Tag Archives: Doing Justice

Invigorated

Kingdom Building

July 7, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’ –Luke:10-17-20

The seventy return from their quest invigorated. I am a news nut and noticed a few years ago that particularly the morning news can be depressing, all news actually. I do not want to start my day in a downward spiral, so I decided that watching the news before I did my morning devotions was a good idea. It certainly gave me plenty about which to pray. I also acknowledge that praying without action is rather empty. We can either pray to tell God what God needs to do or we can pray to ask God what God is calling us to do about all those problems in our world. We are not called to solve all problems; we are all called to do something.

I think the seventy returned invigorated because they had taken action regarding their circumstances as well as the circumstances of those around them. I am sure being under Roman rule was not a picnic. Having Jesus’ followers share with their neighbors that there is a better way and it is available immediately was an uplifting experience.

I sense that a lot of us are feeling that the world is out of our control and it may be. It is not out of God’s control and we have committed to the one who can make a difference and who indicates that God wants us to be a part of the solution.

So, what can we do? First practice what Jesus preached, love one another, all one anothers. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, restore the prisoners, welcome the stranger. Surely you can identify some service you can do in your community in one or more of those categories. Is there a meals on wheels program that needs volunteers? Do you have a closet full of good clothes you no longer wear? Donate them to programs that distributes used clothing. You get the idea.

We are all called to do justice. Systemic changes in our economic systems can be changed to alleviate poverty which is the evil behind most of these instructions that Jesus challenged us to do. Is your larger faith group and our government working to end the horrors that are forcing people to leave their homelands? If not, are we actively engaged in supporting such actions and/or demanding that they take place? Are we demanding immediate action for our government to provide humane treatment for refugees? Are we supporting revising immigration laws based on our values rather than greed?

Prayer: Lord, invigorate us to greater service as we strive to build your Kingdom today. Amen

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Seeds of Love

Kingdom of God

July 1, 2019

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-14

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favour with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, ‘If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’ So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. And the king of Aram said, ‘Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.’ –2 Kings 5:1-5

I am impressed. A slave, a child, a kidnapped child recognizing her owner’s problem and suggested that the prophet who is in Samaria could cure him of leprosy and he should go see him. Many, perhaps even most of the children we are holding at the border, in cramped unsanitary conditions are Christians. My prayer is that they, too, have the faith this young slave girl had so they can see past that which is harmful to them and let God be the source of their self-worth as God was for this young girl.

We, too, need to remember who we serve and let the love God flow through us so that we can work for justice whenever we are entangle in injustice whether willingly or by our silence. We live in a country that claims to be of the people by the people for the people. Our government should reflect our values. When we do not see that happening, we have a responsibility to work to bring our governmental outcomes in sync with those values. And, yes, that is hard because we are a diverse population representing many religions and those with no religion at all. Jesus Christ called us to be one and we cannot even do that within the population that claims him as their Savior.

We must lean into the guidance of the Holy Spirit and prayerfully consider if our values are in sync with God’s. That will prepare us to open avenue of dialogue with all God’s children and that means everyone to search for Common Ground for the Common Good. Even the smallest action of oneness can be the seed that can spread the love of God throughout the earth.

Prayer: Lord, we are lost in a desert of desolation and do not see those seeds we need to plant. Help us find those seeds of love and plant them and nourish them into full fruition. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

God’s Love Our Hope

Eastertide

May 11, 2019

Scripture Reading: John 10:22-30

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.’

Religion is defined as the service and worship of a god, of multiple gods, or of the supernatural :  commitment or devotion to a god or gods, a system of beliefs, or religious observance*.

When does religion become an entity unto itself unrelated to its object of worship? When do followers of a religion become so steeped in its traditions and practices it loses sight of the god to whom it pledges allegiance? These seem to be the problems Jesus dealt with as he attempted to re-introduce the ways of God to his own people in Israel shaking the very core of what systems theory calls their homeostasis:

  1. a tendency toward maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment in the bodies of higher animals through a series of interacting physiological processes (as the maintenance of a fairly constant degree of body heat in the face of widely varying external temperatures)
  2. a tendency toward maintenance of a relatively stable psychological condition of the individual with respect to contending drives, motivations, and other psychodynamic forces
  3. a tendency toward maintenance of relatively stable social conditions among groups with respect to various factors (as food supply and population among animals) and to competing tendencies and powers within the body politic, to society, or to culture among men[people]**

This reality in our culture is probably best exemplified in our unwillingness to recognize and address climate change even as we wade through its devastating floods. Regarding religion, first century Jewish leaders clung to enforcing ritual and rules rather than practicing the love and justice foundation laid forth for them by God in God’s earliest encounters with God’s children. While our ritual and rules may differ as we hand pick and reshape the rituals and rules of our ancestors in faith, we display the same symptoms today.

