless you do something 'in God's name, you do it in
vain'. In other words, at a personal or social level unless community
work is done from a consciously Christian perspective, it wouldn't be
blessed by God. At the time I was perplexed by this idea, but decided
quite quickly it was ridiculous. Helping people no matter who they
were, was valid. Compassion was compassion wherever it happened,
within the church or outside of it. I wonder if that idea had more to do
with keeping congregants free to do 'God's work' within in the church!
Invariably, community facing projects undertaken by the churcn had
the underlying purpose of evangelism'. It was never done without a
hook in the tail, and that felt dishonest.
For this reason I deeply appreciate John Wesley's rule of 'Doing
good'....
Do all the good you can,
by all the means you can,
in all the ways you can,
in all the places you can,
at all the times you can,
to all the people you can,
as long as ever you can'.

No strings attached,,,,no conditions....Just because we can and we
want to...to create a sense of community and belonging whatever
ethnicity, religion or lack of, social status or gender. We are in this
together.
Social justice and personal agency are for all.. Not just the privileged
few. Compassion and justice are inseparable. Jesus demonstrated that.
Martin Luther King put it so succinctly 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to
justice everywhere'
Amen to that !!
Trish Patrick.