Slactivism

Like most people who have not been living under some sort of rock or in a cave, I was recently introduced to the Kony 2012 video. If you haven't seen it, this video highlights the human rights violations of a Ugandan warlord named Kony, who is basically the most wanted man in the world. At the end of the video, the watcher is stirred into a frenzy and a desire to do their part to get Kony arrested and tried for his crimes. So what can you do?

Repost the video. Ask celebrities and politicians to advocate for an American presence in the effort to capture Kony. Wear a bracelet. Hang up posters. Give their organization money to keep making videos and posters and bracelets.

Will any of these actions actually get Kony captured? Not directly. But by doing one of these things - most likely reposting the video - a desire to participate is fulfilled. I have now done something. I have shown my allegiance to the cause. I have added my two cents: "This is so wrong!!! It makes me SICK! How can people like this exist and we do nothing about it?!"

But has the reposter of the video really done anything? Have they made a difference? Have they saved the life of a single child?

This is a prime example of slactivism (a combination of the words "slacker and "activism"). Slactivism suggests that because little is required of you, your participation is less consequential. In the case of KONY2012, slacking comes in the involvement from both the creator (oversimplifying the story, potentially misleading facts) and the recipient (if you click a button, share something on Facebook, sign an online petition, change can and will happen).

Does this mean that slactivism is inherently bad? Absolutely not! In fact, I love it. You'll see these sort of things posted on my Facebook page all the time. I am constantly posting stories about the need for clean water in the world (one of my big passions) and other social justice causes. I love slactivism...

...as a means to moving towards activism. In fact, I believe it is a necessary step. You have to first be informed of the issue. It has to become engrained in your heart and mind. The problem arises when we stop with slactivism and never move on towards real action.

In Acts 2, Peter gives his great sermon outlining to the Jews who were listening who Jesus was and what Jesus was about. The first step was to make people aware. And Acts 2:37 says that upon hearing this from Peter they were "cut to the heart." It had an impact on their heart. But the people listening didn't end with just hearing the story. Instead they asked the question:

"Brothers, what should we do?"

The recognized there is a need not just for knowledge, but action upon that knowledge.

A WWJD bracelet is fine,if you aren't just using it to advertise Jesus, but also to live like Jesus.

Posting a Kony 2012 video is fine if you are also willing to take some serious action steps to help alleviate the problem. (Side note: don't just repost. Do some research).

Let me take it a step further: don't just be a slactive-Christian. Be can active-Christian.

Don't just post a Bible verse that you think people need to live by. Post it, then live by it.

Don't just tell others to come to your church. Go get them and tell them why they need Jesus.

Don't let a Facebook post be a substitute for right action and real love.