I Want To Be An Activist

Last updated on: February 20, 2016 at 12:02 pm by Andy Gill

I Want To Be An Activist 2016-02-20T12:02:34-05:00 Andy Gill

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“I want to be an activist.”

These were the words of Henry, a six year old, after hearing an abridged version of Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech at a Middle Project Freedom School event. This was the first time Henry had ever heard these words.

We were in a room with people of all ages and had just finished creating an art gallery, illustrating lines from King’s speech. And with this “dream” on the walls around us and ringing in our ears, Henry captured what many of us where thinking.

“I want to be an activist.”

This, I believe, is central to my Christian faith. We embody the love and life of God in the world around us, praying, as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once said, with our feet. This is why we march. This is why we protest. This is why we gather and assemble and sit in and teach in and die in. We are embodying the echo of freedom and the movement of God, reminding ourselves and every generation that God has been, is, and will continue to move in us, through us, and in spite of us.

There is nothing passive about being a person of faith. We are called to be active, to be the hands and feet and face of God in the midst of whatever part of the world we find ourselves. Yet too often people of faith are found sitting on their hands, attending to their insular holy huddles, trapping God inside our steeple-topped boxes as we bicker about replacing the carpet rather than turning over the tables and taking part in faith-filled ethical spectacles.

“I want to be an activist.”

Yes Henry, you can be an activist. Our church and our world need you to be an activist, taking your six year old heartbeat for justice and seeing it grow, alive and active now and every day ahead of you. And Henry, you will need friends and mentors, pastors and parents to take this journey with you, linking their arms with yours as you find God on the street, a faith that is alive and active in the world around you.

And so to all the Henrys in the world: may the church continue to create space for you, both who you are and who you are becoming. Your six year old faith captures an eternal essence of God that we would all be wise to learn from.

And to those of us a bit older than the Henrys of the world: may we be the friends and mentors, the pastors and parents that help Henry find this path of faith-filled activism that he is called to walk on. May we go ahead of him and with him, leading him and learning from him, rehearsing the reign of God and offering a glimpse of King’s dream becoming more and more a reality.

May we all discover the force of our soul’s creativity, may we be creative extremists for love, may we realize the urgency of now, and may every step we take let freedom ring.

I Want To Be An Activist

Jim Kast-Keat

Previous Post

April 27, 2015

Martin Luther King Jr. on His Biggest Mistake

Next Post

May 6, 2015 Reframing the Narrative By Asserting your Humanity

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Reviews Books Buzzfeed Christian Church Church Culture Dating Dechurched eXvangelical Guest Post Humor Inspirational Justice LGBTQ Life Marriage Media Millennials Mini Post Monday Money Podcast Politics Race Reason Relationships Science Sex Socioeconomic Theology Theology Uncategorized Video Wednesday Youth Ministry

Select a Month June 2020 March 2020 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 January 2013 December 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the name of the man who suffered great loss but remained faithful to God?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Job Noah Elijah Abraham

Support this
Column