This week, friend and colleague Heap called and invited me to give a sermon at his church on Sunday, the Philadelphia Cambodian Evangelical Church. I thought I'd post it...
Good morning, my name is Chris, and my
family Samantha, Patrick and Isaac and I lived and worked in Cambodia
for 7 years with Heap and Jennifer as part of InnerChange. As an
Australian I experienced what it is like to be a foreigner –
someone who looks different to most other people – very white and
very tall, who doesn't speak the language on the street and who never
seems to understand what is really going on around me. As a foreigner
I felt less in control of my life. I had to rely on others to tell me
how to do very small things, like where the market is and how to
bargain when I get there, where the post office is, how to ride a
moto dope without falling off, and how to speak a new language.
While this experience was difficult at
times, it really was a wonderful blessing. It gave me insight into
the concerns that Jesus had for the people around him, living under a
military occupation, and in a time when there were huge differences
between the rich and poor, those who own land and those who work the
land, and those who were considered worthy worshipers of God and
those who were considered as unimportant.
So I want to speak humbly this morning.
This is a topic that I'm very passionate about. And perhaps we can
consider this the beginning of a conversation. I don't know where
this conversation will lead, but I offer this to your community for
prayer and consideration.
1.
Understanding Power
I train people in nonviolent action. I
help them to see the world through the eyes of nonviolence.
The basic idea of nonviolence is that
there is a special kind of power that resides within people that can
stand up to guns, police, tanks and dictators simply because all
these things require people for their power to be effective.
When people give their consent, and
accept the legitimacy of a person, or a company or government, then
that person, company or government has power over them. But if they
don't, then they have no power.
Now, power can be used for good things.
To provide education, hospitals, roads, transportation, access to
food and drink, electricity, for communities to work together and
support one another.
Power can also be used for oppression,
injustice and discrimination.
We've all experienced the good use of
power and the oppressive use of power. In fact, each one of us uses
power every day. Sometimes for good purposes. Sometimes in ways that
don't take into account that our actions will hurt others.
