pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: justice


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God’s Presence and Will

It is common in the church today to hear that these are dark days.  The world is full of greed, the lust for power and control, the idea that the individual is supreme, and tragedies such as war, disease, and oppression.  While much of this is true, dark days are not common only to our time.  For those that lived through world-changing events, such as the Depression or the World Wars, their times were certainly filled with dark days.  This could be said of many events in mankind’s past.  For the Ephesians that Paul was writing to, the days were filled with persecution and they lived within a pagan culture.  These were dark days as well.

As each generation of Christians face the dark and evil days in which they live, the questions are the same: how will we face these days? And, how will we respond?  Today our answers are just as important as they were during the bubonic plague of Europe or during the more recent AIDS epidemic in Africa or at any other time in the church’s history.

Some voices call for the Christian to retreat within the walls of our churches and homes, to live largely in isolation.  Venture forth only when absolutely necessary.  Other voices call for more aggressive measures such as protest, boycott, and other forms of condemnation.  Through these and other political actions these voices call for Christians to play the world’s game of power and control, just with our own Christian agenda.

Paul’s advice to the Ephesians was to understand God’s will.  Christians never were or are called today to run from the world.  Nor are we called to fight with the world.  Instead we are called to follow Jesus.  Jesus’ life was God’s will lived out in the flesh.  We too are called to live as God’s presence in the world sharing His love, goodness, mercy, righteousness, truth, justice, and forgiveness.  We face each day knowing God’s presence in and will for our lives.  We respond by sharing God with others.

Scripture reference: Ephesians 6: 18-20


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Always at Work

God is ever-present and all-knowing.  God creates all and is in all.  He works sometimes in surprising and unmistakable ways and sometimes it is hard to see His presence.  In the psalm God is praised for always being present, for always being gracious, loving, and just.

Today’s psalm represents God’s activity in our lives from the beginning to the end.  The writer uses an acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet to represent this idea.  He begins with “alpha” and ends with “tav” – equivalent to A-Z for us.  In the psalm he recounts all of the reasons we have to praise God – His works and righteousness, His grace and compassion, His faithfulness and justice, His laws and wisdom, and the covenant He keeps with His people.  For all of this, praise is lifted up.

God continues to offer all of this and more to us.  God continues to be active in the world.  As time unfolded, Jesus became the new covenant as He offered Himself in sacrifice to defeat sin and death so we could gain eternal life.  As we look back over our lives, from the beginning to where we are now, we can see God’s hand at work.  Sometimes His hand is active and easy to see.  At other times it is hard to see at all.  Yet even then we know He was present with us.  From the promises in the scriptures to our experiences in life, we know God is always at work.

In times of uncertainty or trial, it can be hard to see God at work or to feel His presence.  Sometimes another may see something we do not so it is often helpful to share our experiences with one another believer.  In the end, we know we can always look back and see His handprints.  In this we can always trust. For this, we say thanks be to God!

Scripture reference: Psalm 111


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The Question

Herod is a man who lived by manipulation, force, coercion.  He desperately wanted to be loved.  He worked at rebuilding the temple to curry favor from the Jews.  He went to great lengths to please his wife.  Guilt and self-doubt filled Herod.  When he hears stories of Jesus, he feared that John the Baptist had returned to judge him again.

Herod did not understand the world that John, and later Jesus, was trying to bring about.  Both John and Jesus experienced rejection and death because the rulers of the day would not hear their message of justice, peace, and love.  Both men willingly died to challenge the way the world was operating.  Both sought to bring the world shalom – the well-being of all, justice for all, equality for all people in all situations, and the blessings of God’s love, mercy, and grace.

In the world today I see people like Herod – driven by self-interests and greed.  Their priorities are far from those Jesus taught and died for.  In the world today I see many people who lack peace, justice, the basic necessities of life – things Jesus strove to bring to all people.  In the world today I see people who are suffering injustices and oppression – both in my hometown and throughout the world.

The question I must ask – the question all Christians must ask – is: what I am willing to do to bring this shalom to others?  It is a hard question.  But it is a question all Christians must not only wrestle with but one we must answer with how we live our lives.

Scripture reference: Mark 6: 14-16


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Know God and His Love

The Law is a long list of do’s and don’ts.  Teh vastness of the Law found in the Old Testament is hard to wrap one’s mind around.  Even our public law code today is long and cumbersome.  In both cases there were or are laws that the common man did not even know about.  Today most people obey the public law because it is for the common good.  Some obey the law to avoid the consequences of not following the law.

