With Great Knowledge Comes…?
Did you know that Taylor Swift swallowed a bug during a recent Eras Tour performance in London? Thanks to the media, I didn’t need to attend the concert, be present in London, or even identify as a Swiftie to learn this fact.
With access to more information than in any previous time in history, we have a constant diet of international news, from trivial to world changing. As of this writing, we know the Princess of Wales is undergoing chemotherapy, Russia and North Korea have become formal allies, and thousands are dying in the Israel-Hamas war.
In a time before newspapers and efficient postal services, we wouldn’t have known about any of these events soon enough for our reactions to be relevant. But today, the sheer accessibility of international news begs the question: What kind of responsibility does this globalized knowledge entail? If we know a crisis is unfolding, are we responsible to do something about it?
Knowing More vs. Knowing All
Of course, this question isn’t a simple matter of awareness. A host of factors – from internet algorithms to international politics – influence the news items that reach us. Even though we know a lot about what’s happening in the world, we certainly don’t know everything.
At present, the Israel-Hamas war holds a prominent spot in the news. Anti-Israel protests on university campuses have helped maintain this spotlight; students are promising to continue demonstrations in a national “summer of resistance,”[1] ensuring that this Middle East crisis will not soon be forgotten in North America.
But zooming further out reveals a host of similar crises around the world. Where are the college encampments protesting Azerbaijan’s invasion of Armenia?[2] Iran’s execution of dissidents?[3] The genocidal civil war in Sudan?[4] Nepal’s mistreatment of Dalits?[5] Myanmar’s genocide of Rohingya Muslims?[6] Turkey’s continual harassment of Kurds?[7] Russia’s torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war?[8]
Despite their comparable significance, these crises receive little-to-no attention in mainstream media, with the result that most people in North America don’t even know they’re happening.[9] So does our responsibility to act relate only to the events that make it into the headlines, or does it extend to all the world’s crises – entailing further responsibility to keep abreast of everything?
Knowing vs. Understanding
And there’s still more to consider.
In their book, When Helping Hurts, Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert address the serious harm that often results from well-meaning outsiders attempting to solve an issue without understanding the complexities of the situation. Knowing is not understanding, and no amount of news coverage can bridge the gap.
Just knowing a situation exists doesn’t mean we have an adequate grasp on the historical, political, religious, cultural, and economic factors behind it. And without this vital data, can we offer realistic solutions? We must acknowledge that, though we know a lot about what’s happening in the world, we understand relatively little.
So how do we respond to news of fellow image-bearers’ suffering around the world?
God Knows and Understands All
It doesn’t take a genius to recognize we can’t respond meaningfully to every crisis in the world. But neither should we close our hearts to others’ suffering, even if it’s not within our power to help.
Here’s the good news: it’s not up to us to save the world. That’s God’s work.
Therefore, a proper response to any crisis starts with turning to God. He alone has the depth and breadth of knowledge to truly understand the world’s crises. He alone has the capacity to bear the burden of global suffering. We can trust that He sees all and is actively at work in and through world events to accomplish His sovereign purposes.
Circling back to our responsibility, God accomplishes much of His work in the world through human beings. He worked through Moses to deliver His people from Egypt. He used Paul to bring the gospel to the Gentile world. And He continues to work through us. This leads to our next step: seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance to discern how He would have us serve. Each of us is responsible, through prayer and seeking the Holy Spirit, to do the good works “which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). And this rarely looks like one individual having a worldwide impact. More often, God works through countless individuals serving in specific ways around the world.
Has the Lord burdened you to share the Good News with Muslims? Seek ways to foster those relationships. Has He given you a heart for unbelievers in your suburban neighborhood? Reach out to them today! And in pursuing the Lord’s calling, let’s not overlook the needs right in front of us, in our own homes and communities.
Where Is He Leading You?
If you are reading this blog, chances are God has placed the Jewish people on your heart. At this time especially, the Jewish people need to know they are not alone in standing against antisemitism. Even more than support, they need to know the love of Jesus and the hope of the gospel.
Life in Messiah is here to walk beside you in your personal ministry to the Jewish people. Together, we can serve God in this calling with the assurance that He has called other laborers to other fields. The Lord sees and cares for all!
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1–2).
Written by Miriam, Life in Messiah Communications Coordinator
In his letter to Titus, Paul wrote, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives” (Titus 3:14). As children of God, we are called to live intentionally. What is the work God is calling you to do?
Action without understanding can cause more harm than good. As you pursue the work God has called you to, we encourage you to seek out experienced individuals/organizations who can help you avoid pitfalls in ministry. Life in Messiah is here to walk alongside you to reach the Jewish people with the gospel! Visit our website to learn more.
Endnotes:
[1] Read about the summer of resistance here.
[2] Read about Azerbaijan and Armenia here.
[3] Read about dissidents in Iran here.
[4] Read about Sudan’s civil war here.
[5] Read about Dalits in Nepal here.
[6] Read about Myanmar here.
[7] Read about Turkey’s actions against Kurds here.
[8] Read about Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian prisoners here.
[9] I wouldn’t know about many of these events myself if I hadn’t been scrolling through genocidewatch.com.