Those who study such things can identify a series of four basic rules that dogs follow when then play. This includes asking permission, not playing too rough, and stopping and admitting when you have made a mistake. Dogs know it is important to follow these rules or no one will play with them.
We teach children rules about playing nice and being fair from a young age. These are considered important life skills that contribute to one’s ability to get along with others. Like dogs, we live in community with one another. We need to ensure that our relationships can be meaningful and fair. Is it any wonder that virtually all mainstream religions have some version of the simple rule: do unto others as you would have them do to you?
Unfortunately, from a very young age we also learn that the world isn’t fair. We don’t always get what we want. Sometimes we lose. People don’t always share like they should. There are a variety of small ways in which children unlearn the rules of playing fair and treating people as you wish to be treated. In time, we come to recognise that there are exceptions, excuses, and assumptions that justify not playing by the rules.
This is how injustice can thrive – through those spaces which contradict the rules we are first taught. We learn that society doesn’t expect us to share everything, after all, we deserve what we have, we shouldn’t have to sacrifice that by giving it to people who are lazy and undeserving. We learn that it is OK to set some people apart, that we don’t have to think too hard about the consequences of unfair practices, if it works for us, it must work for everyone. We learn that we don’t have to continually weight the extent to which our behaviour impacts others and creation, if it is good for us, then it must be good for all.
See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.
God’s rules provide a framework through which we are called to love God and love our neighbour. Following these are life-giving! They create spaces where all people can freely live their fullest together. Knowing this, the Fourth Mark of Mission is our challenge to transform the unjust structures of society, challenge violence of every kind, and seek peace and reconciliation. This is considered one of the hardest marks of mission because we are talking about systemic issues which many feel are beyond our control.
Still, we have work we can do beginning with education. In what ways are we learning and teaching about injustice, violence, and peace and reconciliation? (Use sticky notes)
How is this education being used as a catalyst to engage differently and seek ways to transform unjust structures, challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation? (Use sticky notes)
The Fourth Mark of Mission calls us to transform the unjust structures of society, challenge violence of every kind, and pursue peace and reconciliation. This work is vital to creating a fair and loving society in which all people can fully live as God created us to be. This makes this work life-giving.
See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days… As we continually reflect on the ways we seek to embody God’s commandments, choosing justice, choosing peace, choosing reconciliation, may we choose life that all may life. This we pray as we sing together: For All the Children (By: David Lohman, Songs for the Holy Other)
