Watchdogs of Social Development: Watchdogs of our Christian developmentare eagerly ...

Watchdogs of Social Development: Watchdogs of our Christian developmentare eagerly ...: Watchdogs of our Christian development are eagerly doing their job in having us have a closer walk in our faith. In the Book of Genesis, G...

Watchdogs of our Christian development are eagerly doing their job in having us have a closer walk in our faith. In the Book of Genesis, God spoke His creation into existence. Thus He demonstrated the inherent power of speech and the Word. Then through His supreme love God created Adam and Eve to live in His abundance. He told them not to eat the fruit of the tree of life but they disobeyed and sin entered the world with their disobedience and failure to do what was right, just, holy and pure (Genesis 1-3 NRSV).

Ban Ki-moon (b. 1944), the eight and current Secretary-General of the United Nations explained our condition for this century when he stated that “sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance.” Unlike God's laws in the Garden of Eden, Ki-moon was proposing fundamental ideas for growth and development of our planet earth.

His proposal followed a 1998 paper on Bahai perspective entitled “Valuing Spirituality in Development” that was part of a World's Faith Development Dialogue hosted by the World Bank and the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, London, which emphasized the following:

1. The intellectual development of the individual
2. The guarantees of freedom
3. Fostering equality and partnership of men and women
4. The nurturing of families
5. Protecting the environment
6. The widespread participation of all groups in a society
7. A desire to serve

It was thought that the events of this world were expressions of our spirituality and it was further noted that spirituality, mass media, and national development are intricately related. In From Yahweh to Yahoo: The Religious Roots of the Secular Press, Underwood saw a noticeable connection in the importance of God's Word, discussion, and debate in the promotion of values and development in democratic countries.

The Importance of Public Trust

It was acknowledged that public trust was important for growth, news, information, and entertainment. Our freedoms of speech, religion and the press have to be guaranteed. Citizens have to be exposed to a variety of media in making the best social and political choices. It's best when there isn't any restraint from the government, corporations, and competing interests in our society. Benjamin Disraeli ( 1804 -1881), who was a British Conservative politician and twice Prime Minister advised, “Nurture your minds with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes.” Disraeli felt that what leaders, officials, and gatekeepers sell to the public will be what their minds and outlook will be. It's always best for citizens to think great thoughts for their thinking will representative of social growth and development in the right way.

David Suzuki (b. 1936), a Canadian academic, science broadcaster and environmentalist stated that “we need love, and to ensure love, we need to have full employment, and we need social justice. We need gender equity. We need freedom from hunger. These are our most fundamental needs as social creatures.” Such are the fruits that leadership policies and ideas ought to bear in well-run societies living in blessedness of the joys of Christ.

The Role of Watchdogs

In every country the press and citizens must have a special role to play as social watchdogs. Journalists especially must uphold fundamental principles of fairness, accuracy, decency, and honesty. With such a commitment there will be able to sustain our unity and diversity. All peoples must contribute to nation building. Citizens of every persuasion, complexion, creed, and nationalities will be the reporters, builders, designers, architects, doctors, and engineers. Their mission will be to attain the highest levels of spiritual, moral, intellectual, and creative growth for all. But such aspects start in our hearts and minds.

Dalai Lama (b. 1935), who is the current Dalai Lama and the longest living incumbent of Tibetan spirituality observed, “This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” The Christian faith encourages us to love our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31 NRSV). Indeed with love, all of us has a responsibility as authentic watchdogs in building up our earthly home on planet earth.