Tag Archives: Justice

No other god

Kingdom Building

September 29, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 16:19-31

Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”’ –Luke 16:26-31

What is it about human nature that distracts us from seeing what is right and just, choosing to be drawn toward powerless idols? Why are we mesmerized by leaders responsible for our wellbeing who are only after their own interest? Do we think some of their magic will rub off on us? Why does Luke cast father Abraham in a very pessimistic role of perceiving people as either unwilling or unable to change even if they witness a greater power than they have ever observed at work before? Where is God in our system of priorities?

The older I get the more important I deem the commandment you shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3) which Jesus defines through a relationship of love when he quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 as described in Matthew 22:37: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

Loving another is a choice. I do not know any human and certainly do not believe God wants anyone to be made to love another or love God. Such an act would be a direct antithesis of the meaning of love. I do think Jesus meant it when he said we were to love God which is measured to some degree by how well we love one another according to Matthew 25. Loving one another is impossible when our own interest is our priority.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we caste you in our lives below the gods of the world like greed and power. 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.

Jesus as Advocate

Kingdom Building

September 28, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 16:19-31

‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. –Luke 16:19-25

I spent yesterday at a very productive advocacy group planning meeting designed to set our priorities and goals for the upcoming year. There is a lot that needs to be done as we strive to assure the Common Good. We talked about goals for education, criminal justice, health care including mental health care, and the economy. Oklahoma ranks 39th in education. 42nd in crime and corrections, 47th in health care, and 34th in the economy. We have much work ahead of us. As the meeting closed and I surveyed the total results, it dawned on me that all these areas would markedly improve if every working citizen in Oklahoma earned a living wage.

Jesus was an advocate for the poor. His story from Luke emphasizes his concern challenging all his followers to take up that cross and follow him. I constantly see condescending post about people who receive “welfare”, the stereotypical term used to describe the poor in the USA. There is nothing remotely related to the welfare of another person, when we hear this word spit out like it leaves a bad taste in the speaker’s mouth. “Welfare” usually is used to describe persons who receive case benefits to support their families most often assumed to be a young mother with children and an absent father. The program is called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Many of the recipients in Oklahoma are actually relatives caring for the children of all those people we hold in prison, many for non-violent crimes. Nationwide in FY-2017 there were 3.1 million people who received TANF Payments for a total percent of population of .9%. Of that number 2.3 million were children.  In Oklahoma in March 2019 there were a total of 5,981 people receiving TANF or .2%* of the state’s population. The poor are primarily working families who do not make a living wage.

The time has come for all Christ followers to prayerfully consider seeking solutions to the poverty in our land. Children 6 to 11 Years Old in Oklahoma have a Poverty Rate of 23.1%. Adolescents 12 to 17 Years Old in Oklahoma have a Poverty Rate of 19.0%. Adults 18 to 59 Years Old in Oklahoma have a Poverty Rate of 15.9%. Adults 60 to 74 Years Old in Oklahoma have a Poverty Rate of 9.4%**.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts and minds to become advocates for the poor. Amen.          

*https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/resource/tanf-caseload-data-2019

**https://www.welfareinfo.org/poverty-rate/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.

Eternity is Started

Kingdom Building

September 27, 2019

Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-19

pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses….

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. –1 Timothy 6:11b-12, 17-19

The phrase take hold of the eternal life is written in present tense as something we should do right now. The case can be made that followers of God have been working toward the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God since Adam and Eve left the garden. Jesus, however, made it clear that ushering in the Kingdom of God is our prime directive, if I can borrow language from Star Trek. The scripture above gives us behaviors that will help us in the work necessary to complete this assignment.

Righteousness equals justice and is visible in our everyday relationships as individuals, families, communities of faith, and governmental entities. While we think we have come a long way in the area of justice, we have a long way to go. Psalm 98.9 tells us that at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. Part of our job is to work toward that equity for all people.

We do that work through love, endurance, gentleness but then the writer of Timothy uses language we associate with violence Fight the good fight of the faith. The type of fighting I believe the writer is talking about is the perseverance necessary to love the unlovable, to endure at the side of the oppressed until they are freed to be who God create them to be, and to do that all in a gentle manner—quite a challenge. He also tells the rich to be rich in good works. That applies to all who are rich in the love of God.

Prayer: God of the Past, Present, and Future, thank you for the opportunity to work toward your kingdom. Give us the strength and courage to continue that journey in the chaos of our world 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.

No Magic Wands

Kingdom Building

September 24, 2019

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15

And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions, and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. In their presence I charged Baruch, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land. –Jeremiah 32:9-15

There are a lot of innocent people caught in the lust for power and greed rampant in our world. Both are the foundation of much violence. Both we may practice without even being aware of our actions. Much of the Bible tells the stories of such instances. We do not learn from the wisdom of the situations and outcomes the Bible shares. Just as our ancestors in faith did, we too tend to let history repeat itself. There is a better way which Jesus taught us. Learning to love one another and help others have enough would be a good start—enough food, clothing, and shelter, enough education, a living wage. Working to prevent disability, disease, addiction, and unwanted pregnancies would vastly improve the lives of many. Meaningfully addressing climate change is crucial to our survival.

