Rom 3:21-28 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
God desire to establish a righteous kingdom is now going to be seen, not in a moral code, but by people having faith in Jesus as the Messiah who died for their sins and was raised. This right relationship with God under the Divine rule will come to both Jew and Gentile who believe in Jesus as their personal prophet, priest, and king. There is no prejudice towards any ethnic group or color of skin. All who believe will be made right with God through the work of the Messiah Jesus.
Both the Jew and the Gentile have fallen away from God and have either become lost in lawless deeds of depravity or legalistic systems of self righteousness and pride. The end result, they have all failed to reach the glorious reflection of being made in God’s image and living in accord with the divine reflection made within them. They have not become the incarnation of righteous love.
As Dr. Moule says: "The harlot, the liar, the murderer, are short of it; but so are you. Perhaps they stand at the bottom of a mine, and you on the crest of an Alp; but you are as little able to touch the stars as they." Every human being has failed to obey God. Every human being has failed to love God. Every human being has failed to love other people as they should have loved them.
All who have a true faith in the Messiah Jesus as the ultimate revelation of truth, the sacrifice for their sins on the cross, and the desired ruler of their lives are declared righteous before God by his unconditional mercy and as a gift. Even their faith is a work of God’s grace in their hearts. Faith comes from hearing the word of Christ and having this word empowered by the Holy Spirit to produce faith (Romans 10:17). Those who are declared righteous due to their union and communion with the Lord Jesus the Messiah are made right with God as a free gift entirely unrelated to their obedience to the law.
Justification was a legal term in the Greek culture and was used to describe a judge declaring an accused person not guilty and therefore innocent before the law. The importance of this is found in this quote by Pastor John McArthur.
“Justification is God’s declaration that all the demands of the law are fulfilled on behalf of the believing sinner through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Justification is a wholly forensic, or legal, transaction. It changes the judicial standing of the sinner before God. In justification, God imputes (credits) the perfect righteousness of Christ to the believer’s account, then declares the redeemed one fully righteous. Justification must be distinguished from sanctification, in which God actually imparts Christ’s righteousness to the sinner. While the two must be distinguished, justification and sanctification can never be separated. God does not justify whom He does not sanctify.” (MacArthur, J: Romans 1-8. Chicago: Moody Press)
Pastor John McArhur’s concern about using the idea of grace to justify a life of lawless living is a needed reminder which Paul will make in Romans 6. However the main point here is that apart from any works God has declared us righteous as a free gift which is in Jesus the Messiah.
Paul develops his teaching about justification around three themes. The death of the Messiah Jesus and his resurrection from the dead has accomplished three divine acts.
Justification: an image from the court of law
Redemption: an image from the slave market)
Propitiation: an image from the world of religion, appeasing God through sacrifice
Justification solves the problem of man's guilt before a righteous Judge. Redemption solves the problem of man's slavery to sin, the world, and the devil. Propitiation solves the problem of offending God our Creator. We have been declared righteous in the divine court, freed from slavery and declared a Son of God, and cleansed from the filth of our sins.
God’s sacrifice of Jesus the Messiah on the cross for sins also demonstrated that forgiveness was not being done at the expense of justice. Grace did not mean we could just forget the right demands of the law. No, grace meant that the full price of the justice would be paid by another and the guilty would go free without any violation of the moral code of God. There is no cheap grace only infinitely expensive grace given by God.
It should be noted that the most popular New Testament scholar of the 21st century, Dr. N.T. Wright and his “New Perspective on Paul” would disagree with this view of justification. Within conservative reformed circles this new approach is called “The Federal Vision”. There are many complicated and complex issues related to both movements.
However, what they both seem to have in common is that ultimately being justified is based on the spirit-inspired works in/through them and not on the objective work of Christ on the cross outside of them. . In other words, Dr. Wright is saying that justification is not in Christ alone. Justification in this view involves the work of Christ (forgiveness of sin in the present) and the Spirit (being made righteous in our lives which will be judged in the future). This new perspective while lacking the rituals of the Roman Catholic Church is teaching the same basic view that was held to by the medieval church before the reformation. I do not believe that Dr. N.T. Wright’s perspective or that of the “Federal Vision” provides for us a right understanding of justification and my view is that the traditional protestant perspective of objective justification in Christ alone is the right interpretation of scripture.
