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Invisible Children
By Derrick | May 7, 2008
Invisible Children is the movie we watched in our community group tonight. It is a documentary dealing with the issue of children in Uganda being abducted into a barbaric rebel army and the plight of those who seek to avoid capture and those who escape.
If you saw this movie with us, what did you think of it? What impacted you the most?
Whether you saw this movie or not, what is the proper Christian response to suffering and injustice generally, and what are some specific ways you or we can serve the children of Uganda?
Click here to find out more about Invisible Children.
Topics: Community Groups, Global Issues, Injustice, Uganda |
4 Responses to “Invisible Children”
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May 9th, 2008 at 7:45 am
I didn’t see this movie but I have been trying to talk with different ones of you who did and the response has been one of disgust. That seems totally proper to me. I hope the response that arises is not “I wish I hadn’t seen that” but instead “what can I do to make things better?” or “how do I love these children?”. I don’t really know how to help children in Uganda…clueless since I live here. Regardless we should be empathetic to them and understand how very real there situation is. I am also reminded of “The Hiding Place”, a book by Cory TimBoom. I believe it was her sister she talked about who loved the Nazis who were persecuting them. She didn’t hate them, but instead prayed for them and understood that they really were in no different situation than she was before Christ. She understood their fate and was saddened for them. I suppose my basic point is that we should be outraged and saddened by the injustice but loving and merciful to the imposer of the injustice.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Well, my first response is i want to go to Uganda and kick some a@#, but that is though honest, not necessarily godly. I think we need to not be afraid to respond in small ways at first. Let’s spread the word about the situation in Uganda, get other people to buy the invisible children movie or let’s buy it and give it away to our family and friends. I think the proceeds from the sale of the movie go to help children in Uganda. Let’s collect money and give ourselves. Let’s go to Uganda and minister to these children directly. Let’s get our government involved in addressing the problem. How bout our church taking it on as a ministry passion.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Thanks for the information about Uganda. I was unaware. How did you find out about this group that is helping the children? Who are they? What all do you know about them and where can I find out more about them theologically? I would love to work with other Christians to help these children. Thanks so much to you and the church for the good work.
May 12th, 2008 at 8:55 am
One of my initial gut reactions was similar to Jim’s. I think it was a godly sense of justice combined with/corrupted by certain nationalistic pride that made me wish I could pick up the red phone and call in the Marines and fix this. I also agree with Jim and Julie that we must find ways to serve the victims with love and self-sacrifice, and in the name of Christ. It is a little more complex thinking about how to react to the perpetrators of this injustice. Someone needs to stand up for the oppressed and oppose the unjust (how can one learn of such tragedies as this and be so naïve as to be a pacifist?), yet even evil men may be saved – for if not, then what hope is there for me? Thinking about that should ultimately lead us to the cross where God’s justice and mercy meet, and it should also remind us that one day the King of Kings is coming, and justice with him. Solid biblical theology is the only thing that can keep us sane if we think about it long.
One of my other reactions leads into responding to Greg’s questions. I was waiting for someone else to bring this up, but from what I can tell, this is not at all a Christian group (if someone has evidence to refute this please let me know). As I recall (my memory does fail me sometimes) the only mention of God (and never mention of Jesus) on the video came from the Ugandans, never the narrators. This made me wonder where they were coming from. After examining their website, I think it becomes clear. Their website (www.invisiblechildren.com) lays out their vision and purpose as well as bios of all their leaders, all without any reference to Jesus, God, or any theological reasons that compel them to do what they do. Their leader’s endorsement of Oprah is another clue. That said, I think the helpful point of this movie for Christians is to wake us up to a reality that exists in Uganda that we need to know about. This poses enough questions for discussion that I will devote a post to it soon.
If you would like to learn more about Invisible Children yourself, feel free to check out their website – http://www.invisiblechildren.com.