Jonah: Finding New Life 2 Becoming an Activist.

Jonah 1:1-3  Becoming an Activist

Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash

In a conversation about the state of the world, a friend expressed that perhaps it was time that he and others become activists.  He wondered if there was any point to becoming an activist around an issue if there was no guarantee that your activism would be successful.  We assured him that success couldn’t be the motivating factor.  Yes, you hoped to make the world better but you did the right thing just because it was the right thing to do.  That better world that you helped to create might not come to reality in your lifetime. 

Jonah knew that the task God set for him, to chastise the people of Nineveh for their wickedness, would not likely be successful, however one chose to define that success.  It would likely mean ridicule, harassment, maybe even physical danger for Jonah.  He decided the risk wasn’t worth it and ran in the other direction. 

What excuses do you use, what calls do you ignore to avoid becoming actively engaged in naming evil and working for good?

Honest confession:  There is an offensive sign in our neighbourhood, technically a flag (black and red with two words one of which is Trudeau). It bothers me and I have considered dropping a note in the mailbox of the home and expressing my discomfort.  I have not yet done it.  My son-in-law doesn’t like that his children have to pass the sign on the way to school.  He spoke to our town Councillor and it turns out that we have a bylaw against offensive signs, but not flags. However, the Councillor brought the issue to council and they have extended the bylaw to include flags, so when the paperwork is done, the flag should come down.  Why did he act and I haven’t?  Perhaps I will today or tomorrow. 

p.s. having written this and passed by that flag again, I did stop and put a note under the windshield wiper of the truck in the drive.  When I passed by next, the truck was gone but the flag was still there!