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Yesterday I prayed an uneasy prayer for justice, uneasy because I know that if justice is what I really want then it will cost me dear. If we pray for people we are taking responsibility for them and God is just as likely to use us as anyone else as instruments for answering our prayers. But talk is easy and I sit with a friend setting the world to rights. I tell her about asking someone in Amnesty for information for an article in a Christian magazine — “Well, I don’t know”, she said, “I don’t know whether I’ve got anything that Christians would be interested in — I suppose I could give you a prayer I have?” We laughed about this, and about people’s misconceptions of Christians, but inside I felt we ought to cry. Perhaps she was right — perhaps she doesn’t have anything that would be of interest to a Christian magazine.
Many people seem to think that Christians should keep out of political matters and stick to the spiritual. It is certainly easier for them if they do. The gospels tell us something else though — they send a clear message that defending and promoting human rights is basic to living out the Good News of Jesus here and now and is the work of God. Every single human being is our neighbour and is God’s beloved creation. This is why we affirm the unique value of everyone, whatever their race, religion, sex or politics. We are all part of a single family and whatever is done to one is done to all. The Old Testament speaks of the God who does justice, setting his people free; he is the God who demands justice (Isaiah 58. 1–11) and the God who promises justice through his Messiah who is to come (Isaiah 61.1).
Jesus is not only the promised Messiah, anointed to bring good news to the poor and liberty to the captives (Luke 4.18) but also God in person, sharing fully in human life, suffering and death. He was arrested as a political agitator (Luke 22.14); he was betrayed, beaten, tortured, humiliated and finally executed though he had done no wrong. He is a perfect example of what is meant by a prisoner of conscience. He is now risen from the dead and bound up with the whole of creation and our human family — so much that whatever we do or fail to do for others we do or fail to do to him today (Matthew 25.31–46). This means those being tortured and facing execution as he did. Christians must not pass by on the other side when they know their fellow human beings are suffering injustice. We are expected to stop and offer practical help — to show our love. We cannot wash our hands of what is happening — we must be Christ’s voice and instruments in the world. For too long Christians have been only involved in the inward and the spiritual — we should not have allowed people to gain the impression that as Christians we are not interested in the politics of justice. Working for justice and freedom should be the result of our faith. For the entire Law can be summed up as Love your neighbour as yourself.
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” (Matthew 25:42–45)
Join York University’s Student Amnesty group. It meets at 1.20pm every Tuesday lunchtime in V119 to write letters and discuss business. Week 2 is a special focus on China Week and support and help is always needed. For more information contact mg113@york.ac.uk or icaw@york.ac.uk or write to Amnesty Society at the Student Centre, Goodricke College. Join UK section of Amnesty as an individual member (£7.50 for students) by writing to Amnesty UK, 99–119 Roseberry Ave, London, EC1R 4RE or phone 0171 814 6200. As a student society affiliate to Amnesty British Section — this costs very little and is a positive way of showing your support. Sign a letter at the Amnesty stall held in Vanbrugh every Wednesday lunchtime. This is a quick and effective way of making your feelings known. Alternatively write to the Syrian president or Ambassador on behalf of Khalil Brayez. The details of this case are opposite. Why not do this now? Pray for prisoners of conscience.
It is not a Christian organisation. It is a worldwide movement independent of any religious creed or ideology. That does not mean that many Christians are not members and members are not motivated by their Christian faith. Amnesty seeks the release of all prisoners of conscience, people anywhere who are detained for their beliefs, colour, sex, ethnic origin, language or religion — provided they have not used or advocated violence. It advocates fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners, opposes the use of torture and execution and works for an end to disappearances and extra judicial killings. Amnesty works. Many prisoners are indeed released, spared torture or death, treated less badly or simply strengthened by knowing that they are cared for and are not forgotten.
(I have borrowed freely from literature from Amnesty International)
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Last modified: 25th November 2005