God is With the Poor - Bono
Bono raised the roof at the NAACP Image Awards where he won the Chairman's Award. It was an incredibly inspiring speech, and you can see it HERE. The end of the speech, where Bono starts to "preach" is incredibly moving. He was right on. I always like to read things as well as see them, so here is a transcript of part of the speech:
Well today, the world looks again to the NAACP. We need the community that taught the world about civil rights to teach it something about human rights. I'm talking about the right to live like a human. The right to live, period. Those are the stakes in Africa right now. Five and a half thousand Africans dying every day of AIDS, a preventable, treatable disease. Nearly a million Africans, most of them children, dying every year from malaria. Death by mosquito bite.
And, this is not about charity, as you know here in this room. This is about justice. It's about justice and equality. (Applause) Now I know that America hasn't solved all of its problems, and I know that AIDS is killing people right here in America. And I know the hardest hit are African Americans, many of them young women. Today the church in Oakland, I saw such extraordinary people. This lioness here, Barbara Lee (Applause) took me around with her pastor, J. Alfred Smith, and may I say that it was the poetry and the righteous anger of the Black church that was such an inspiration to me, a very white, almost pink, Irish man growing up in Dublin.
This is true religion, true religion will not let us fall asleep in the comfort of our freedom. "Love thy neighbor" is not a piece of advice, it's a command. (Applause and cheers) And that means a lot. That means that in the global village, we're going to have to start loving a whole lot more people. That's what that means. That's right--His truth is marching on. Two million Americans have signed on to the One Campaign to make poverty history, tonight the NAACP is signing up to work with us. And so can you. His truth is marching on! Because where you live should not decide whether you live or whether you die.
And to those in the church who still sit in judgement on the AIDS emergency, let me climb into the pulpit for just one moment. Because whatever thoughts we have about God who he is, or even if God exists, most will agree that God has a special place for the poor.
The poor are where God lives. God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is where the opportunity is lost and lives are shattered. (Standing ovation) God is with the mother who has infected a child with a virus that will take both their lives. God is under the rubble in the cries we hear during wartime. God, my friends, is with the poor, and God is with us if we are with them.
This is not a burden--this is an adventure! And don't let anyone tell you it cannot be done. We can be the generation that ends extreme poverty! Thank you.
Man, I like this guy. I've always been a big fan of U2's music, but I SO appreciate how he's doing something with the platform he's been given. God at work through a rock star . . . A rock star as a prophet? Could it be?
Alan-
You are dead on with this one. I posted about this a few days ago as well. I was watching it live and I yelled for Tracy to come and watch with me. We sat there and got so excited listening to it. I'm thankful, like you, to see Bono using his platform.
Posted by: micah | March 14, 2007 at 03:40 PM
Usually when I see someone on a stage in front of millions of people, I cringe at what he/she will say, then I roll my eyes and think to myself "they don't get it." I am saddened by the way famous people who have a platform to speak and influence over so many people in the world make absolute fools of themselves to make themselves look good. We see it every day. That is the way I thought Bono was going to go with his speech, until I began to hear more. I was surprised to hear him talk about God and not make any nonsense comments about religion. I know that he has been active about the poor of Africa for some time, and maybe God is using Bono to speak for Him to the up and coming generation. We can only pray that hearts will be changed through this, and action taken. Good post.
SAM
Posted by: SAM | March 15, 2007 at 05:54 AM
Hi Alan,
Reading Bono's words brought tears to me eyes. His words resonate deeply with me. Thanks for sharing it.
Blessings,
Glen Woods
Posted by: Glen Woods | March 15, 2007 at 08:07 PM
Incredible. But be careful with throwing around spiritual giftings like they still exist. :)
Posted by: Bryan Riley | March 16, 2007 at 11:38 PM
Did you guys see Hybel's interview with Bono? It was powerful...
Posted by: Darren Casper | March 17, 2007 at 11:04 AM
Did you guys see Hybel's interview with Bono? It was powerful...
Posted by: Darren Casper | March 17, 2007 at 11:05 AM
I never liked Bono's raspy voice. When he first started talking about poverty and helping Africa I thought he was another 'money can solve all the world's problems' kind of guy. I was wrong. Now that I am older I appreciate his music better but much more importantly I believe that he sees and proclaims that the fight against poverty is not about throwing your money around. It is about undoing the works of the evil one. It is fighting injustice, and the lies that we believe about ourselves. It is about Jesus setting people free to become his children instead of senseless animals. God is using Bono as a modern-day prophet and I hope that we will get on board with the message that God has for us and not, as some have tried to do it the past, parse his soteriology to try and discredit the truth that he is sharing.
Posted by: Strider | March 18, 2007 at 12:28 PM