Invisible Children

I remember a few years ago that for youth group movie night we watched “Invisible Children”. It was a movie about the abduction and forced enlistment of children by the sectarian Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda. It was eye opening and heart wrenching as we watched what was happen to the young people that were brainwashed and forced to kill others and also to be killed. It was so horrifying to hear of the children constantly on the move and also living in fear of being abducted. One would think in order to battle this type of evil, we have to wage war and get bigger guns then them to make them stop. This has not been the case because the only way that change has been happening is through what God is doing through the church and Christians throughout Uganda. The government feels helpless but many will point to things that are happening that bring about change and peace. This is not from the war with earthly weapons, but this is with the power and strength of a mighty God and God’s use of His people.

Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

1By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! 2I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

Paul writes in a time and context that is different than the conflict written above in Uganda. However, Paul was writing in a way that continued to defend the fact that God is the one that sent Him on this mission to share the gospel with the world. The message that he gives is not one that comes with violence or him trying to gain power to share his message, but the exact opposite and one that follows Christ’s model of humbleness and meekness.

A group who call themselves “Invisible Children” have called upon the power of media to inspire young people to help end the longest running war in Africa. Their model has proven effective, and hundreds of thousands of people have been called to action through our films and the volunteers that tour them. They are mobilizing a generation to capture the attention of the international community, and make a stand for justice in the wake of genocide.

What are the kind of things God is calling you or our group to do to make a difference in this world that would bring light to such darkness? What are the ways you are called to do that humbly and as ones dependent on God for power not this world?