EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH
Faith urges one to life of activism
By Ken Harding
As the Fourth of July came and went, many of us reflected upon the founding of this nation and the liberties we enjoy.
A cable-TV commentator noted that the essence of our democracy is that it is always in a state of "becoming," always moving toward an ideal.
That ideal, for me, is social justice.
Theology, which looks at the nature of God and the nature of man, offers an essential framework to pursue social justice. As a citizen, I feel compelled to ask, "What must we do to make this a better country?" As a person of faith, I often ask, "Lord, what do you want me to do to be a better citizen?"
The answer I gently receive, via my practice of centering prayer, is one of social activism. My mission is not one of jamming my religion down other people's throats, but of serving others, by example. Mine is a call to seek "justice through service."
All of my life I have felt moved to become involved. First it led me, in the 1960s, to sign up for the Peace Corps under John F. Kennedy when I was still in college. In Peru I worked in poor squatter settlements in various community development projects.
Now I live and work in Kalihi, a high-poverty community. I find myself still involved in community development, deeply immersed in educational, economic and environmental issues, all of which require a high degree of social activism.
It was while I was substitute teaching in two private high schools in the past 10 years that I came to rededicate my life to working directly for community justice. I was teaching a U.S. history course in one school and a theology course on understanding the Bible in another.
Both experiences had a profound effect on me. I realized how much we have continued to change as a nation and society, and yet how ancient our cultural roots and traditions are.
By moving from Manoa to Kalihi and focusing on the community, I am now able to contain my generalist, anthropological interests to a single site and can more clearly understand and articulate how business, education, politics and religion interact and come together.
The Old Testament prophet Micah asked, "What does the Lord require of you?" The answer, he said, "was to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." That statement has become the centerpiece of my life as I pursue three goals: to establish a successful nonprofit organization dedicated to the pursuit of community justice in the inner city, to become certified as a special-ed teacher in the public school system, and to get ordained as a Christian minister with a specialty in urban theology.
As a Christian community activist, I must ask myself, privately and bluntly, "Do I love my neighbor?" and act accordingly. Even politically.
Ken Harding is a deacon at Central Union Church and co-founder of Urbatex Inc., a nonprofit service provider working for community justice in the inner city.
