By Rev. Chris Brouillard-Coyle
IN THE BIBLICAL story of Jonah, the prophet is tasked with telling the entire city of Nineveh that the ways they are behaving, the path they are on, will lead to their destruction.
It is a favourite tale for Sunday schools because Jonah’s initial resistance leads to him being eaten by a whale. Jonah’s experience inside the whale is enough to transform his position and he does as he is called to do. He tells Nineveh to repent, to change their ways.
Jonah isn’t the only Biblical character tasked with speaking truth to power and telling people to repent of their ways. Esther risked her life for her people. Daniel spent time in a lion’s den after confronting the king of his time. Nathan had the unenviable task of helping King David realize the sinfulness of his actions regarding Uriah and Bathsheba. Then there were the many prophets, each in their own time and in their own ways tasked with teaching and proclaiming truths and challenges to the people and those in authority.
By the time we get to John the Baptist, we aren’t shocked when he refers to the powerful Pharisees and Sadducees as a ‘brood of vipers’ (Mt 3:7). We find hope in the words Mary as she sings her song of praise: “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” (Lk 1:52-53). We believe what we hear in Jesus’ first sermon as he reads from Isaiah “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Lk 4:18-19).
This tendency to speak to truth to power, to engage with society, to seek to transform the unjust structures that contribute to marginalization, is deeply embedded in our Bible stories and our history as Christians. Jesus upset the powerful to the point where they sought to destroy him. Following Jesus’ footsteps, others have done likewise throughout history. While the ideal of the separation of church and state was created to ensure that church did not abuse its power through the state, it remains important to not abandon the foundational aspects of our faith – that greatest commandment to love God and love neighbour – in the ways we engage with the state.
Church has a role to play in speaking truth to power especially when those in power cause harm to those who are vulnerable. Loving our neighbour, respecting the dignity of every human being, means that we have a responsibility to ensure that people are treated with dignity.
There are people of faith who are leading the way, challenging those who fail to see the value of safe injection sites, those who treat homelessness as a crime, those who willfully devalue the well-being of individuals who are gender diverse, and more. Our Marks of Mission include transforming unjust structures of society, challenge violence of every kind, and pursue peace and reconciliation and there are examples of people of faith actively engaged in this work.
What more can each of us do to contribute to this important, faith-based work? As you reflect on your goals for 2025, consider doing one thing each month for those who are vulnerable. Read a book and/or engage in educational activities about the needs and gifts of vulnerable communities. Participate in some form of activism: write a letter, sign a petition, share information, attend a rally, or talk with those in power. Engaging in social justice activism doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Commit to do one thing each month this year. If you need inspiration, go back to the Bible. Activism is part of our story. It is part of who Jesus was and who we are called to be.
As we prepare to enter 2025, may we hold before us the words of the prophet Micah (6:8): “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Knowing what the Lord requires of us may we actively engage in ways that seek to transform the unjust structures of society, challenge violence of every kind, and pursue peace and reconciliation.
Rev. Chris Brouillard-Coyle is a co-chair of SEJH.