Why is this important? This is important because legalism can corrupt the church just as easily as lawlessness. It takes very little for us to begin to think we are the best and the brightest. Feelings of being elite and superior need little encouragement. Nothing feels better to our brokenness than a baptized pride and self righteousness gained in “humility” before God.
However in the end only those who know they have been forgiven much will love much. Everything that takes away from grace also deadens our love for the LORD. Only a vision of pure grace will lead to a pure love for God. May we see God’s grace today! Amen
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Not Judging the Heart
1Ki 8:39 then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind),
2Ch 6:30 then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind,
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Mat 7:1-5 "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Act 1:24 And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
1Co 2:11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
1Co 4:5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
Eph 4:29-32 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Jas 4:11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
1Pe 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
God alone knows the hearts of human beings. Because our hearts are deceitful our own self knowledge may be imperfect. Next to God, each of us has the greatest ability to know our own hearts and what motivates us in our words and actions. It is impossible however for anyone else to know what the thoughts and intentions of the heart of another person are unless they are self pronounced. When we judge the motives of people we take the place of God.
People are made in the image of God and therefore have dignity and deserve respect (1 Peter 2:17). Those in authority have been put in that position of authority by God and therefore deserve honor for being the one chosen by God to hold that position (Romans 13:1-5). We are to love other people even our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Part of loving another person is not to judge their motives but to give them the judgment of charity which is that we should believe the best motives for whatever they have done.
We live in a time when we do not know how to honor other people. We are not well trained in showing honor to authorities. We do not know how to disagree in an agreeable manner. We find it hard to season every word with grace, mercy, longsuffering, and patience. It is easy for our words to do great harm (James 3).
There is also the need of humility. We do need to judge ourselves and our own motives. We need to think more highly of others then we think of ourselves (Phil 2:3). We should be able to admit our own need to change and improve. We may even come to believe that others have something positive to teach us. It is possible that in the dialogue of ideas that we may actually grow if we do not assume we have all the answers before we begin.
We live in very polarized times. We see those who disagree with us as being “worthless” and “empty headed”, not recognizing that such judgments make us guilty of the sin of murder (Matthew 522). It is one thing to say we disagree with what a person says or does. We can and should judge an idea or action as wrong. But it is entirely different to curse one who is made is the image of God and fail to give them the respect and honor due them from God. When we do this we open up a dark door of vengeance and self righteousness which normally only leads to a growing escalation of abuse and eventually violence.
So let each of us each evaluate what we say and do in judging the motives of others. Let us strive to be peace makers in a world who has lost its taste for peace. Let us guard against gossip and speech which is cynical and belittling. Let us pray for those we disagree with and treat them with the respect that God has ordained we give to them. Then we will be salt and light in the world and a source of healing.
2Ch 6:30 then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind,
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Mat 7:1-5 "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Act 1:24 And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
1Co 2:11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
1Co 4:5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
Eph 4:29-32 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Jas 4:11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
1Pe 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
God alone knows the hearts of human beings. Because our hearts are deceitful our own self knowledge may be imperfect. Next to God, each of us has the greatest ability to know our own hearts and what motivates us in our words and actions. It is impossible however for anyone else to know what the thoughts and intentions of the heart of another person are unless they are self pronounced. When we judge the motives of people we take the place of God.
People are made in the image of God and therefore have dignity and deserve respect (1 Peter 2:17). Those in authority have been put in that position of authority by God and therefore deserve honor for being the one chosen by God to hold that position (Romans 13:1-5). We are to love other people even our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Part of loving another person is not to judge their motives but to give them the judgment of charity which is that we should believe the best motives for whatever they have done.
We live in a time when we do not know how to honor other people. We are not well trained in showing honor to authorities. We do not know how to disagree in an agreeable manner. We find it hard to season every word with grace, mercy, longsuffering, and patience. It is easy for our words to do great harm (James 3).
There is also the need of humility. We do need to judge ourselves and our own motives. We need to think more highly of others then we think of ourselves (Phil 2:3). We should be able to admit our own need to change and improve. We may even come to believe that others have something positive to teach us. It is possible that in the dialogue of ideas that we may actually grow if we do not assume we have all the answers before we begin.
We live in very polarized times. We see those who disagree with us as being “worthless” and “empty headed”, not recognizing that such judgments make us guilty of the sin of murder (Matthew 522). It is one thing to say we disagree with what a person says or does. We can and should judge an idea or action as wrong. But it is entirely different to curse one who is made is the image of God and fail to give them the respect and honor due them from God. When we do this we open up a dark door of vengeance and self righteousness which normally only leads to a growing escalation of abuse and eventually violence.
