SLACKTIVISM

I came across an interest blog-posting recently. It was by Nancy Lublin on a business blog called FAST COMPANY. Nancy was commenting on the growing phenomenon of acts of charity that are done by the click of a mouse, or a checked box in a super market, etc.

"Sending a text or clicking to vote may be the trendy way to help humankind. The question, says Nancy Lublin, is whether such so-called slacktivism really works.

"Name-calling is never nice -- that much most of us learned in kindergarten. Go ahead and criticize the substance of an action or the content of a speech, but just calling a person a nasty name is like pulling hair. Unfortunately, a lot of it happens in the do-gooder sector--and lately, much of it has been directed at projects that could fall under the umbrella of a newish movement called "slacktivism."

It's not hard to see where the word comes from (slacker + activism = slacktivism), and obviously, it's usually not meant as a compliment. Basically, it refers to doing good without having to do much at all. It's inch-deep activism that you can do from the comfort of your own couch, whether that's clicking for good or texting to save the world. One of the earliest forms of slacktivism was wearing one of those rubber wristbands that, for a while, were so ubiquitous -- doesn't cost much money and takes even less effort. I'll even give you extra points if you're still wearing a Livestrong bracelet five years after it was last fashionable, though if it's just inertia that kept it on your wrist, you have really earned your slacktivist cred."

You need to know that Nancy is generally affirming of this trend. Read her post FAST. From the standpoint of a pastor, I have some different thoughts, which Nancy might not affirm.

"It's inch deep activism that you can do from the comfort of your own couch ..." is precisely my concern. Loving your neighbor is indeed at the heart of the Christian life--its values and its lifestyle. Any time we see a brother in need and do more than just wish him the best and prayer for him, we provide practical resources to help him in his need. The recipient of our charity is rarely concerned about the motive of our gifts, especially when they are in the midst of their need. I am more concerned about its impact or lack thereof on us.

A young man named Jeremy recently commented on a posting about "slacktivism" these observations:

"At some point our culture decided, rather capitalistically, that we could solve the world's ills through the marketplace. Through dollars and cents.

Here's a problem.
Here's why you should care.
Here's how you can do something about it from your home office.
No pain for you. Small gains for the world.

Congratulations, problem solved. Well, not really.

What we're experiencing is a widening gap between the problem and the solution.

Rarely is the solution simply monetary, though, that seems to be all we ask of people, and ask of ourselves. God doesn't need us for that. The first Christians were called "Followers" because they were literally on the move. God doesn't want us to sit on our asses watching our 401k's grow and tossing a few bucks around to fix everything.

It's gone beyond donor fatigue. It's an identity problem. We think we have the power to change the world by having a nickel from our $5 coffee support something somewhere that i'll never see or feel. And yet we somehow feel good about it and most of it is drivel.

What we need is loving relationships. Relationships that demand mutual sacrifice, reap mutual transformation, and result in human identities converging into a God-designed picture of his kingdom. Yes, it will still require resources. But the greatest resource we have is not in a bank account." See HUMANITY

Jeremy really sums up my own thoughts quite well. What do you think?