Tag Archives: Justice

Patiently Waiting

Advent

December 12, 2019

Scripture Reading: James 5:7-10
Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Being patient does not mean resting on your laurals. Yes, farmers do wait on the precious crops from the earth but they do a whole lot of positive, productive work as they wait. I sometimes hear people say they are waiting on the Lord to return to fix everything. I have even heard some suggest that we need to bring on a war in the Middle East to hasten Christ return. Neither is positive nor productive waiting.

Farmers plan carefully what they plant and when. They prepare the ground by nurturing it with fertilizer and turning it over with a plow. I spent much of my childhood pulling weeds out of our vegetable garden. Some plant flowers like Marigolds, Chrysanthemums, mint, and Basil around and within a vegetable garden that are known to deter bugs. Vegetable gardens are often fenced to keep rabbits and other animals from beating the gardener to the produce. Then there is the harvesting with the canning or freezing or otherwise preparing the vegetables and fruit for future use.

We, too, need to understand the concept of waiting on the Lord as we do those things that he commanded as we initiate the Kingdom of God in the world. Loving God first is most often exemplified in the way we love one another. Some people are harder to love than others but Jesus never suggested that we love only those we like. He even commanded us to love our enemies.  Love is a 24/7 job sometimes including oncall work and sometimes routine work that seems tedious and non-productive. No where does Jesus say how long we are to feed the hungry, or clothe the naked or care for the sick nor does he ever say the hungry and the naked and the sick must meet some pre-ordained qualifications to receive food or clothing. Paul said it in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 ‘for even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: if a man will not work, he shall not eat but Jesus never did.

Now I think that God wants all God’s children to become fully the people God created them to be and I think for most that means in some form or fashion to be self-supporting and self-sustaining. Feeding the hungry  is a subtasks to creating a world where all can be self-supporting and self-sustaining and enabling all people to fulfill those roles.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the gift of patience that we may further the development of your Kingdom on Earth. 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.

Care of the Earth

Advent

December 9, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
   the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
   and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
   the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
   the majesty of our God. –Isaiah 35:1-2

What responsibility do we have as followers of Christ to turn wilderness and dry land into rich, life-sustaining land that God created the earth to be? We first must be able to deal with our responsibilities as beings given dominion* over the care and of the earth and all that is in it. As with our personal lives, God grants us freedom of choice in how we use the resources provided for us at the creation. That freedom carries with it the fact that we face the consequences of all those choices. Regarding the earth, those consequences fed by greed are self-destructive. While all of us may not have been major contributors to the destruction, we all have done our part, we all are required to work toward the restoration of the earth.

Each spring, the man who cares for my yard trims the bushes and trees in my backyard in preparation for their healthy growth into the spring and summer. This past spring Oklahoma was besieged by unusual downpours of rain, causing floods in some places. The weather anomaly was most likely the result of the melting of ice in the north caused by global warming.  We all contribute to greenhouse gases that cause global warming. In my yard, the rains caused water to stand, which eventually resulted in erosion. It resulted in postponing the yardwork to the fall, during which time my backyard became a wilderness.

During this Advent season, let us consider our role in the care of the earth.

Prayer: Lord, help us not get so caught up in fixing blame on what causes global warming that we do not make the changes in our lives and our world to restore the earth to wholeness. Amen.

*See Genesis 1:26-28

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.

Serving throughout the Year

Advent

December 8, 2019

Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:1-12

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ –Matthew 3:9-12

I wonder how closely we who are the leaders and members in faith groups today read the warnings in the Bible about getting so caught up in doing the busyness of the church that we forget its real purpose. The ancient prophets addressed this routinely and John the Baptist did not mince words when he confronted the general board and elder and deacon equivalents of the synagogue in his day. How much of our actions relate more to conforming the church to the world than the teachings of Christ? How much of our time is spent gathering donated items for the needy, which is a good thing, but forget them as soon as our gifts are delivered?

The homeless, the working poor, the chronically sick, prisoners, and those released from prison, the least of these, need a voice in our society to support services that would help them become self-sufficient and self-supporting. Such services include literacy training, English as a second language training, provision of health care that support employment. The needy need people to walk with them throughout the year. There are lots of opportunities to advocate and volunteer to help in direct service provision. There are lots of things churches could initiate that would help. During this Advent season commit to following through with at least one action you can do throughout the year to alleviate the suffering of the least among us.

Prayer: Lord write on my heart what you are calling me to do to answer your call to serve the least among us. 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.