So let each of us each evaluate what we say and do in judging the motives of others. Let us strive to be peace makers in a world who has lost its taste for peace. Let us guard against gossip and speech which is cynical and belittling. Let us pray for those we disagree with and treat them with the respect that God has ordained we give to them. Then we will be salt and light in the world and a source of healing.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Nominations for Office
On Oct 18th the congregation of First Church West will vote to either elect or not elect the following men.
For Elder - Worship Leader Rick Orsini
For Deacon - Dave Anderson and Donald Dresson
Please pray for God'w will to be done.
The congregational meeting will begin immediately after the second service.
For Elder - Worship Leader Rick Orsini
For Deacon - Dave Anderson and Donald Dresson
Please pray for God'w will to be done.
The congregational meeting will begin immediately after the second service.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Empowering Leadership - Sermon Notes for Oct 11, 2009
Empowering Leadership
The Vision of Empowering Leadership
Eph 4:11-13 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ….
The purpose of leadership
Equipping is katartismos from katartizo which means to mend, repair, make whole or healthy, of setting bones, mending nets in turn from
katá = with + artízo = adjust, fit, finish related to means to make something or someone (in this case the people of God) completely adequate or sufficient for service to the Lord and His kingdom.
The basic idea is that of putting a thing into the condition in which it ought to be. In politics it is used for bringing together opposing factions so that government can go on.
A Word Centered Leadership
2Ti 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
A Prayer Centered Leadership
Act 6:4 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.“
The Elders are the office that strives to lead by teaching the word of God and prayer.
Deacons provide leadership by compassion & help
Jas 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Healthy Relationships Between Leaders and Followers
Heb 13:17-18 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
Lawlessness & Legalism in Leadership
1Pe 5:1-3 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
Legalism would have a worldly spirit of domination over the people of God. This is when leaders try to have power and control over the flock in an abuse manner. The idea of the priesthood of believers is denied practically.
Lawlessness is when the idea of the priesthood of believers is used to deny the need of leaders. Here those called to be leaders are abused by a spirit of dishonor and rebellion.
Servant Leadership
Mar 10:42 -45 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
So What?
Leaders are you doing what God has called you to do in teaching, praying for, and serving others?
Followers are you getting equipped with the Word so that you will be able to do God’s will in your life?
The Vision of Empowering Leadership
Eph 4:11-13 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ….
The purpose of leadership
Equipping is katartismos from katartizo which means to mend, repair, make whole or healthy, of setting bones, mending nets in turn from
katá = with + artízo = adjust, fit, finish related to means to make something or someone (in this case the people of God) completely adequate or sufficient for service to the Lord and His kingdom.
The basic idea is that of putting a thing into the condition in which it ought to be. In politics it is used for bringing together opposing factions so that government can go on.
A Word Centered Leadership
2Ti 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
A Prayer Centered Leadership
Act 6:4 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.“
The Elders are the office that strives to lead by teaching the word of God and prayer.
Deacons provide leadership by compassion & help
Jas 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Healthy Relationships Between Leaders and Followers
Heb 13:17-18 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
Lawlessness & Legalism in Leadership
1Pe 5:1-3 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
Legalism would have a worldly spirit of domination over the people of God. This is when leaders try to have power and control over the flock in an abuse manner. The idea of the priesthood of believers is denied practically.
Lawlessness is when the idea of the priesthood of believers is used to deny the need of leaders. Here those called to be leaders are abused by a spirit of dishonor and rebellion.
Servant Leadership
Mar 10:42 -45 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
So What?
Leaders are you doing what God has called you to do in teaching, praying for, and serving others?
Followers are you getting equipped with the Word so that you will be able to do God’s will in your life?
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Pray for Justice
Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
6 Seek the Lord and live, or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire, and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it. 7 Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood, and bring righteousness to the ground!
10 They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth. 11 Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. 12 For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate. 13 Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time. 14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said. 15 Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
Literal - This chapter is part of a “funeral Dirge” a song of lament for the nation of Israel (Amos 5:1-2). This is a strong statement because the nation has not actually “died “yet. This piece of “prophetic drama” was purposely done to awaken the nation to its serious spiritual plight even as it enjoyed political and economic prosperity.