Jesus called us not only to make love and justice our homeostasis but to spread its value to all people throughout the world. For humans, it is very hard to give us something we have grown to cherished even if it is harmful to us and to all about us. To be honest, I doubt if any of us can love and do justice like Jesus unless we lean heavily on God’s love as we transition into God’s ways.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the courage to face life changes required to love like you. Amen.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/Religion
**http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/homeostasis

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Waiting while Doing

Lent
April 13, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:28-40

When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.”’ So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. –Luke 19:29-35

Doing justice is hard work. I attended a Health Care Forum yesterday evening designed to education and inform the public about the crisis of affordable and accessible health care in Oklahoma and what can be done to alleviate it. Hours of work went into the research necessary to present the problem, tons of communication was developed to let people know about the meeting, expert presenters took time from busy schedules to participate on the presenting panel. The building and microphone system were provided and readied. I did not count the attendees, under 40 would be my guess, most of whom could already were aware of the problem and the solutions. Other meetings like this one are scheduled around the state. A rally is planned next week at the state capitol. All the bills that could have eased the situation have already failed. We all know that legislators can do anything they want to until the session ends. The routinely pull rabbits out of hats for politically expedient issues that most likely is not going to happen in this instance. But all this hard work is not in vain. It may lead to an initiative petition to make the changes needed. If that does not happen it will lead to another effort next legislative session.

The disciple’s trip into the village to get a colt for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem was preparation for their work to spread the love of God and to do justice following Jesus’ death and resurrection. It remains our call today as we work to bring about a world ruled by love.

Prayer:  Lord, during this Lenten season we are actively engaged in waiting as we are actively engaged in doing justice for, we know that
those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
   they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
   they shall walk and not faint*. Amen.

*Isaiah 40:31

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Hearing and Answering our Calls

Jesus’ Ministry
February 5, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: ‘Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’ –Isaiah 6:6-8

In grade school I remember the teacher announcing some fun task and asking for volunteers and most of the students immediately started raising and waving their hands high so they would be picked. I do not get that same sense as I read Isaiah’s description of his communion with God reported above. He is a community of one being asked to volunteer for what seems an impossible task. It reminds me more of the time I was called by the state office of the agency for which I worked and was asked if I would be willing to transfer to another city to take a very challenging job. I said I would need a little time to think about it and the caller said, “We need to know in an hour.” I called back within the hour saying I would take the job and was thanked and told my ID badge for the new job was at the state office. I could pick it up the next morning on my way to the new assignment. My choice in the matter was apparently a foregone conclusion. It was nice to be asked. I think Isaiah knew he had been preparing for his calling for most of his life. In theory he could have said no but in his heart of hearts, in his commitment to a loving God wanting the best for God’s wayward children, Isaiah’s only answer could be, ‘Here am I; send me!’.

As we all plunge deeply in the well of God’s love, we too are being asked to do small and large things that are needed to fulfill God’s vision of a kingdom where everyone has enough and that all can reach their full potential. Our call may be as simple as voting responsibly or recycling our trash or donating cans of food for the hungry. A few are called to be an Isaiah speaking justice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Others are called to support these justice seekers. How do we respond today?

Prayer: Lord, speak clearly to our hearts today so that we can get about the business of loving like you. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Manipulated Faith

Lent
March 4, 2018

 Scripture Reading: John 2:13-22

He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’ His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. –John 2:16-22

One of the greatest travesties of our time is the use of regular people including people of faith to further the greed of others. Through fear mongering and divide-and-conquer technics, politicians further their cause and the causes of those who back them financially at the expense of everyone else. No one trusts anyone anymore. We no longer trust the media. The very rich get richer and the rest of us get along, many barely. I think it is a very strange situation indeed when our unemployment rate is at a very low level and our poverty rate is high. What is wrong with that picture?

Jesus was doing justice when he cleared the temple of the money changers. He was sending a very clear message that God is not to be used for personal aggrandizement. When I first moved to Oklahoma City and searched for a church, someone I worked with mused that a church near my home was a good resume’ church. I had never heard that phrase before, but I also had never considered choosing a church to advance my career.

The Bible speaks of false prophets manipulating people to follow them most likely for the false prophet’s gain. People of faith today are barraged by politicians using highly emotional, sharply focused issues in the hopes of gaining votes distracting voters from the stands those same politicians hold on dozens of other issues that impact negatively the lives of most people.

During Lent, we would do well to expand our knowledge of what true righteousness, true justice is as we seek to do justice on behalf of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: O Lord, let justice roll down like waters,
   and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.* Amen.

*Amos 5:24

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Nurture with Justice

Advent
December 5, 2017

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

See, the Lord God comes with might,
   and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
   and his recompense before him.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
   he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
   and gently lead the mother sheep.
–Isaiah 40:10-11

Isaiah reminds us whose we are. Almighty God protects God’s children, nurtures, and feeds us. The Lord expects us to partner with God in assuring that all children know God’s love and care. Advent is a time when we remember the darkness of life as we await the coming of the Light of the World. My church has a long Advent tradition of collecting warm hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves for those left out in the cold. We pray that each gift does share with each recipient our love as well as a bit of relief from the elements.

The symbolism of the act may be just as important for those of us with enough resources to provide these small gifts. They remind us that in God’s world everyone is to have enough: shelter, clothing, food,  medical care, and love. We are responsible for doing the justice to make enough for all possible. Nigerian author Chinua Achebe states it best, While we do our good works let us not forget that the real solution lies in a world in which charity will have become unnecessary. His words may sound familiar as I have quoted them before and I will continue to quote him until a world that needs no charity exists.

