"What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." These words are painted around the molding in my dining room. These are rich words. Ones that require action, response and life change.
For many Christians the ideas held within this short verse are quite foreign. The love of comforts and material possessions coupled with the distaste for inconvenience and sacrifice, all swimming in the water of accomplishment and achievement seem to distract us.
And as Adele Calhoun writes in the Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, "we never outgrow the need for prophets who remind us of the great requirements." Eugene Peterson suggests that faith that doesn't serve justice can end up making us worse instead of better. Think about that.
So how does Micah speak to us where we live right now? Not all of us are going to Africa to work among the Invisible Children, or to Asia to free child slaves. Few of us are in the Peace Corp or doing full time mission work. Yet the words of God still ring true and call us to live in such a way that we are incarnational expressions of faith. What about in your own downtown, with the single parents in your own churches, the shelters, the homeless on your streets. What about the relief agencies that you can support?
How does concern for justice fit with your faith?
4 comments:
Hi Arlene,
Now, how did I know you would have a fresh blog to post a comment to?
I have an update alert, link at my page for yours.
I left a comment on a pretty old item. I wonder how I did that. I usually do not go into the archives. Someone must have linked me to your blog, I think the title was "Morality has it", or something that ended in "has it".
This quote is like a riddle.
"Eugene Peterson suggests that faith that doesn't serve justice can end up making us worse instead of better".
I think this is something the nominal Christian would not comprehend. And, I think that is part of the message as well. To the reader who does not understand it, take a second before going on.
Here is an example to what my answer is:
My wife and I were absolutely new to a church. We went to a Sunday School Class, and set our things down at an empty table in order to go and get some coffee.
While we having some discussion with some of the people in the class, my wife and I watched a woman walk to the table, move my coat and push my Bible to the center of the table and seated herself where I had chosen to sit.
People of Faith, don't put themselves before others where it is not automatic and unforeseen. What is lacking in such an antic, and an answer to Micah 6:8 is our Love for The Lord.
Paul says, "The only thing that matters is faith (in Jesus) expressing itself in Love (Love for one another) which James calls a "royal law".
My ministry is to witness and build relationships that allow for conversation with The Lord.
In my occupation, I have had prayer with my customers. And you would not believe the clients I have discussed The Lord with.
Nor have I turned away every homeless person. I have given substantially to the request of 'some change'. But, these inpersonal relationships, build stepping stones to the next encounter with them, if The Lord wills. So, we must make a lasting impression on our innitial contact with these people. Then we can be more affective when we give them the Gospel message.
Arlene,
This is a wonderful post! In particular I like this sentence:
"The love of comforts and material possessions coupled with the distaste for inconvenience and sacrifice, all swimming in the water of accomplishment and achievement seem to distract us."
Thanks.
Arlene,
I just noticed that your blog is listed at the bottom of my 'real time activity' log.
Hope everything is o.k..
I'll look for a new post to read.
Jim
Arlene,
I think strive to be like our Father. I think Micah 6:8 reminds us of what God wants in us as His Children.
We should strive to live this verse.
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