Where is God when lives seem pointless,
Kicking empty cans about?
Where is God if they’re avoiding
Homes that always shut them out?
Where is God when people queuing
For a brew are short of change?
Where is God when airborne bottles
Find their human prey in range?
Where is God when desperate addicts
Rob the weak of rings and pride?
Where is God if life in prison
Teaches yet more ways inside?
Where is God when single parents
Meet eviction in the face?
Where is God if youths who struggle
Are not given time or space?
Where is God when racist taunting
Turns the fear in us on them?
Where is God if half-truth tabloids
Make us foolishly condemn?
Where is God but in each question,
In the prompting us to care
How our lives might start to answer
Those who ask - Is God still there?
© Graham Adams 2014
What would action on social justice look like to the people in our community?
At the 2015 World Economic Forum, Oxfam called on governments to adopt a seven point plan:
• Clamp down on tax dodging by corporations and rich individuals.
• Invest in universal, free public services such as health and education.
• Share the tax burden fairly, shifting taxation from labour and consumption towards capital and wealth.
• Introduce minimum wages and a living wage for all workers.
• Introduce equal pay legislation and promote economic policies to give women a fair deal.
• Ensure adequate safety-nets for the poorest, including a minimum-income guarantee.
• Agree a global goal to tackle inequality.
REMEMBER THAT GOD IS IN THE QUESTIONS
How as a church and as individuals can we play a part in bringing about social justice here in Hull, in the UK society, and for all people across our World?
We have a national election looming. Are you willing to ask a politician of your choice what they will do to implement ‘Action on Poverty’ and in particular to address the Oxfam seven point plan?
Christian Aid (2013) What We Do, [Online] http://www.christianaid.org.uk/whatwedo/ located December 2013
Elliott, Larry & Pilkington (Ed.) (2015), 'New Oxfam Report Says Half of Global Wealth Held by the 1%', London: The Guardian, 19 January.
Geradie, B. and Bedell, G. (2005), Make Poverty History: How You Can Help Defeat World Poverty in Seven Easy Steps, London: Penguin.
Sennett, R. (2003), Respect: The Formation of Character in an Age of Inequality, London: Allan Lane, The Penguin Press.
Vest, L. & Stearns, R. (2008), 'The Core: Reflect and Respond', in The Poverty and Justice Bible, CEV (1 -56), New York: American Bible Society.
As presented by Ralph Catts in his service of 20150215
Adrian Worsfold
Pluralist - Liberal and Thoughtful