Oil Spill Response

Dear Victorious,

How should Christians react to situations like this BP oil spill that's going on in the Gulf of Mexico? I have friends who are boycotting BP, and others who want to join a protest. Is this really the best response for a Christ-follower?

John V. - Dallas, TX

Dear John,

How refreshing that you'd use the word "best!" It really is the question Christians should be asking. There are many things we can do in response to situations like this. But not many of them are best - or even productive.

Jesus got angry at injustice - when people were being oppressed or mistreated. But His anger moved Him to corrective action ... not bitterness or sniping. We should learn from that example.

Certainly BP is behaving like an incompetent company, with poor moral values. I would have no qualms about a decision not to do business with such a company. In fact, consumers now days should be more conscientious about who they do business with.

Protests aren't going to do any good. Blogs aren't going to do any good. Even letters to BP probably aren't going to do any good. I once wanted to write a letter to a church that had behaved badly and wounded me. I asked a friend to review it and make sure it was accurate, objective, etc. He agreed that it was very well written and was an excellent document. Then I asked him if he thought I should send it. He said "only if you can be certain that they'll hear what you're saying." That was sage advice - and it would apply here. We should only spend time talking about the BP oil spill if we're sure people in a position to do something about it would actually hear what we have to say. (Otherwise, we're wasting our breath!)

Christ followers should have compassion for the people who are the victims of this BP oil spill. We should take whatever actions we can to relieve their suffering. Go to the shores on vacation. Go volunteer. Send money. Pray for them. Have a bake sale. Wash cars. Ask God to show you what else you might do to be a blessing to these people who are suffering.

Anytime we see a situation like this, we really need to ask ourselves the question, "What would Jesus do?" And then we need to do that. At the same time though, it's good to consider what Jesus would not do - and make sure we stay out of that.