Asianlayleaders.com – UN and its member states observe the International Human Solidarity Day (IHSD) on the 20th of December as an international annual unity day. It’s main goal is to recognize the universal value of solidarity by making member states aware of global objectives and initiatives to reduce poverty and to formulate and share poverty reduction strategies of independent nations around the world. The term ‘solidarity’ is not unfamiliar to Christians especially Catholics who have gotten some chance to hear or read materials of Catholic Social Teachings (CSTs). In them, solidarity is one of major principles with which Catholic social thoughts have been maintained and developed so far. But what’s the focus of the theme solidarity in this writing got to do with believer’s trust in humanity? Here is an example we could examine for this.
In late October, there was a presidential election in Brazil, and former president Lula de Silva was once again elected president, beating then-president Jair Bolsonaro by a 2 percent margin. Bolsonaro is a person the international community has been watching with concern since when he announced that he will ‘free the Amazon jungle and build fast food restaurants like Burger King’ or ‘legalize guns’ in Brazil. Bolsonaro was a Christian, or more precisely, he was a Catholic. What’s more is the fact that he converted to an evangelical church and became a pastor during the presidential election campaign, and won the 2018 presidential election with that background. These factors make us look back on our church and faith. Because he symbolically shows the situation of the Catholic Church in Brazil, where many believers have converted to evangelicalism.
Symbolized by speaking in tongues, prayer in loud voice and cry, and healing performances, this conservative and fundamentalist evangelical churches have penetrated many people, especially the poor. As a result, Catholics, who maintained 90 percent until the 1970s, have now almost halved, while evangelicals account for nearly a third of the country’s population. There may be other success factors, but among them, the fact that this evangelical church healed and cared for the poor in South America, especially in Brazil, where the polarization
extremely stands out. They cry and wail loudly in the vocal prayers in the chapel and feel a sense of psychological liberation. However, this sense of liberation disappears shortly after leaving the chapel and returning to reality of them in poverty and suffering. Evangelical churches, fully aware of the fact that they turn to drugs and alcohol again easily without finding a suitable and decent job, and end up becoming vagrants or homeless people, provide food, offer a part time or decent jobs, daily food, clothing, and a place to sleep.
Here, what lies in it is that there is the power of faith that should not be seen with prejudice just because it is an evangelical affiliated church with an extreme right and conservative view of faith. It is a firm trust in any human beings or humanity as a whole, which is to be treated and cared for with dignity. When the Catholic Church in Brazil, which was once strongly influenced by liberation theology in 1970s-80s, habitually repeated only the word “option for the poor,” the poor actually “opt the evangelical church.” It is greatly reversed.
Of course, it is dangerous to view the evangelical church in South America only from this perspective. As shown in the example of Bolsonaro, it is politically mobilized and used, and furthermore, there is an aspect of a reactionary force that puts a huge obstacle on the South American political scene. Nevertheless, it seems clear that a strong relationship of trust has been built between the evangelical church and the poor. Pope Francis also believes that there is this confidence in the people. He said in Fratelli Tutti, “Appearances notwithstanding, every person is immensely holy and deserves our love. Consequently, if I can help at least one person to have a better life, that already justifies the offering of my life.”(no.195). Recognizing one’s limitations, but not giving up and trying to be by the side of the suffering is the spiritual power given to us Christians. Without trust in all the people the spirit of solidarity is not possible! For this spiritual struggle, let’s pray to God and pray not to be exhausted and bitter in this struggle.
By Dr Paul Hwang (Director ALL Forum)