Find and fashion strategies of change that are in line with the mind of Christ.

#4 Find and fashion strategies of change that are in line with the mind of Christ – When you revolt, do so in a way that Jesus would not be ashamed of. – Bishop Peter Storey

February 13, 2025

Dear siblings in Christ,

The Oxford English Dictionary defines revolt as “an attempt to put an end to the authority of a person or body by rebelling ‘a revolt against oppressive rule’.” Bishop Storey was not shy about using that word – note he says “when you revolt” not “if”. In using “when”, he drew from the deep well of scripture that, for him, clearly indicated revolt was grounded in faith. Standing up for the oppressed is commanded by God and we are obligated to press against the sources of that oppression.

Equally clear to Bishop Storey was that when we obey God and stand up for the oppressed we don’t get to disobey God in our methods. The ends definitely do not justify the means.

During the days surrounding the tenth anniversary of the Soweto Uprising[i], Bishop Story and other Christian leaders asked allies from around the world to please send flowers to the township as a sign of support and remembrance. Townships are areas to which blacks were forcibly resettled during Apartheid and the level of poverty in them, particularly in the 1980’s, was high. This was a strange thing to do. Flower arrangements were out of place. But the action’s strangeness was its power.  The flowers were a visible reminder to the families and survivors that they were not alone and that the world was remembering the brutal actions of the government alongside them. The government did not like this at all. When the police intervened and stopped all flower deliveries, the people took a simple line drawing of a flower, made hundreds of copies, and placed them on the windshields of parked cars. Police then ticketed those cars. The upshot was the residents of Soweto appreciated the care, and supporters worldwide sent a message to the authorities: you can’t brush your appalling actions under the rug. We remember. That message was received, as evidenced by the police force using widespread resources over several days simply to fight flowers and a drawing of one.

Importantly, nothing about this action went against the teachings and mind of Christ. It was subversive. And Bishop Storey was very keen to remind us that Jesus was subversive as well.

When we undertake any kind of direct action, we still need to be able to go to bed at night with a clear conscience. We need to be able to look in the mirror and into each others’ eyes knowing we have done nothing that Jesus would decry. It requires creativity and even a kind of playfulness to come up with strategies and actions like this. And when we do, we are testifying that we are children of God.

Find and fashion strategies of change that are in line with the mind of Christ. When you revolt, do so in a way that Jesus would not be ashamed of.

With you on the path,

Jenny+

[i] See Wikipedia for background at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soweto_uprising Warning: the Wikipedia page shows a very famous picture of twelve-year-old Hector Pietersen, who had been shot by police, being carried away. This image is disturbing and became a symbol of the uprising.