Where we went wrong with KONY 2012

Kony 2012 or maybe it should really read US 2012?

I’ve been reflecting for a while about the KONY 2012 campaign that went viral around the world about a month ago and for the most part I applaud the efforts of the organisers of this campaign, it was well run and hit the marks it needed to… it had a certain demographic in mind and it made sure it attacked the heart of that group and it did so with great success…

But was it just good marketing??

Now before I go on I want to make it very very clear that I do not condone the use of sex slaves, people taking children from their homes to work for them or any of the other more horrific stuff that was done under the hands of Kony and his leaders… However I wonder if as Christians we should be doing things differently.

Now to start off… to say that this was about one man was a bit naive, the issue is such a complex ball of muck that to try and unwind it would be just as damaging as Joseph Kony himself.

Now I know what you’re thinking… but it was to raise awareness and start important conversation, and  yes you are right it was partly… and for the most part it got us thinking about social injustice, human rights and where to best put our resources in relation to all that. It’s great to get passionate about that stuff however I wonder how many people who displayed the video are still pursing the cause?

For me… it’s not about if  ‘Invisible Children’ (the campaign group) are right or if Kony is a criminal or not. That’s for people with bigger brains than me to decide.

My concern is this… Jesus said:

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He (God) causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:44-48

It’s Gods plan and he’s the judge.

We as a race have got an attitude that it was them and us… good guys and bad guys… but it’s not, it’s just US… humans!

I’ve seen Christians who are saying “I hope they get him and give him what he deserves…” people who go to Church and are applauding the use of violence to another person… when does one wrong make right another wrong?

Many of us who have read the Bible would know the story of Paul… when he was Saul he brought terror to all those who sided as a Christian… but this terrorist became the person who wrote half of the New Testament…

If the Christians had decided to get a campaign to kill Saul who would it have helped?

We have this sense that we can change the world and we can be who we want to be… and we can, the problem is that we have started to believe we can do it on our own.

Jesus changed history with just 3 years of public ministry… he did it without killing any leaders… without starting some sort of rebellion using military might… but he made it clear that God was the power behind his power.

We should be  concerned about what is happening to these people… but the reality is that we should be concerned what is happening to ALL people… of ALL ages from the unborn to the children in foreign countries, from kids in your home to the kids on the street.

I wonder if we are so eager to get on the whole Kony 2012 bandwagon because WE are the people who have made the kids in these countries invisible?

We forgot about them?

It was US who let Kony take advantage of thousands of children… and now we stand in shock saying “Lets make Kony famous”

– Maybe pointing the finger is easier than looking at ourselves?? –