Biblical Call to Justice

Posted: Saturday, November 12, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: 2k11 | Tags: , , , , | Comments Off on Biblical Call to Justice

Louis and I were recently asked to participate in a panel discussion about Christian Community Development.  One of the questions we were asked to prepare for was…

Select one scripture that you think best describes the biblical call to justice, and what it has meant to your specific ministry.

As I prayerfully prepared for the panel discussion, I started making a list, thinking I would narrow it down to one.  Well, that never happened.  I realized that I couldn’t narrow it down.  It seems like I can’t read the Bible without seeing the Redemption Story and our role…our mission in bringing justice on earth as it is in heaven.

The short list of scriptures I came up with when I finally stopped….  What scripture drives you?

Micah 6:8   The Message (MSG)

But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously — take God seriously.

John 1:14  The Message (MSG)

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.  We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.

Matthew 16:18-19  New Living Translation (NLT)

18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid, bind, or lock on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit, loose or open on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Matthew 25:39-40  New International Version (NIV)

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,

I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

I was homeless and you gave me no bed,

I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,

Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 5:3
     New International Version (NIV)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 6:20
      New International Version (NIV)

Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

Isaiah 58    New International Version (NIV)

6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: 
to loose the chains of injustice 
   and untie the cords of the yoke, 
to set the oppressed free 
and break every yoke? 
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry 
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— 
when you see the naked, to clothe them, 
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, 
and your healing will quickly appear; 
then your righteousness[a] will go before you, 
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; 
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.  “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, 
   with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, 
then your light will rise in the darkness, 
   and your night will become like the noonday. 
11 The LORD will guide you always; 
   he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land 
and will strengthen your frame. 
You will be like a well-watered garden, 
   like a spring whose waters never fail. 
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins 
and will raise up the age-old foundations; 
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, 
   Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Acts 2  The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

A Call to Action

Posted: Monday, April 5, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10, Louis and Me! | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Call to Action

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There seems to be a theme.  This is a summary of what the Lord has been speaking to me at the end of Lent…

FIRST >

Thursday night…Maundy Thursday…Joe Torrence from Embrace Richmond spoke at Commonwealth Chapel on the scriptures around Luke 22 specifically ~ Do this in Remembrance of Me.”  What are we suppose to remember?  Remembering requires ACTION! Then, He washes their nasty, gnarly, yucky, dirty, stinky feet!  Even to the point of washing the feet of the guy who He knows is going to betray him.  He models for us what to do…and how to serve.  So the question is…WHO are you going to serve and how? John 5 speaks directly to this…v.20 – For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.  So, we are to do what Jesus has done…which is what the Father has done….think about the adulterous woman, the lepers, the Samaritan woman, the prostitutes, the thieves, etc.

So, how do we respond to that?  In John 13:34-35 Jesus states that our new mandate/commandment to love one another as HE has loved us. So that all will know we are HIS disciples.

A Call to ACTION…Love

So…I’m thinking…who do I love on and why?  What is my motive? What am I remembering? Do people know that I am HIS disciple?

SECOND >

Louis and I started our retreat day Friday…rushing around trying to be “on-time” for our retreat.  Although we decided that we’d aim to be at Richmond Hill @ 9am, it didn’t take long for us to chill.  It wasn’t an appointment we were late for…it was a Sabbath Day….a getaway.  So, we slowed down and took our time.  The Lord obviously was still going to be there if we were an hour later than what we had planned, right?

At the corner of Broad and 18th there is a Mickey D’s where we stopped for a breakfast sandwich.  You wonder WHY things happen like they do.  Why we run late….and why the line was long.  And why Louis just ran inside instead of waiting in the drive-thru line.  On his way out, a 54 year old veteran man (who looked about 70) asked Louis for some money to get something to eat.  Most of us are like…yeah right…..and look the other way and ignore the person.  Roll the window up.  Pretend like we don’t see or hear him.  Whatever.  But, on this day….this Good Friday…we took the time.  Louis explained that we don’t give money out, but we’d be happy to buy him something to eat.  Louis and Jerry Lewis (or wonder if it was Louis?) Martin (yes…that is his real name) were able to chat a few minutes.

So, our day started with me thinking about…Matthew 25:31-46…the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats…specifically when Jesus says…

35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’   37″Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  40″The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

A Call to ACTION…provide food and drink, invite the strangers in, clothe the naked, look after the sick, and visit the prisoners.

THIRD > (but not the last, I am sure!)

Then, we found ourselves sitting in the Garden of Richmond Hill.

Our Morning Corner of Richmond Hill

We started our day with reading Jude.  Specifically, vs. 17-23 – A Call to Persevere.

17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.  22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Call to ACTION…Persevere


Jude - The Call to Persevere

Jude also refers to Enoch in v. 14.  There’s not a lot in the Bible on Enoch, but I sure do like the sound of him.  Genesis 5 reviews the long lineage of Enoch.  The only other scripture I can find other than is lineage is in what is known as the Hall of Faith – Hebrews 11.

5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Now imagine that…the only thing you were known for…the only thing that truly ever mattered was “he was commended as one who pleased God.”  It really puts it all in perspective.

Call to ACTION…Please God.

It begs answers to the following questions…

Can this be said of me? What in my life is pleasing to God?  What am I willing to do to please God?  Am I ready to go ALL out?  Am I ready to accept the Call to Action?

These are the feet of Jesus…belonging to a pastor and his wife…willing to serve…willing (and WANTING) to please God.

Where shall You send thee?