Amos was a contemporary of Isaiah, Micah, Jonah and Hosea. Under Jeroboam II (around 781 B.C.) the kingdom of Israel reached the zenith of its prosperity. The gap between rich and poor widened at this time and the rich were becoming richer by oppressing the poor, taking their land, and bribing the judicial system. Amos was called by God from his rural home in the Southern Kingdom to remind the rich and powerful of God's requirement for social and political justice (2:6-16). He claimed that religion that is not accompanied by right action is cursed by God (5:21ff.), and prophesied that the kingdom of Israel would be destroyed which occurred about sixty years after these prophecies were given (e.g. 5:1-2; 8:2).
Amos instead of saying “God bless Israel” actually said “God damn Israel unless she repent”. Perhaps Amos is called because Jonah has a hard time warning Israel of God’s condemnation due to her sins because of his love of Israel as a nation which leads to his desire to see her enemies destroyed even when God may have a redemptive plan.
This “funeral Dirge” was done at one of the centers of worship in Israel located at Bethel. It was the place where the king loved to worship and thank God for all the prosperity that had come upon the nations. It was where the state paid prophets would declare how God would prosper Israel and defeat her enemies. In the midst of this optimistic and positive environment comes Amos singing a song of death and mourning over a nation that has died, but simply does not know it yet.
Amos says that Israel must repent or die. They have turned “justice” into poison. Justice is to be the source of nourishment and life to a society. But here it has been turned into wormwood a bitter poison that only brings sickness and health. Righteousness has been knocked down and pushed out of the way. All of this has happened in the gate of the city where people where people were to go to find justice.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was very concerned in what happened "in the gate" because it was the primary public arena for finding fairness, compassion, and social order in accord with the principles, personality and history of Yahweh and Yahweh’s people. The book of Moses reminded Israel that God "takes no bribe," "executes justice for the orphan and the widow," and "loves the strangers." Israel was to be a reflection of God's justice in its own life and social relationships (Deuteronomy 10:17-18). Their failure to do this was now bringing God’s judgment upon them.
The key problem here is that the poor have not been given equal justice. Their rights have not been upheld in the public square. The rich have been able to win in court and avoid punishment for their crimes while the poor have not been given fair trials. The rich have been able to manipulate the system to keep the poor from keeping their land and the truly impoverished have not been cared for with compassion. God is condemning Israel for her lack of social and political justice. The eternal creator of the universe cares that we demonstrate love for our neighbor by the establishment of a just social system. Failure to do this will bring about the end of that society and divine judgment upon them.
For believers our concern must be to know and define the nature of social and political justice. God is for justice. We are to be for justice. What is justice? What does it mean to have a just society? What actions in a society are seen as unjust and a failure to love our neighbor? How can the poor be oppressed by the rich in our society? How could the poor be protected? These are critical concerns for God. They need to also be critical concerns for us.
Christological: One of our hopes to see Christ return is that with that return perfect justice will reign over all the earth. Jesus the Messiah will bring an end to all oppression and unjust rule. He will establish perfect fairness in the governing of the earth.
Moral: We should hunger and thirst after righteousness and social justice. It should be a deep desire and need in our lives to see this fulfilled in our lives and our community.
Eternal: Rev 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Prayer: Help me to hate evil and love good. Grant me a heart and mind that understands and desires justice for the weak, poor, and oppressed.
Contemplation: Seek justice and love righteousness
Action: List areas of injustice in our community. What could you do to help restore justice? What are you doing that encourages injustice? What would Amos say to us today? How should you and I change?
6 Seek the Lord and live, or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire, and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it. 7 Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood, and bring righteousness to the ground!
10 They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth. 11 Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. 12 For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate. 13 Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time. 14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said. 15 Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
Literal - This chapter is part of a “funeral Dirge” a song of lament for the nation of Israel (Amos 5:1-2). This is a strong statement because the nation has not actually “died “yet. This piece of “prophetic drama” was purposely done to awaken the nation to its serious spiritual plight even as it enjoyed political and economic prosperity.
