Sunday, June 15, 2008

--

This is not about charity in the end, is it? It's about justice. The good news yet to come. I just want to repeat that: This is not about charity, it's about justice. And that's too bad. Because we're good at charity. Americans, Irish people, are good at charity. We like to give, and we give a lot, even those who can't afford it.
But justice is a higher standard. Africa makes a fool of our idea of justice; it makes a farce of our idea of equality. It mocks our pieties; it doubts our concern, and it questions our commitment. Six and a half thousand Africans are still dying every day of preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy at any drug store. This is not about charity: This is about Justice and Equality.
-- Bono



Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup -- where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
James 2:14-17

4 comments:

Mary said...

I see you are diving right into the Red Letters, I think you will love it. It really gives you a lot to think about, and challenges you right where you are.

Anonymous said...

I just read that quote by Bono recently because my friend Dana posted it a few weeks back as one of her guest articles on her ezine/website. If you haven't read the entire keynote address, it's worth the read.

http://www.danaroc.com/guests_bono_050508.html

Thanks for these words on this Sunday, Amy. You were my church today.

Love you!
Janece

amy smith said...

mary, i read it last night. and i want steve to read it.
and janece, bono was a hero of mine before, but now my eyes are even more open.

Jennie Peakin said...

I just got done with Red Letters...it is so amazing!