by Tim Heinemann
We’ve all seen recent images on TV of Burmese monks and citizens beaten on the streets of Rangoon and Mandalay. To me this video footage is an example of evil, uncovered for all the world to see. This is only a beginning. While there is progress here, the brutalization of ethnic hill tribes on a much grander scale in Eastern Burma still remains largely unknown to the world. Here hidden beneath dense jungle canopy, the military regime has been carrying out a decades-long land grab, burning down and mining over 3000 villages in order to seize lands rich in natural resources.
My work here in Burma has forced me to face this idea of exposing evil and the benefits of doing that. There’s a quote by Mary Baker Eddy that is my foundation for the humanitarian work I am doing with ethnic hill tribes. This statement reads, "Many are willing to open the eyes of the people to the power of good resident in divine Mind, but they are not so willing to point out the evil in human thought, and expose evil’s hidden mental ways of accomplishing iniquity. Why this backwardness, since exposure is necessary to ensure avoidance of the evil?" (Pulpit and Press, p. 14).
In this case, the evil’s been exposed and I definitely want to "ensure avoidance of the evil," but how?
I prayed for inspiration and I was led to support an initiative of a friend who was establishing a human rights reporting system in Eastern Burma. He trains ethnic youth to work in small teams behind enemy lines. They provide humanitarian relief to attacked villagers. These courageous young people need satellite communications equipment and digital cameras to record what they witness as they go about their work. The concept was to get these images out quickly to the interested governments and media. This is a first step in fully uncovering evil.
I presented the idea of supporting this reporting system to the Christian Science society I attended in Southern California. The members were immediately on board.. Since the delivery of the first system to Free Burma Rangers, an American-led humanitarian organization in Thailand, we’ve steadfastly continued our prayerful and material support. As of this writing, we have provided about half of the systems operating in Eastern Burma that send out images of human rights violations to the United Nations and world leaders. The impact has been far reaching in creating pressure on the illegal dictatorship in Burma. But clearly, exposure isn’t enough. The evil deeds of those in power must stop.
The ugly images of the dictatorship’s brutal leadership revealed compel the world to question the very issue of "responsible leadership." What is acceptable? What is not? What does good leadership really look like? What is true power?
I think Jesus was the best example of leadership that this earth has ever seen. His expression of the Christ has proved to be the model to follow, if we would discover and practice what inspired leadership really is. What a powerful contrast his legacy is compared to the type of false leadership at the helm in many parts of the world.
We know from Scripture that Jesus, a man of prayer, was also a man of action. His example shows the demand for us to take appropriate prayer led action. I believe his life shows the need for inspired leadership and clear action to face error in its various forms…and not let it alone.
Jesus seemed bold to me as he went where he needed to be to help the people who needed him the most. He faced oppressive beliefs and dangers in his time. His armor was divine. He moved with inspiration from God—so much so that his life shakes the world to this day.
A few months ago I got a glimpse of what "right" might look like—right inspiration, right action, right leadership. While assessing a refugee situation inside Burma, I came across a Karen youth who had been on a relief team that had been attacked and overrun last year by the Burmese Army. The last thing I heard, he was wounded, missing, and presumed dead. But here he was now before me smiling.
He is back at it again, dedicating his life to his people and leading by his every selfless deed. This young man’s single example—his light and talents–demonstrates Truth lived (not just thought about) in a way that destroys the darkness of leadership gone bad in Burma. I feel that this is the awesome power of the Christ at work in one young man’s life, reflecting the one Mind or God. His example is a hint to me of all of our own potential to have that same instinct to do great good for our fellow man. This is the stature of true leadership in a very daunting and challenging 21st Century. Error cannot stand in its presence. It can only retreat into its native nothingness.
I’ve seen that Love, God, is the liberator from all oppression. When we align ourselves with God we find the stuff of great leadership. And we can support those in leadership through our prayers and honest living.
The young man I mentioned above represents a new kind of youth today inside Burma. Right in the midst of Burma’s darkness shines a great light. The power of his example and of that of other like-minded young men and women around the world, compelled me to dig into the idea of youth development, enablement, and empowerment. And that would take me in yet another unexpected direction. I’m headed back to the region shortly and my target is Youth Leader Empowerment. Stay tuned.
Share ThisPul 14:29-6
Many are willing to open the eyes of the people to the power of good resident in divine Mind, but they are not so willing to point out the evil in human thought, and expose evil’s hidden mental ways of accomplishing iniquity. Why this backwardness, since exposure is necessary to ensure the avoidance of the evil?
WOW! so often i feel as though i can do nothing to help with situations like this around the world so i very much appreciate the example that the author of this article was a able to set about how to be involved in exposing evil. Also I really like the fact that the author was not only involved prayerfully but also materially by sending the needed supplies to the other men and women who are working to uncover evil.
Do you feel like you can see the child of God in those dictators or is that too hard when you see the fallout from their policies?
Georgia - Yes, “seeing the child of God in dictators” is a critical part of approaching the human dilemma in Burma today. A hate-based approach will fail, as it has everywhere around the world, since this surely only breeds advanced forms of hate. All dictators, all mankind are impelled by 7 primal motive powers: Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Life, Truth, Love. In every individual’s journey from sense to Soul the interpretations and expressions of these primal impulse will vary in quality and purity. That is to say, the mark will be missed and corrective processes will take place “through suffering or Science”….the work of eternity. This does not change the facts of being….the fact that the motive itself is pure. In this light, a dictator’s greed can be seen as a false interpretation of Life, Principle or even Love. By demonstrating a higher interpretation of these qualities of God, people are naturally attracted to this light. The young ethnic Karen youth I spoke of in the article is an example of this higher form of Life, Principle and Love expressed. This has a tendency to lead real change at grassroots levels as counterfeits of leadership continue onward on feet of clay toward certain failure in God’s time. This means one has to work with patience and persistence no matter how unchanged the circumstance may appear. The dictator’s negative policies and practices precipitate a dynamic range of positive reaction. Such is the nature of error. It sews the seeds of its own destruction by stimulating passions for correction and positive change. The young karen man’s example is but one “reaction”.
Thanks for your interest. Sincerely, Tim Heinemann
Thanks very much for this article Tim. In times like these it is good to know that the Christ can still be at the helm. Good luck on the Youth Empowerment Program. You’re insights have been fresh and very insightful for me.