Harmony

Advent

December 5, 2019

Scripture Reading: Romans 15:4-13

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. –Romans 15:4-6

I am writing this after watching the first Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing where law professors were sharing a bit of a tutorial on the Constitution as it relates to impeachment. Two differing opinions resulted. The Senators who were conducting the hearing were spit down party lines.

There is more dissonance present than harmony as they try to answer the political question “What is truth?” Once heard from the mouth of Pilate at the trial of Jesus, Pilate seemed inclined to let Jesus go, as he said “I find no case against him”*. What is sometimes lost in politics is what is right and what is just. Both require all to consider why they are taking the stance they are choosing and if that stance is the right and just stance for the issue being addressed.

Finding harmony requires first, that all participants desire harmony. Harmony is not easy. Some are blessed with perfect pitch but most of us must learn to match our voices or instruments to a tuning fork or other pitch source. Our tuning device is Jesus Christ. His life and his teachings give us a place to start. Practice and more practice are necessary at hitting the right pitch consistently. We are also required to stick to our part. There is no grandstanding in harmony. One might want to sing a solo with a broad vibrato but that might not work in a group. The same goes for loudness and softness. Christ is also our director. Harmony is at its best when we follow the director.

Prayer: God grant us the will to live in harmony that results in righteousness and justice. Amen.

*See John 18:38

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 Justice

Advent

LOVE – Living Our Values Everyday, acronym business concept

December 4, 2019

Scripture Reading: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

Give the king your justice, O God,
   and your righteousness to a king’s son.
May he judge your people with righteousness,
   and your poor with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
   and the hills, in righteousness.
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
   give deliverance to the needy,
   and crush the oppressor. –Psalm 72:1-4

I love this prayer attributed to Solomon asking God to gift the national king, Solomon, God’s justice. Solomon is noted for his judgment, but not necessarily good sense in seeing beyond his rulership and the future of Israel. If God’s justice is doing the right thing, how do we discern what is right in the eyes of God? This Psalm goes on to illustrate righteousness as taking care of the poor and providing prosperity for the people. It speaks of crushing the oppressor supposedly those who are taking advantage of the poor.

Mahatma Ghandi said “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”* He also said “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”** Sometimes it is helpful to see ourselves as persons from other faiths see us, particularly when we say one thing and do another.

I wonder what would have become of Israel following Solomon’s death if his sons and followers had taken to heart doing God’s justice for the people as their highest calling. It was not. Israel was split eventually being overthrown and its people exiled.

Advent is a good time to consider what is right, what is just in the eyes of God. Do our actions reflect the Word of God Christ Jesus?

Prayer: Lord, help us to see ourselves as others see us. Help us to live our love not just state it. Amen.

*http://blogs.law.unc.edu/probono/2012/03/07/it-was-mahatma-ghandi-who-said-a-nations-greatness-is-measured-by-how-it-treats-its-weakest-members/

**https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/22155-i-like-your-christ-i-do-not-like-your-christians

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.

Inherited Traits

Advent

December 2, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10

A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
   and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
   the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
   the spirit of counsel and might,
   the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
   or decide by what his ears hear;
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
   and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
   and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
   and faithfulness the belt around his loins. –Isaiah 11:1-5

My penchant for genealogy colors most of the ways I intake information. Thus, it is meaningful to me that David’s lineage is referenced in this scripture. Jesse was the son of Ohed, and the grandson of Boaz and Ruth. Ruth was a Moabite woman. Boaz was apparently a successful farmer who was aware of the needs of others and instructed his worker to leave grain in the field for those without other resources to harvest and eat. Jesse followed in his grandfather’s work as a farmer and sheep breeder in Bethlehem. He raised all his sons to be hard workers even his youngest, David. Someone in this family must also to have enjoyed music as David played the harp. Even played the harp to calm King Saul’s savaged soul.

What legacy are we leaving the children in our world to carry forth into the future. Are we teaching them the value of people from other cultures? Are they learning to feed the hungry? Are we creating a world where hard work results in a living wage? Do we spread joy and peace of mind through the sound of music? Are we living righteously while propagating a just world?

Prayer: Lord, during this Advent time help us identify the positive impacts of our ancestors and others who have gone before us and pass them on to all children.  Also, help us filter out any negative traits passed down through the generations that do not foster love for you and love for one another. 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.

Loving with No Strings Attached

Preparing for Advent

November 27, 2019

Scripture Reading: Psalm 122

I was glad when they said to me,
   ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
   ‘May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls,
   and security within your towers.’
For the sake of my relatives and friends
   I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
   I will seek your good. –Psalm 122:1, 6-9

I included the first verse of this psalm because it is probably my favorite song from childhood. I do indeed love to go into houses of the Lord and share in worship of God. I love music both vocal and instrumental, like to hear the scriptures read, enjoy watching children share in the service, learn from words shared by worship leaders and pastors, and celebrate the whole Body of Christ as I share in the Lord’s Supper each Sunday.

