Social (in)justice and the morality of cheap socks.

After a few months' absence, we got to spend last weekend with our house church friends and family at the Fresh Ground London. During the Sunday service, Pastor Jason led a group discussion that focused on the idea of social justice in light of the recent collapse-and-fire at a clothing factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

We watched this heart-wrenching news report.

It reminded us of Isaiah 58, a passage that makes us laugh and cry and always reminds us of our friend Lance. It reminds us why we buy everything that we can secondhand, too.

Then we watched a thought-provoking/convicting/inspiring video from the TearFund project about what it means to be Christian in the light of everyday injustice, and how we can be more conscious (and more Christ-like) in our decision-making.

It reminded us of Micah 6:8. Of doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly.

After a long, thoughtful group discussion, we wrote out prayers of confession. This was Aaron's:

"Father, I confess that I have often willingly and knowingly neglected to hold myself to the standards and passions that you have created an cultivated in me.

"You know how difficult it is to remember all of the things that I hear you calling me to do and be and say...but you also know full well when I'm just choosing to ignore your voice, your words, your Spirit in my life.

"Convict me, I pray...about the things I say and do; the things I eat; the ways I contribute to environmental problems; the things I buy and wear and own. Help me to be faithful in small things, so that I may be faithful in big things. Forgive and use me, I pray. Amen."

We concluded by singing Tim Hughes' We Must Go as a sort of prescriptive benediction. It seemed fitting, somehow...because singing (and thinking, and talking) isn't enough.

It's not nearly enough.

Because as Christians, we are called to act, to live, and to love each other...and to do so prayerfully and mindfully and intentionally, knowing that the God of southwest London is also the God of southeast Asia.

We are all his beloved children; we are called to act like it!