If you haven’t seen it already, you’ve probably at least heard the name “Kony” by now. Initially received as a great and welcoming awareness campaign, Invisible Children greatly underestimated the following positive response their video would receive.
And with great highs, come great lows. In a day and age where government credibility is very low, alongside big business, internet armchair warriors took to the web to find any fatal flaw they could in the organization.
As a casual supporter (thanks to their close ties with Alpha Gamma Omega Fraternity UCLA and USC) I never looked critically into the organization. When I read the criticisms, I took them to heart, first defensively, then openly asking “hmm, what if?” Much of the criticism was reasonable, others were “rage” and even some incorporated conspiracy theories; linking the new (late 2011) surge in Oil discoveries in Uganda as reasons for “sudden American interest.”
I waited for a response from Invisible Children, and it came. Their response, in my opinion, was more than enough to win back my momentarily wavering support.
Still, the San Diego based non-profit made headlines around the world with the majority in popular support and a seemingly embittered minority opposition.
Then came the news no one expected: Jason Russel’s meltdown. [More]
For supporters, this news was taken with both shock and sadness. For others, on the fence, they found all the reason they needed to dump this “pop culture fad.”
I was bit saddened by the news because I was thinking about what causes someone to “lose it.” What is happening spiritually/mentally within this individual that has brought upon this “nervous breakdown.”
Today I found out, like many of the organization leaders and members, Jason (USC Alumni) is a Christian (a former theatre acquaintance of a friend who lives in San Diego).
The latest news led me to write this.
Why because he was Christian? No. Well, partially.
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You see, as Christians, we have tendency to turn inwardly when things get rough. Instead of running and taking things to God and to counsel (brothers and sisters), we try to “fix” things ourselves. In these moments of weakness, we are very apt to stumbling.
You see, while the world may see God as hinderance, we see Him as our strength. I’ve seen an atheist call God “a crutch” to a fellow believer here on tumblr. I thought to myself, what an amazing blessing! A crutch is exactly the analogy we need God to be in our lives (only more). We should rely on God so much, that without Him there, we cannot stand. We don’t ever want a relationship in Christ where we do not realize we are drifting away. We want fall flat on our face - crutch less.
Jason Russell (apparently) was said to be “intoxicated” - breaking down under the stress and pressure and critique caused by the Kony 2012 campaign. Jason stumbled, no, he fell hard and he fell publicly.
As a Christian, Jason could and should be able to tell you where he went wrong in this instance, a moment of weakness. As a Christian though, Jason knows he is forgiven and will look forward instead of backward. I hope…
Jason also must know that our victory comes from Christ, not the approval of men. A song from rapper KB (Reach Records) says (when talking about his music) “Twenty people say awesome job man, one person hates it: I’m crushed for the week” - Jason, if he were to take anything away from the release of Kony 2012, was the amazing amount of support, not the minority criticisms.
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The worst part of Jason’s breakdown is that people who were all to eager to bring down Invisible Children saw this as justification… the perfect proof they needed to point, laugh, and say “You call this a legitimate organization!?”
I think this is what bugs me the most.
And yet, there is a silver lining in this all…
You see, from a Christian perspective, this unfortunately happens all too often to the church.
Consider the Catholic Church and what they’ve dealt with in the cases of (child) sexual abuse from their priest to those in their fold. Consider Ted Hagaard’s Mega Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado and his fall from the pulpit in adultery, homosexuality and drugs. There are others, like the extra-marital affairs of Dove Award/Grammy winner Christian Rapper Da’ T.R.U.T.H.
While we as Christian understand God’s forgiveness - alongside the need for repentance for these individuals - the world is far from forgiving.
The world loves to see us Christian tumble. They like to point from a distance, laughing, jeering and cursing us. Ignorantly, they think our downfall makes us “no better than me” when the whole time we have not been claiming to be better or more righteous than anyone else. We claim to be just as flawed… but purified in Christ.