This year we needed more scarves for the ones we targeted to serve. The store where I was shopping did not have enough and referred me to another of their stores in a part of town nearer the inner city. On my way into the store, I walked past one man talking to someone only he could see and another seated on the sidewalk with his back to the wall of the building one hand grasping his grocery cart full of all of his possessions. I experienced first hand the humanity in need of warm clothing, but more importantly in need of justice.

Prayer: Holy One, let us not forget that the real solution lies in a world in which charity will have become unnecessary. Let it be so.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Feeding the Hungry by Doing Justice

Living in the Spirit
August 5, 2017

Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:13-21

When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ –Matthew 14:15-16

Not having enough food to eat is not a resource issue in most instances; it is a justice issue. I support through my local church a food pantry at a sister congregation; the Regional Food Bank, a not for profit; a backpack weekend food program for our local inner-city school; the City Rescue Mission, a not for profit; and a sister congregation that primarily serves the homeless. While desperately needed these are bandages on infected sores.

  • Everyone who works should have the resources to feed his or her family. About 70% of food stamp recipients work. In some of these households, more than one person works, or one person may have more than one job. In some instances, people work at the convenience of their employer. Thus their hours of work vary from week to week. I find it shameful with the amount of money we spend on the military industrial complex every year, we have soldiers whose families qualify for food stamps. The ceiling for food stamps is 133% of poverty. Food stamps are wage supplement for big business including the US government paying inadequate wages.
  • Our mental health services system is broken. People with mental health issues who get the right supervision, treatment, and medication can become self-supportive. The opioid problem in our country is extreme and growing. Many with mental health issues live on the street with routine stops at the local jail for minor offenses. The jail may be the only place they have a safe bed and routine food. Crime records are often not welcomed by employers.
  • The poverty level serves as the base for computing the amount of Social Security received by people who have a disability or are aged. Raising the base for Social Security to 133% of poverty would provide a higher level of income for these people and reduce the cost of administering the food stamp program for them. Of course, 133% of poverty is a bare necessities income. The base could be increased even more if we raised income for the program by eliminating the cap on income taxed for Social Security. For earnings in 2017, this base is $127,200. Why was the cap created in the first place? No one knows.

While we do our good works, we must remember to seek justice also.

Prayer: God of the Harvest, grant us the wisdom to provide from your bounty the food that all need to sustain life in fulfilling your call to do justice. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Doers of Justice

Living in the Spirit
June 28, 2017

Scripture Reading: Psalm 13
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
   How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my soul,
   and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
   Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
and my enemy will say, ‘I have prevailed’;
   my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

 But I trusted in your steadfast love;
   my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
   because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Futility is a dangerous state of mind. Futility results when one feels ineffective, unfruitful. The population of the futile in our country is growing. Most work and still may go to bed hungry at night. The rate of low or very low food insecurity is 16.5% of the Oklahoma population*. Many of the working poor rely on food stamps to supplement their low wages facing the denigration that accompanies paying for groceries with a food stamp card. Many service industry jobs limit hours of work by whether the employee is needed making it impossible to know what income to expect. Most such jobs offer no sick leave and certainly no leave for parents to stay home with sick children. The vast majority of child care facilities do not take sick children and could call a parent in the middle of the day to pick their child up if he or she becomes ill. Too many of those incidences can get one fired. Two many firings listed on a job application can restrict one’s employ-ability. Living from one paycheck to the next is the only option. This first verse of this hymn is their song.

Our call as followers of Christ is to pave the way for the futile to learn about God’s steadfast love. One introduction to God’s love results from the example of our steadfast love exemplified in working together to form a just society where all earn a living wage and businesses flourish because all our citizens are a part of a vibrant economy.

Prayer: Lord, makes us each doers of justice for all your children.

*http://okpolicy.org/fact-sheet-hunger-in-oklahoma/

All scriptures are quoted from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Self-Actualization

Epiphany
January 14, 2017

Scripture Reading: John 1:29-42

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ –John 1:35-39

What are we looking for? Psychologist Abraham Maslow identified what he believed to be basic needs of all people* that have become a standard:

  • Basic needs—food, clothing, shelter
  • Safety
  • Love and Belonging
  • Self-Esteem—feeling that we matter
  • Self-Actualization—Achieving one’s full potential

I like to describe this last one as fully becoming the person God created us to be. Maslow viewed these needs as accumulative. For example, when our basic needs and safety are not met, it becomes much more difficult for us to feel we are loved and belong. The housing first movement for the homeless based on this theory assures stability in meeting basic needs and safety as service providers enable a transition to belonging for those on the street.

If Jesus asked us what are we looking for, how would we answer that question? My guess is that most reading this would answer wanting to make a difference or achieving our full potential and that is a good thing. Christ’s question though is for everyone. Our call to do justice is to work toward all becoming self-actualized in Christ.

Prayer: Lord, make our work toward justice for all be a path toward our realizing our full potential and everyone else’s. Amen.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.