'The Jesus Agenda' Challenges Christians to Help the Poor and Disadvantaged
A 9-part DVD series is challenging church leaders around the globe to take action and be the living embodiment of the gospel by encouraging Christians to rethink their approach regarding justice and the poor throughout the globe.
The DVD series, "The Jesus Agenda," was created to inspire Christians around the world to become engaged in helping fight injustice and poverty. It also highlights that these actions were central to the teaching of Jesus Christ.
"Somehow we came up with the idea that holiness, righteousness and justice are three entirely different things but that's a terrible misrepresentation of the truth. Justice is like a river flowing from the very character of God reaching to my personal sin and even to our institutional sinfulness," said Joel Edwards, who help produce the DVD series.
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Edwards is the international director of Micah Challenge, a new initiative dedicated to eradicating global poverty by 2015.
Micah Challenge is encouraging Christians around the world to become socially involved and committed to ending global poverty by holding governments responsible for their commitment for reaching the Millennium Development Goals.
The Millennium Development Goals were created in 2000 when 189 countries signed a declaration to halve global poverty by 2015.
In addition to that promise, those countries also collectively pledged their support in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals, which are: the eradication of extreme hunger and poverty, universal primary education, promotion of gender equality, reduction of child mortality, improve maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, environmental sustainability and a global partnership for development.
During a segment of the "The Jesus Agenda," Edwards interviewed Jim Wallis, founder and editor of Sojourners magazine. He stated that the focal point of Jesus' teaching was to care for the poor and disadvantaged.
"If your gospel isn't good news to poor people it is not the gospel of Jesus Christ … the Nazareth manifesto was Jesus' mission statement: It's meant to be ours," Wallis said during an interview.
Using the framework put forth by Luke 4:18-19, "The Jesus Agenda" highlights the role of advocacy in the civic sphere and its relationship with the Proclamation, Power and Promise that is taught in scripture.
The movie also highlights the sudden rise of the prosperity gospel, its relationship within the context of material Christianity, and the role consumerism plays with respect to the poor and disadvantaged.
"'The Jesus Agenda' aims to raise awareness of God's heart for the poor and how He wants His followers to seek justice for the oppressed," Edwards previously told The Christian Post.
