Perhaps the most difficult part of discipleship is performing acts of justice. Acts of justice are the simple things we do in response to the causes of suffering or needs of our neighbors. The problems often seem overwhelming, and the complexity and size of these realities often overwhelm adults, let alone children. What can a child do to change the causes of human suffering?

Children can take small, simple steps to witness to God's love and justice. In the process, they will learn that an act of kindness (compassion) often leads us to acts of justice. This is illustrated by my expanded version of the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Read the parable as told by Jesus in Luke 10:30-35. Then continue with my account of what happened afterward:

When the Samaritan returned to his home, he told his rabbi about the incident. He and the rabbi called a meeting of the Synagogue and Society Commission. They discussed how dangerous the road from Jerusalem to Jericho had become and how many people had been hurt and decided action was needed to make the road safer:

• They wrote letters to the centurion in charge of that section of the road and asked that he increase the patrols and improve the nighttime lighting.


• They created a Neighborhood Watch project among the houses and businesses along the road.


• The Neighborhood Watch group noticed that many recently discharged soldiers in the area had not been able to find jobs. Several local farmers hired some, a few artisans took some others as apprentices. Soon all the ex-soldiers had jobs and were able to support themselves and their families.

Acts of justice advocate for and cause change in systems that cause suffering and oppression. When we write, organize, speak out, and work for freedom, healing, and reconciliation for our neighbors, we are standing with Christ. He stands with the poor, sick, oppressed, and imprisoned, calling those who profess faith in His Name to join Him in this the work of salvation.

Teach the children (and the adults in your church). "The Spirit of the Lord…has sent [us] to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free…" (Luke 4:18, NRSV). A favorite "poster quote" of mine is: "Between the large things that we cannot do and the little things that we don't do, the danger is that we will do nothing." So do what you can — your Sprouts will grow, loving God as they learn to love those whom God loves.

Edie Genung Harris is a layperson in the Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church and co-author (with Shirley Ramsey) of Sprouts.

This article first appeared in the Fall 2005 issue of the Covenant Discipleship Quarterly. Copyright © 2005 General Board of Discipleship. Used with permission.


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