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Philippians and Philemon: Prison Epistles, Part 2

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of Philippians (Philippians 1–4)
    22 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  2. Lesson Two
    Philippians: Suffering and Community (Philippians Review)
    22 Activities
  3. Lesson Three
    Overview of Philemon
    22 Activities
  4. Lesson Four
    Paul and Slavery (Philemon, Romans 6 Review)
    17 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    Social Impact
    9 Activities
    |
    4 Assessments
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

Participants 19

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Philippians and Philemon: Prison Epistles, Part 2 Social Impact In Front | Personal Relationships and Big Ideas
Lesson 5, Activity 7

In Front | Personal Relationships and Big Ideas

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Even if we’re not choosing the wrong cause or participating in vast social evils like slavery or pogroms, we can still get social activism wrong by having too narrow a view of it. We tend to isolate it in large-scale movements, but the social impact the Bible promotes is more local than you think. It’s in your house, your family, your immediate peer groups and the people you encounter casually over the course of the day. The Bible is asking us to heal society by our God-like engagement in personal relationships and in social systems.

It feels important to have the right ideas about big issues, and that is important—but God wants congruence between our “positions” on these issues and our everyday interactions. Sometimes it’s easier to deal with problems “out there” than with the people “right here.” Of course, keeping the more local, mundane relationships a priority doesn’t excuse the lack of involvement in systemic expressions of exploitation, abuse and marginalization.

The following questions provide an inventory on your preferences for social impact. There is no right answer. Use this instead to understand yourself and to seek balance.

Which of the following gets you more excited and engaged?

a) A sensitive viewpoint regarding the #metoo movement
b) Loving your mother-in-law

Which of the following gets you more excited and engaged?

a) Promoting better policies through your neighborhood association
b) Having healthy personal interactions with your annoying neighbor

Which of the following gets you more excited and engaged?

a) Becoming less passive politically
b) Becoming less passive-aggressive in your personal relationships

Which of the following gets you more excited and engaged?

a) Responsibly expressing your socio-economic convictions
b) Responsibly expressing the love of God in you

Which of the following gets you more excited and engaged?

a) Seeking the truth behind political narratives
b) Seeking the well-being of a vulnerable family member

Biblical social activism always involves the most immediate level, with the people you share space with and encounter on a daily basis. It then extends to broader social initiatives because of the same kind of love and passion for justice. Biblical activism is not limited to freestanding causes but rather originates with a worldview that seeks a fully reconciled society grounded in healthy personal relationships. Here’s a good word from the apostle John: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18 NIV).