Amos was a contemporary of Isaiah, Micah, Jonah and Hosea. Under Jeroboam II (around 781 B.C.) the kingdom of Israel reached the zenith of its prosperity. The gap between rich and poor widened at this time and the rich were becoming richer by oppressing the poor, taking their land, and bribing the judicial system. Amos was called by God from his rural home in the Southern Kingdom to remind the rich and powerful of God's requirement for social and political justice (2:6-16). He claimed that religion that is not accompanied by right action is cursed by God (5:21ff.), and prophesied that the kingdom of Israel would be destroyed which occurred about sixty years after these prophecies were given (e.g. 5:1-2; 8:2).
Amos instead of saying “God bless Israel” actually said “God damn Israel unless she repent”. Perhaps Amos is called because Jonah has a hard time warning Israel of God’s condemnation due to her sins because of his love of Israel as a nation which leads to his desire to see her enemies destroyed even when God may have a redemptive plan.
This “funeral Dirge” was done at one of the centers of worship in Israel located at Bethel. It was the place where the king loved to worship and thank God for all the prosperity that had come upon the nations. It was where the state paid prophets would declare how God would prosper Israel and defeat her enemies. In the midst of this optimistic and positive environment comes Amos singing a song of death and mourning over a nation that has died, but simply does not know it yet.
Amos says that Israel must repent or die. They have turned “justice” into poison. Justice is to be the source of nourishment and life to a society. But here it has been turned into wormwood a bitter poison that only brings sickness and health. Righteousness has been knocked down and pushed out of the way. All of this has happened in the gate of the city where people where people were to go to find justice.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was very concerned in what happened "in the gate" because it was the primary public arena for finding fairness, compassion, and social order in accord with the principles, personality and history of Yahweh and Yahweh’s people. The book of Moses reminded Israel that God "takes no bribe," "executes justice for the orphan and the widow," and "loves the strangers." Israel was to be a reflection of God's justice in its own life and social relationships (Deuteronomy 10:17-18). Their failure to do this was now bringing God’s judgment upon them.
The key problem here is that the poor have not been given equal justice. Their rights have not been upheld in the public square. The rich have been able to win in court and avoid punishment for their crimes while the poor have not been given fair trials. The rich have been able to manipulate the system to keep the poor from keeping their land and the truly impoverished have not been cared for with compassion. God is condemning Israel for her lack of social and political justice. The eternal creator of the universe cares that we demonstrate love for our neighbor by the establishment of a just social system. Failure to do this will bring about the end of that society and divine judgment upon them.
For believers our concern must be to know and define the nature of social and political justice. God is for justice. We are to be for justice. What is justice? What does it mean to have a just society? What actions in a society are seen as unjust and a failure to love our neighbor? How can the poor be oppressed by the rich in our society? How could the poor be protected? These are critical concerns for God. They need to also be critical concerns for us.
Christological: One of our hopes to see Christ return is that with that return perfect justice will reign over all the earth. Jesus the Messiah will bring an end to all oppression and unjust rule. He will establish perfect fairness in the governing of the earth.
Moral: We should hunger and thirst after righteousness and social justice. It should be a deep desire and need in our lives to see this fulfilled in our lives and our community.
Eternal: Rev 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Prayer: Help me to hate evil and love good. Grant me a heart and mind that understands and desires justice for the weak, poor, and oppressed.
Contemplation: Seek justice and love righteousness
Action: List areas of injustice in our community. What could you do to help restore justice? What are you doing that encourages injustice? What would Amos say to us today? How should you and I change?
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Planning & Prayer Meeting on Oct 17th
We are having our annual meetng for praying for our ministry and developing a plan on Saturday Oct 17th. We will begin with a community breakfast, have a season of prayer and then begin developing our plans for every aspect of our ministry.
Some of the areas we will discuss and pray about are how to improve our worhip, increase our evangelism, deepen our small group experience, explore passionate spirituality, develop our spiritual gifts, improve our structures, and give more focus to our leadership. We will be attempting to develop better ministry to singles, married, men, women, childen, and teens. We want to hear your prayerful ideas.
Please call the office at 954-452-4404 if you plan to attend.
The meeting begins at 8:30 AM with breakfast and will end about 3 PM.
Some of the areas we will discuss and pray about are how to improve our worhip, increase our evangelism, deepen our small group experience, explore passionate spirituality, develop our spiritual gifts, improve our structures, and give more focus to our leadership. We will be attempting to develop better ministry to singles, married, men, women, childen, and teens. We want to hear your prayerful ideas.
Please call the office at 954-452-4404 if you plan to attend.
The meeting begins at 8:30 AM with breakfast and will end about 3 PM.
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