The problem here is that when we fall, so publicly, the doubts the enemy plants in the heart of men begins to bloom. Our misdeeds then become fuel for those who didn’t believe and those who were seeking to believe - to not believe.
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So where is the silver lining?
Well, in the massive amount of support garnered from the film, Invisible Children also picked up plenty of “fence sitters” and “armchair warriors.” These people, more likely than not, have all “bailed” after the incident. Their departure is a positive because it weeded out those supporters who were to have been “do nothing” individuals who paid lip service to the cause rather than acted on its convictions.
The incident, like the criticism, also provided IC the opportunity to focus inwardly - taking care of the plank in their eye (if any) before going out into the world and curing evils abroad.
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The silver lining for the church isn’t that well defined. As Christians, we are ambassadors of our Faith and are to model Christ’s Love. When we fall so publicly it is very harmful. That said, Christ Wills what and whom He Wills. Your fall will not keep Him from His goals, but it does have consequences - and should be avoided.
This is why Paul the Apostle provides a strict Character Profile of what the life of a Christian church leader should look like: free from sins and hypocrisy. While not all of us are called to be pastors, we are called to repentance, ridding ourselves of the same folly that once littered our lives as the lost.
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Jason Russell’s case is a perfect example of what our shortcomings as a Church do to the world observing.
Christ judgment will start from within, so be ready and do not be caught among those whom He says “…I never knew you.”
Jason… we are praying for your recovery. God Bless.
![The Last Word.
Here is the last thing I have to say tonight concerning todays topic/ruling on Prop 8. A friend sent me the image above asking me “How do you feel about this?”
Uhm… How do I feel like the picture? Put some pants on bro! How do I feel about the picture subject? Im all for it!Here is what is going on here. A Christian group attended a Gay Pride Parade with shirts saying “Im sorry…” and Signs saying “For how the Church has treated you.”Truly, absolutely and unequivocally, the Church will have to stand before God and answer a lot of collectively failed decisions it has made. The way it has handled the Homosexual community has been far from good.You see - Christ said the 2 greatest commandments are 1) Love God with all you are and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself.Homosexuals have been pushed away from the Church and the Church has only themselves to blame.I remember a person online I was talking to, a Christian, who said “How can you? You go to Calvary Chapels? Do you know Calvary Chapel _____[Forgot what the City was]_____ accepts Homosexuals into their church?”My immediate thought was “Why the hell not?” Sin is sin - lying, stealing, sex out of wedlock, etc. If anyone should be at church, it is someone who has sinned (ALL OF US). Im proud of that (and all) Calvary Chapels for being open in that way. They should be! Christ actively pursued people who were being shunned away by the religious right (Pharisees) for their sins. I believe today, Christ wold actively purse homosexuals as well.You see, as Christians, we have a duty to Love, Love and Love. That being said, Love also have a bite - discipline and accountability. Do you not yell at you kid for chasing that ball into the street? Of course! Why? because you love them and want to keep them from harm.
[What is key in Christianity is the action of “Repentance.” If a member of the body of Christ is not repentant and leads others astray, then and only then, should he be ostracized. The Bible has a formula for how to do that (meetings with the person - bringing him before the church etc.) With that in mind, someone living in sin - purposefully in full knowledge of the Word of God - cannot nor should not take a position of leadership. There is a difference between loving and being accepting of everyone and loving and being accepting of their sin to the point that you promote it.]As Christians, we have the duty to let those that are in sin know 1) about God’s Love 2) The Gospel 3) the errors of their ways. Disagreeing with their lifestyle and does not mean you cannot love them. Likewise, loving them does not mean you are compromising your beliefs.The dudes who went to the parade above ought to be applauded because they’ve done something a lot of Churches failed to do - actively pursued those that need God and showed them His premier attribute - Love!As long as they also preach the Gospel un-compromised, then man… I am down with those brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember the words of St. Francis: “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use Words.”
What is the Gospel but the message of Christ’s Love+Forgiveness and His freedom from Sin.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz2ewjW2vk1qj0otvo1_400.jpg)