Today’s Psalm 1 begins with the don’ts.  Blessed is he who does not listen to the wicked or stand with sinners or sit with mockers.  In then turned to the thing to do: meditate on the laws of God.  Do so and you will yield fruit in season and you will prosper.  For the psalmist, there is reward in following God’s ways.

The same is true today.  Although Jesus looked at the law differently, there is still much value in following the ways of God.  In essence, when asked Jesus boiled all of the Old Testament Law down to two commands: love God and love neighbor.  If one follows these two commands, then all else falls in line.

If we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength then we see the world as God does.  We see each person in need with compassion.  We see injustice as something that needs correction.  We see equality as something all people deserve.  If we love neighbor as self, then we offer compassion, ensure justice, and seek equality for all.  If we live in God’s love and allow it to pour forth from inside of us, then all will prosper and all will come to know God and His love.

Scripture reference: Psalm 1: 1-3


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It Narrows

“Jesus arrives on the scene disinclined to greatness but inclined to goodness.”  This line really stood out in one of the devotionals I read this morning.  Just a bit earlier in Mark, Jesus referred to himself as “Lord.”  But His definition of ‘Lord’ is a bit different that the people He will encounter as they enter Jerusalem.

The excited people gathered for the Passover with shout “Hosanna!” and declare him ‘Lord’ and will call in the kingdom of David as Jesus arrives.  Hosanna means ‘Save!” – they had such high expectations for Jesus.  They were ready to anoint Him.  Riding in on a donkey probably wasn’t what most had imagined for the day a king would return to save Israel.  The crowd was so charged that Jesus could have been easily lured in.  But He was not.  As He slowly progressed His mind remained resolutely focused on the cross.  He could have chosen greatness but instead He chose to be the good servant.

Jesus’ life was never about power or status or accolades.  His life was always about service and the offering of self for others.  To follow Him is to do as He did.  It is hard.  Remember, when the teachings got really tough and the road narrowed, then the crowds thinned and the followers fell away.  His teachings were challenging and required a cost or sacrifice – most often to self, to status, or to possessions.  In Jesus’ economy the things of value are love, mercy, justice.

In the week ahead, as we enter Holy Week, the road gets really narrow.  It will take a bit to walk through the week ahead with Christ.  This Lenten season of self-denial and introspection makes us ask some hard questions.  He is calling us to read the Word, to feel the tug of the emotions, to be a part of His Holy Week.  Happy trails!

Scripture reference: Mark 11: 4-7


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Justice with Love and Mercy

Justice in society today generally has to do with one of two things.  One is the criminal justice system where people are punished for their crimes.  The second is the idea that our laws are fair and equally applied to all.  In both cases we can easily be detached from these concepts of justice.  They can be seen as simply functions of the larger society.

God’s justice and the justice we are called to stand for as Christians does have to do with these two concepts of justice, but there is much more to it as well.  As Christians we do need to stand for equal treatment of all under the law and we do need to stand up to correct matters where this is not the case.  God’s justice takes the earthly concepts and adds mercy and love to the equation.

For some in our midst the world is an unfair and unjust place.  Because of a variety of circumstances, they find themselves in a situation where they are struggling to survive.  They may be lacking food or shelter or clothing or transportation or income or ..  Most often it is a combination of these needs.  How they got to this point is a mystery for some of them.  But not one got up and decided to make ‘poor’ decisions all day every day.  They each try to do what they think is best for their present situation.

For those struggling, society’s justice does provide some aid and assistance, but it is limited.  God’s justice is much more encompassing.  God’s justice includes love and mercy that not only seeks to meet needs, but also walks alongside people to teach and encourage them.  Through faith we are called to partner with people, to invest in their lives, to share their burdens, to guide their steps, to love unconditionally.  It is a hard path to walk.  Yet Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors.  May we learn to love without conditions, to offer God’s justice and love and mercy to all.

Scripture reference: Psalm 50: 1-6


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Advent Living

Advent begins today.  The scripture passage from Mark is about being awake and alert. It is a call to be aware of God and His presence in our world.  There is a danger in simply going through the motions of life.  There is an equal danger in choosing to live life for self.

Advent is a time of waiting and watching for the work of God in our worlds.  We wait and watch with expectancy – sure that He is present among us.  We live in the belief that we are all God’s children.  Therefore we all have equal right and access to His presence.

