Just watched the invisible children's video for Kony 2012, and finished wiping the tears off my face. First I, d like to say it was a very well produced video. Got its point across, and very impactful. It made me want to take a flight out to Uganda and take out the bad man myself. But before buying that plane ticket, I did some research on the trusty google.
So a whole lot of people are criticizing invisible children about not including in their video that all of their statistics are from 8 years ago, Kony's army has declined, and the LRA has moved out of Uganda ( which it tormented for a decade or so before) into the surrounding countries. I have not done much with invisible children, so I can't really judge them on their motives on making the video. If you read my blog regularly, you'll know that I am very supportive of Falling Whistles, trade as one, and Hello Somebody, who arê retailers who help make our purchases count by keeping them fair and helpful, and using the motto " every little bit counts".
I actually went on the falling whistles website as well to see if maybe Joseph Kony was involved in the deadliest war in the country in the DRC that ALSO uses child soldiers. ( don't know what I'm talking about? Fallingwhistles.com)
He definitely has a presence in the Congo. No doubt about it. However, I read on the fw website that the major war in the Congo will still rage on, even after Kony is brought to justice because it's a structure and warlord problem, and is not fueled by the LRA.
All this said, let me tell you where I stand, looking at the well being of the whole continent of Africa, and our earth. Capturing Joseph Kony will not solve all of Africa's issues. There are extremist Muslim brotherhood organizations in the north, warlords in the DRC, anarchy and total devastation in Somalia, terrible HIV/ AiDs outbreaks, And the LRA causing chaos as well.
Yes. Kony 2012, go get him, let's make sure we can bring justice to Jacob, and all the innocents Kony has violated and killed . But in the Kony craziness, remember that there are so many other things going on in Africa, just capturing one man, whos influence seems to be decreasing, will not stop all war. My one fear is that so much time, money and effort is going into finding one man, when that time money and effort could feed children, build churches, build infrastructure, security! I care about my fellow earthlings. Terrible things are happening in Africa. Start with Kony, but let's not end with Kony. There is so much more that we can help with. One true statement I am sure of in the Kony 2012 video is difference is made as soon as people who care take action. For there to be peace in Africa takes relentless action, and it also takes, I believe, an act of God. But nothing's impossible for him, especially when he works through his people.
So mini message to the church.... Let's let God use us to help mend the broken lives in the chaos of war and disaster that is in Africa. Whether that means buying an "action pack", a falling whistle, our own hands, or using what invisible children took advantage of: the Internet and the power of our words.
I don't hate Joseph Kony. He is a fallen, broken human like us all. But he has chose to commit evil against himself, God, and others, and is a danger.
"No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us-perfect love! If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both. (1 John 4:12, 20, 21 MSG)"