God does not wave a magic wand and make all things right. He created us to do the work of caring for the earth and all that is within it.

Prayer: Lord, guide us away from the distractions of the world and lead us into a deeper understanding of your vision for our world and how we can help in making it a reality. 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.

Abiding Presence

Kingdom Building

September 19, 2019

Scripture Reading:
1 Timothy 2:1-7

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. –1 Timothy 2:1-4

We can work as hard as we possibly can to model our lives like Jesus being good people who do justice and show mercy. We can engage in communion with God to guide our actions and our behavior and work to walk humbly with God.  These actions grow our faith, nurture our hope, and expand our love. These steps, however, are preparation for the next giant step, joining in Christ’s call to create a world ruled by love. For it will take all the faith, hope, and love that we can muster to make that change happen.

Thus, the author of Timothy urges us to pray for all leaders and kings, whether we like them or not and trust me when Timothy was written there were more disliked than liked for good reason. We must understand that God’s gift of free will includes everyone and sometimes our prayers collide with the desires of others. Somehow amid such conflicting ideas, God is still God and engages with all of us in seeking a world ruled by love. That is God’s ultimate desire, I believe, and God can support multiple ways of making it happen. Our prayers for those leaders whether we think they are great, mediocre, or awful are important, if for no other reason than to help us keep [our] heads while all about us are losing theirs and blaming it on [us]* while God continues to work toward that vision.

Our faith and trust in God as we partner with God in seeking that vision is key to our salvation amid chaos and the salvation of all who will come to know God’s love.

Prayer: God who is love, the breadth and depth of which is beyond our understanding, thank you for your abiding presence and amazing patience. Amen.

*Taken from If for Boys by Rudyard Kipling. See at https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46473/if–

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.

Healing

Kingdom Building

September 17, 2019

Is there no balm in Gilead?
   Is there no physician there?
Why then has the health of my poor people
   not been restored?

O that my head were a spring of water,
   and my eyes a fountain of tears,
so that I might weep day and night
   for the slain of my poor people! –Jeremiah 8:22-9:1

I do not understand how our country has become overtaken by trite words and phrases that in no way describe the systemic problems we are called to address to assure the Common Good. We do not seem to want to dig past these surfaces and deal with the real problems threatening things like our health care. We treat them like Friday night football against our archrivals. I am a sports fan an enjoying cheering my favorite teams but that is a totally different situation from trying to address the Common Good. As a participant in a democracy we are called to take the time to determine what is best for the nation and each person who is a part of it. We all perceive the needs based on our own perspective. I know we see the issues. I see social media post, even TV pleas, asking for donations to pay for health care for special, heart rending cases, but they are just the tip of the iceberg.

We must learn to share our perspectives with others while hearing their ideas and find the common ground that makes sense to provide for the Common Good. Negotiations, compromise, and give and take are all required. We the people are responsible for what happens in our nation. I have recently seen videos where two opposing teams worked together to allow a player with handicapping conditions to know the joy of scoring. Our teens may have a better handle on the Common Good than the adults.

Truth is there are solutions to the problems we face. We certainly do not know all the answers; I am sure we do not even know all the problems. We do know some interventions that work. God equipped us with brains to search for and find other answers. What we lack is the will. What we lack is the willingness to see that greed is a primary roadblock to progress. There is a balm in Gilead there are physicians, people just cannot afford them.

Prayer: Lord, when you walked upon the earth you healed many people. Make us healers also. 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.

Workers Deserve their Pay

Kingdom Building

September 11, 2019

Scripture Reading: Psalm 14

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
   who eat up my people as they eat bread,
   and do not call upon the Lord?
There they shall be in great terror,
   for God is with the company of the righteous.
You would confound the plans of the poor,
   but the Lord is their refuge.
O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
   When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
   Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad. –Psalm 14:1-4

This graphic poetry describes evil people who eat up God’s people as easily as they eat the bread of their table creating a sad scene but, I fear, a very real one. While the unemployment rate is low in the USA the underemployment rate is not. ($25,100 according to the Census bureau is poverty level for a family of 4) While large corporations make great profits for their investors and pay their CEO’s and other officers’ high salaries, many of their staff members’ low salaries are offset by food stamps, Medicaid, and childcare subsidies. Working class and middleclass employees pay a disproportionate share of the taxes that support these federal programs.

CEO pay is quickly outpacing yours. In 2016, the CEOs of the top 350 U.S. firms earned on average $15.6 million. … In 2015, CEOs made 286 times the salary of a typical worker and 299 times more in 2014. Compare that to 1978, when CEO earnings were roughly 30 times the typical worker’s salary*.

Big companies have long relied on strategies to reduce their tax bills. But the new tax law is making it even easier, with a new analysis finding that 60 profitable Fortune 500 companies paid no taxes on a total of $79 billion of profits earned in 2018**.

Doing justice requires God’s people to work to do what is right for all God’s children. Assuring that all workers earn a living wage*** receiving at least enough to meet basic needs is the right thing to do.  

