Blurred Lines, Pt. 2

This post is a continuation of a sermon about when it's ok to blur the lines and when it's not ok.  While it's ok to live in the grey areas regarding some things (GRIEF and PRESENTATION), sometimes it's important to have clear boundaries.  There are some things we should never blur the lines on.

1. DON'T blur the lines of FREEDOM –

Psalm 68:7-8 reminded the people that God was concerned about their freedom: ⁷ O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah: ⁸ The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

The psalm tells us that God went before the people as they marched and moved the mountain of Sinai.  This reminded me that this year is the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.  At the march, it felt like God went before the people.  What is painfully clear is that things haven't changed as much as we'd like them to.  During the march, people held signs that read: “End the War” “End Poverty”, “End Segregated Rules in Public Schools”, “We Demand Voting Rights Now”.   Sadly, we can still hold up similar signs today.

We’ve got to be careful not to blur the lines of freedom. Good enough is not good enough.  All schoolchildren should have textbooks that were written since they were born.  All citizens should have the right to vote.  Everyone should have access to food and water.  Freedom doesn't mean unbinding the hands and then binding the ankle.  We’ve got to stop blurring the lines on what freedom is.

Jesus giving His tip - Get Out!
Matthew 21:11-12

When it comes to freedom, God sees right and wrong, not blurred lines. It is wrong to hold back food from the hungry. It is wrong to withhold clothing from the naked.   It is wrong to tip the scales toward the side of the rich.   Can I remind you of Jesus in the temple? 

Jesus notices that the weights of the scales are being manipulated so that those in charge are receiving more than their fair share. Jesus snaps and has a moment made for reality TV. He tosses tables and calls people bad names. Jesus doesn’t see a grey area. Jesus doesn’t wait for an explanation from the swindlers. Jesus doesn’t wait for a press release.  He only sees right and wrong. 


In Jesus, it is clear which side of the issue God is on.  There are no blurred lines of freedom.  Justice can't be furloughed.  The psalmist tells us God has come to provide for the poor (v. 10) and to move mountains.  I believe God wants us to be concerned about freedom.  I believe God has come to move the American Mt. Rushmore of racism, sexism, classism and militarism.  I believe God will go before us as we bravely march into the beloved community that awaits us.




Lord, You are great.  You have never blurred the lines of Your love for us.  Please let us never blur the ways in which we love one another.  Grant us the courage and wisdom to pursue justice, not because it is convenient, but because it is right.  We trust Your Spirit goes before us and moves stones that feel unmoveable.  In the liberating name of Jesus, Amen.



Encouraged,
j.a.g.

 

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Matthew 21:12-1312 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

YGT: The Boy in the Hood (Trayvon's Resurrection)

If you have been watching the news over the last week, you are aware of the tragic murdering of Trayvon Martin, a 17 year-old child who was killed by a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Florida.  The details of the story, including the 911 calls made by the shooter and witnesses are chilling.  Due to this, many black churches are observing "Hoodie Sunday" today to stand in solidarity with the family of Trayvon.  


When gripping news stories like this happen, it's easy to become annoyed.  The media just won't leave it alone and everyone has an opinion.  Why continue to have rally's, articles, and petitions?  Why do we need to keep this child's death on our minds?  Why not just let it die?...


Earlier this week, I read about the resurrection of the Shunammite woman's son in II Kings 4.  This is the story where the prophet Elisha raises the woman's son back to life after he has died suddenly.  When I stopped there, it was clear, this was a narrative of hope and resurrection.  God can bring back those who have died.


However, after reading further, there was another purpose for the Shunammite's son's resurrection.  From II Kings 8 -   


3 At the end of seven years, the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went out to appeal to the king for her house and for her field. 4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Please relate to me all the great things that Elisha has done.” 5 As he was relating to the king how he had restored to life the one who was dead, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and for her field. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 When the king asked the woman, she related it to him. So the king appointed for her a certain officer, saying, “Restore all that was hers and all the produce of the field from the day that she left the land even until now.”



The woman was being wrongfully denied the land and home that was hers (check out the first couple verses below).  Her son's death and resurrection became her testimony against injustice.  She was able to point to her son as a symbol of God's faithfulness to her.  After this, the king restored to her what she was rightfully owed.


Hoodie Sunday and the many actions to come are attempts to keep Trayvon's memory alive.  Not for his own sake, but for ours.  There are racial, socio-economic, and institutional terrors that are perpetrated everyday on innocent people.  We resurrect the story of the boy in the hood so we can remind the world of the daily injustices perpetuated against God's people.

Lord, we thank You for the power of resurrection.  Thank You that there is life after death.  While we join in mourning with the Martin family, we are grateful they have offered their child as a martyr for injustice.  Lord, where there is darkness, please send light.  Where there is confusion, peace.  Please forgive us for not speaking up.  We stand as a people shaped in iniquity and yet shaded by the hood of your love.  Our hope is not lost, it is waiting to be revived.  In the name of Jesus Christ, the resurrected Son, Amen.






Lifting,
j.a.g.












*Just curious - can you remember the name of the black inmate who was killed on death row last year?  There was a lot of news coverage around the event.  Admittedly, I had trouble remembering his name.  Seems like we need to keep resurrecting those we lose.  Long live Trayon.




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II Kings 8:1-2

1 Now Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise and go with your household, and sojourn wherever you can sojourn; for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will even come on the land for seven years.”
2 So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God, and she went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.

YGT: The Problem with Romney's Taxes

The major political news last week was that former governor and current presidential hopeful Mitt Romney finally released his taxes.  If you haven't seen them, a summary is below (along with President Barck Obama and Newt Gingrich's). 

               

Click here for larger image of returns.

The problem with Romney's taxes is NOT that he’s rich from investments.  While it’s amazing to see how much wealthier he got last year without working, it’s not illegal or unethical.  The problem with Romney’s taxes is also not that his tax burden is 14% (under the national top income bracket of 35% - that means he pays a lower tax rate than most other working American citizens).  The problem is that ALL of our tax rates aren’t 14% because of tax benefits.

Spiritually, what is at stake here is the way we value people.  The rich and poor should be treated equally.  Yet those who are wealthy pay lower tax rates and have many other benefits afforded to them that others don’t.  This is inconsiderate at best and criminal at worst. 

I’m not attempting to be a political pundit or a financial expert (there are PLENTY of outlets for that).  But as a person who believes in God, it is troubling to see rampant economic inequality sanctioned by government.  It is even worse to witness the church’s silence on economic issues that affect every congregant who attends worship.  THAT’S the real problem with Romney’s taxes – they have indicted the church as a willing participant in economic injustice.  We’ve not sounded the alarm that the best off in our society are given far greater benefits by our government than the worst off.  Sadly, it seems that we too, have been paid off.  I wonder what the tax rate is………………………………..501(c)3…?

Lord, please give us the courage to stand up for the least in our society.  Help us not to be so heavenly minded that we're no earthly good.  To care about your people is to care about their well-being, including economically.  Please help us to challenge our leaders to advocate fairly and inspire our churches to speak out against injustice.  Give our elected leaders strength, wisdom, and grace in their decisions.  In the name of our leader, Jesus Christ, we pray.  Amen.

Filing,

j.a.g.

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Proverbs 28:21

To show partiality is not good...



*I know this scripture seems to speak against programs that consider differentiating factors when making decisions, such as affirmative action, but that's not the case. The role of impartiality is to act in fairness. Affirmative action programs have been instituted because in many arenas, decisions have not historically been based on fairness. Instead, there's been a history of unfair decisions. Affirmative action programs exist to correct unjust practices that have existed (and in many cases, still do).