<<BACK
Taken
from the June 2005 parish
magazine.
I find it hard to believe that I am writing for a June
magazine. The
long awaited General Election is over, to the relief of some and the
despair of others. Each party believed that their ideas were
best for
the country and tried in different ways to persuade us to agree. When
we came to vote the choice was simple. We could not pick and
choose
policies from different parties or candidates to come up with our
perfect choice. Our vote was all or nothing.
When it comes to faith there is a tendency to adopt a pick and mix
attitude. We choose different aspects of religions that suit
us or are
comfortable.
I
believe that there is a rich debate to be had as
we check out what
different faiths teach us and discern what is true. But as
with voting, when it comes to allegiance we can be faithful to only
one, and for me that is to Jesus Christ. If you are
interested in exploring this idea I would love to talk to you.
One thing that was encouraging during the election, was that every
party felt they needed to address the issue of World Poverty.
This is something I feel strongly about having recently returned from
Tanzania (see my letter in the April Issue). The Make Poverty History
campaign is achieving wide support.
A concern for the poor is clearly a part of the manifesto of
Jesus. We read in James 2:15-17: “If a brother or
sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you
says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do
not give them what is necessary for their physical needs, what use is
that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is
dead.” There are a number of opportunities to make
a difference. We are supporting some projects in Haiti and Tanzania,
specifically targeting the poor, though
more help is needed.
We can also find out more about the issues and make our voice
heard. Make Poverty History is focussing on three issues:
unjust trade rules; the unfair burden of debt on poor countries; and
the quantity and quality of aid poor countries receive. To
find out more visit www. makepovertyhistory.org. If you would
like to do something to help, please; let us know so we can show our
faith is alive.
Rev W Henderson
