“I am not a social activist” is the title of a book by Ronald Sider. By making Jesus the centre of our agenda, he demonstrates that issues of wealth, poverty, peace and nonviolence, and social action and politics are as spiritual as evangelism, family and marriage. Quoting Abraham Kuyper, he said that there is not one square inch of this whole earth that does not belong to the risen Lord.
For that reason, doing justice and caring for others are matters of interest not only to social activists. They are a core ministry for those who follow Jesus. Even more, as Sider notes, effective social action requires the power of Jesus’ resurrection.
We can see how crucial it is to rely on the Holy Spirit and the power of Jesus’ resurrection in the church’s social action when we understand the meaning of the word “solidarity” from a biblical perspective. Solidarity can be used to translate the Hebrew word hesed in the Old Testament. Let’s see an example:
“He has told you, human one, what is good and what the Lord requires from you: to do justice, embrace tenacious solidarity (hesed) and walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8 (CEB).
Hesed combines pure love, generosity, and lasting commitment. It is an expression of character; therefore, it does not depend on how others respond. It implies being open to forgiveness and to acting to help the other. It refers to both attitude and actions.
Therefore, solidarity – understood as hesed – is not practiced vertically, from above. It is horizontal, implying mutual respect. As such, it cannot result from human determination alone. It is a consequence of a personal, real encounter with God. After all, we love because we were loved in the first place (1 John 4:19).
One reason Mennonite World Conference was founded a century ago was to stand in solidarity with our churches facing war, violence and persecution. Mennonite World Conference is our global church, where we follow Jesus, live out unity and build peace. We are a body of more than 10 000 local congregations, organized into 110 synods or national churches. We have about 1.5 million baptized members. We need each other to follow Jesus; we need each other to live out unity; we need each other to build peace.
God invites us to act as God does, with pure love, generosity and enduring commitment. God calls us to respond to the needs of other members of our global church with solidarity and selfless action, so that we can experience solidarity within our family of faith and carry it to the world – a world that suffers the consequences of its distance from God, the source of faithful love and tenacious solidarity.
Today, as we reflect on solidarity in this edition of Courier, let’s remember our brothers and sisters who face war, violence, poverty and persecution. Let’s pray for them. Let’s share our resources with them. Let’s advocate for them. Let’s walk side by side with them. Let’s ask God for the Holy Spirit’s presence in our church so we may continue to respond with solidarity.
—César García, MWC general secretary, originally from Colombia, lives in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