There is an implication to that though.  Not all truly have equal access.  Not all know Christ and all He offers to each of us.  Part of our call as Christians is to share the good news and teachings of Jesus Christ so that they too can join in the family.  Part of our call is to provide access by removing barriers such as economic limitations and other injustices.  All are called to live as children of the light.

This Advent season, may we be alert and awake to all God has to offer.  May we walk fully as children of the light bringing love, mercy, and justice to all so that all may enter into the holiness of this Advent season.

Scripture reference: Mark 13: 24-37


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The Low and Downtrodden

In our world there are many kinds of leaders – kings, presidents, premiers, dictators, and so on.  In most cases their primary focus is maintaining control or to stay in power.  They seek the favor of those who will re-elect them or who help the stay in power.  In these systems, there is no need to be concerned with the low and the downtrodden.

What a contrast to what God taught the Jews and to what Jesus taught the disciples and now teaches us.  The idea of ‘love your neighbor’ had no caveats or asterisks.  All people are to be loved and cared for – especially the low and downtrodden.  Yet these are the people who can only offer thanks in return for kindness and love.  Their vote is minimal at best.

Can we meld the two and have a viable leader?  Is it possible to govern well and to defend the oppressed, to stop injustice, and to care for the needy?  Is it possible to care for the low and downtrodden while being loving and fair to the high and mighty as well?  The key is the same: love your neighbor.

Scripture Reference: Psalm 72


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Asking the Right Question

Micah was a prophet in the old testament. In chapter six God, through Micah, begins by calling the people into account and they respond with a ‘what more can I do?’ attitude. God could just as easily be speaking to us today. Although we do not make animal sacrifices to atone for our sins, we do make what we call ‘sacrifices’ to God. We give Him a whole hour on Sunday morning, maybe two if we go to Sunday school! We give Him a few hours once a month to serve a meal at the mission or to help with a project at church or in the community. And then if we have a twinge of guilt over not doing more for our faith, we shrug and whine out, ‘what more can I do?’ And just like the Israelites, God looks down, gives us a loving smile, and lets us know we have our attitude all wrong.

In verse 7 of Micah 6 the people ask mockingly if God wants the first born of their bodies for the sins of their souls. What a powerful question! Maybe the people were thinking back to Genesis 22 where Abraham goes as far as having his son Isaac bound and upon the altar’s wood – ready to be sacrificed. As Abraham raised the knife, the angel of the Lord intervened. But don’t you think God wishes they (and we) had that much faith in Him?

The attitude that God desires is not for us to offer up our own son or daughter for the sins of our souls. He already did that with His son Jesus. The price for us has already been paid through Jesus’ blood on the cross. But in verse 8 God spells out what He does expects of us: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

And this is a 24/7 request – not an hour on Sunday, a few hours here and there once a month. It is about being in relationship with Christ ALL the time. It is about being in the world and not succumbing to what the world says is important. It is treating our fellow man with justice. It is about extending mercy to those in need. It is about walking humbly and acknowledging that it is God who is in control of our lives. In the end, our question should not be ‘what more can I do?’ but ‘what else CAN I do?’


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Justice and Mercy – Room to Grow!

The lectionary readings for this week are centered around the idea of living a life that reflects what is important to God and not centered on what the world says is important or powerful or to be sought after. Living in God’s economy may be the way to look at it – investing ourselves into the people we encounter seeking ways to make their lives better when we can.

In Micah 5 the people of Israel are accused of the various economic injustices that exist. They have transitioned from oppressed to oppressor. It is a hard line to cross and not be vengeful or abusive of the newfound power. Micah 6: 2b reads: “For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.” In the days of Micah, Israel was the Jewish people. In our times, we are Israel.

In a corporate sense, God can still make a pretty compelling case against His people. If the question were to be: “Do we do ALL we can to help the poor and oppressed living in various places around the world?” then my answer would be a loud ‘No’. As I pondered this I thought about the clothes I wear that were made by barely-paid people working in unsafe conditions. I thought about all the food I eat that came from the hands of over-worked and under-paid people. Part of me knows that slowly things are improving for people, but part of me wonders what else I could do.

If the question got more personal and became: “Do I do ALL I can to help the poor and oppressed in the community in which I live?” then I would have a hard time defending my case or my position. True, my calling is not to just work with this segment of our society, but at times I do have an opportunity to be justice and mercy for someone. And do I always extend these when I can? Mostly, but not always. So in the week ahead, it will be on my heart and mind to seek ways to better answer these questions. It is my hope and prayer that you will join me as well!