EEA Newsletter June 2017

EEA Newsletter June 2017

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EDITOTORIAL

About BalanceThomas Bucher

It is a natural law. If something gets out of balance it will swing back into balance or at least it will try to do so. Christians have used and unfortunately in many cases abused power for centuries. That was not in the servant like mode Jesus called them to. Since the Enlightenment, Christians have paid for this. But now, Europe is going way too far to the other side. Religion is pushed into the private sector. A few countries in this world have a massively over proportional share of the world’s wealth and use resources accordingly. In fact, 62 of the richest people own over half of the assets of the world. There are many more examples of imbalance causing pain, anger, hate, desire, greed, feelings of hopelessness, anxiety and the more.

No surprise

Therefore, it should for instance not surprise us that we find many refugees for economic reasons among the many who are displaced by civil unrest, wars and natural disasters. Apparently, an African said: You Europeans can build the walls as high as you want. We will come anyway. And they will, because things are not in balance.

What can be done?

In the Old Testament, the people of God were judged by God when they did not treat the poor, the widow and the orphan or the stranger well. God’s judgement aimed to put the balance right. In the New Testament Jesus says about himself: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has anointed me to tell good news to the poor. He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set oppressed people free, and to announce the year of the Lord’s favour. Sounds pretty much like setting the balance straight. Prayer is a good starting point. It helps us to be involved in what is going on around us. It exposes us to God’s standards for this world. And this will take us beyond prayer. It will move us into praying and working for God’s kingdom. So, if we are followers of Jesus, are we going about his business of putting the balance right? Is the World Refugee Sunday marked in your calendar? Are you praying for your Muslim neighbours during Ramadan or in the extended prayer campaign 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World? If you are not already involved, can I challenge you to do so? But be warned, it might take you to places you have not been before. And you might be challenged to put the balance right in various areas of your own life.

Thomas Bucher EEA General Secretary  

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