Prayer: Lord, teach us how to do justice regarding our economy and give us the courage to seek justice. Amen.

*https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/22/heres-how-much-ceo-pay-has-increased-compared-to-yours-over-the-years.html
**https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2018-taxes-some-of-americas-biggest-companies-paid-little-to-no-federal-income-tax-last-year/
***For more information on a living wage see http://livingwage.mit.edu/

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.

Forgive Our Foolish Ways

Kingdom Building

September 10, 2019

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void;
   and to the heavens, and they had no light.
I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking,
   and all the hills moved to and fro.
I looked, and lo, there was no one at all,
   and all the birds of the air had fled.
I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert,
   and all its cities were laid in ruins
   before the Lord, before his fierce anger.
For thus says the Lord: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.
Because of this the earth shall mourn,
   and the heavens above grow black;
for I have spoken, I have purposed;
   I have not relented nor will I turn back. –Jeremiah 4:11-12, 23-28

Have you ever wondered if any of the planets, now desolate, supported thriving civilizations that disappeared over time because the population was unwell or unable to do the work to sustain life? Jeremiah’s vision in the above scripture seems to describe such a situation happening to the planet earth as he chastises his fellow Israelites for getting so embroiled in their self-interests, they forgot their responsibilities of caring for the earth. Jeremiah was a prophet over 2,500 years ago and his words still sting us deeply today.

I remember studying about the Dust Bowl and how, yes, the lack of rain and the subsequent drought were bad, the major cause of the topsoil blowing away was over aggressive use of the land in the years leading up to the Dust Bowl. Droughts like recessions occur in the normal fluctuations of weather and economics. We have known that for years and yet we fail to heed the warnings. Joseph, son of Jacob, illustrated what could happen when people are prudent about the care of the earth and the economy. He foresaw the coming drought and had the Egyptians store up grain for use when the climate could not support a harvest, bringing stability to the economy in the down years saving his estranged family in the process.

Our situation with a changing climate is becoming dire when we know actions that can at least slow down the deterioration of the earth. The question is are we willing to give up our current self-interest to take restorative and proactive actions necessary to sustain life.

Prayer:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper rev’rence, praise.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small Voice of calm. Amen.

*Verses 1, 3, and 4 of Dear Lord and Father of Mankind by John G. Whittier see at https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Dear_Lord_and_Father_of_Mankind/

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.

Decimated

Kingdom Building

September 9, 2019

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28

At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A hot wind comes from me out of the bare heights in the desert towards my poor people, not to winnow or cleanse—a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgement against them.
‘For my people are foolish,
   they do not know me;
they are stupid children,
   they have no understanding.
They are skilled in doing evil,
   but do not know how to do good.’ –Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22

I can assure you that this scripture is not what I wanted to read after watching the morning news where I saw flyover pictures of a Jamaican Island with splintered trees and bare foundations of buildings were all that was left. I saw this same image in Moore, Oklahoma in 1999 after a level 5 tornado struck them. The scene was eerily pristine as if the skies had swept slab foundations readying them for building to begin. Gone were the homes and their histories that had previously filled the land.

I do trust Jesus’ statement that it rains on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45) that storm could have ravished any of us. I also believe that we must face the consequences of our own actions and our own actions are not good enough regarding addressing the issues of climate change and its impact on all the earth.

Prayer: Father, forgive us for we are denying what we are doing. Help us learn from tragic scenes that we must be proactive regarding our responsibility of having dominion over the earth. Help us learn quickly and respond immediately. 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.

Motivation

Kingdom Building

September 8, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 14:25-33

Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions. –Luke 14:31-33

My Bible study group is studying 1 Samuel and this week we are reading chapter 24. As the story goes Saul is pursuing David with an army of 3,000 to kill him while David is working hard to avoid Saul with a ragtag group of 600 men. As in turns out, David and some of his men hid in an apparently deep cave which Saul enters to gain some privacy as he defecates. He apparently was unaware of the audience he had behind him. David’s group wants David to kill Saul but David refuses. He does sneak up and stealthily cut off part of Saul’s royal robe. Saul then exits the cave and David follows Saul out to let him know that he had been in danger and David chose not to take advantage of his vulnerability. Saul is impressed and for a moment, only a moment he seems rational and recognizes that David will take Saul’s throne. The coincidence of my study material and our scripture for today made me wonder if Jesus remembered this story of David and Saul when he taught the lesson about being willing to give up everything for God.

The scripture above bothers me because it seems a little overcautious until at the end Jesus drops in that phrase if you do not give up all your possessions. I describe it as overcautious in the beginning because how many times have well trained, large armies been beaten by small and less equipped groups with more motivation. The American Revolution comes to mind.

The scripture is relevant today and the message it sends is crucial, our world is caught in real wars but perhaps more dangerous wars of money and power against the common good. Do we recognize the power we have in Jesus Christ to do the right thing against these odds, to do justice?

Prayer: God of Might, cleanse us so our hearts and minds are in sync with you, then send us forth to protect and provide for the common good. 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.