The closing verses of this poem carries key wisdom that we all need to hear. Everything God does for us is intended for our good and everything we do in God’s name is for our good and the good of all of God’s creation. That understanding requires us to carefully discern what is good for us and what is good for another. We must discern what is just and what is righteous in all our actions.

When I supervised social work at the local level, I was asked by local churches to identify families that the church members could help for Christmas. One year a few days after Christmas, a very irate women from one of those churches arrived with sparks flying from her eyes at my office door to complain that she had donated a very nice dress for a little girl in the family we had referred. The woman had just driven by the family’s house and had seen the little girl playing in the mud in that dress. The woman wanted me to know she was never going to work with any family we referred again. I tried to explain to her that that may have been the only warm clothing the little girl had. I do not think it made a difference. From that time forward, when I coordinated such gift exchanges, I arranged for the churches to provide the gifts to our office and did not share the identities of the families receiving the gifts to the churches. God’s love is given freely to all with no strings attached that is a good role for us to model.

Prayer: Lord, help me to share the joy of your birth with others as God shared you with us with no strings attached. Amen.

*https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/396

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.

Living Justice

Preparing for Advent

November 25, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come
   the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
   and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
   Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
   to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
   and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
   and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
   and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
   and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
   neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob,
   come, let us walk
   in the light of the Lord!

I watched a car ad on TV recently that showed a child blackmailing Santa so the child could get Santa’s sleigh which was of course a fancy car. I shuddered. What on earth are we doing? Selling the idea that wrong is not just OK but preferred behavior for children? Getting caught seems to have become the worst sin one can commit.

Isaiah writes hope in the above scripture as he describes a world where the Lord’s ways are lived as the right way.  As we begin the season of Advent, let us dedicate ourselves to looking inward to discern how much our lives are caught up in the ways of the world. Let us expose to God that we realize we need to turn around and return to God’s ways. Let us set forth our plans to live in justice and righteousness. Indeed, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, open our hearts and minds to the truth of the way we are living, cleanse us of those things drawing us away from you, and show us how to live in your light. 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.

Safety

Kingdom Building

November 19, 2019

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ –Jeremiah 23:5-6

Jeremiah projects a vision of a righteous branch stemming from the ancestry of David who shall execute justice and righteousness. Christ followers interpret this Branch as a description of Jesus.

Jeremiah equates justice with being safe. What does it mean to live in safety and how does that relate to justice? In our history much of justice was born from sacrifice and violence. As I write this today hundreds of Chinese justice protesters are barricaded in Hong Kong threatened with violent removal. The United States of American was formed in similar manner.

Children or spouses hiding from a drunken outburst of hurting anything in sight do not know either safety or justice. School children required to participate in shooter drills no longer know safety. Even governmental witness in Congressional hearings received veiled or not so veiled threats for their wellbeing.

When Jesus was nailed to the cross, he was way past even thinking about safety. Resigned might be the better descriptor. At that point his followers hope for justice including safety was being killed.

As a child I was taught that I could never be alone because God was always with me and we were safe in the arms of Jesus. The older I get the more I return to those concepts. I realize now that being called to do justice is a call to, at the least, step into the unknown and certainly may evoke dangerous responses from the oppressors of justice. Safety is part of Christ vision for all and it is worth working toward whatever the costs.

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, guard us with your abiding love as we work for a just world. 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.

Gift of Hope

Kingdom Building

November 11, 2019

Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 65:17-25; 12

They shall build houses and inhabit them;
   they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
   they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
   and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain,
   or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
   and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
   while they are yet speaking I will hear.
 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
   the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
   but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
   on all my holy mountain,
says the Lord. –Isaiah 65:21-25

The above selection is a song of hope for the oppressed in the world where their labors support the well-being of others but not their own. We live in a world where children are being killed in the cross fires of greed and lust for power whether by gang members or governmental leaders who are more concerned about assuring the rich get richer than about everybody having enough. This song of hope describes peace even among predatory animals and their prey.

Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom of God was surely fostered by his reading of the Psalms and the prophets of old.  He never lost that vision even through the cross and he called us to continue establishing the changes in our world needed to make such a dream possible in real time.

Prayer: Thank you God for the gift of hope that even in the bad times we can see a glimpse of your vision unfolding. 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.