I’ve always sorta admired my colleagues who’ve been courageous enough to speak out or demonstrate against injustice or other forms of selfishness. I myself am quite fond of a regular salary, decent clothes and a long-term address! It’s true; the prophets among us run a risk of being shunned, losing prestige and maybe even death. Scripture for this weekend tells the stories of two guys who spoke truth to power, an encouragement to us pew-sitters who Go Along to Get Along.
We begin with Amos (7:7-15), a prophet–not his term–to the divided kingdom of David: Israel to the north, Judah to the south. He spoke of a plumb-line (a device builders use to determine gravity and therefor whether a structure is in line): God is measuring Israel’s alignment in life-style and justice. Israel was evidently full of people who were dazzled by the luster and lust for today’s toys. Michael Jenkins observes that “the hypocrisies of people who stand on their religion while neglecting the common humanity, who have moved the boundary markers of compassion in their own hearts so they can trample the needy and bring ruin to the poor, have inflamed the anger of the Lord.” (FEASTING on the WORD, B 3:222) For his troubles Amos was banished from Israel and sent home to Judah.
The author of Ephesians 1:3-24 goes to many words to assure his readers of the “lavish” grace of God to all. These and we who hear and respond in faith are imprinted by the mark of the Holy Spirit. I wish that he had told us a little more what this means for daily life–but perhaps it’s a better ethic to ask God about each situation as it arises.
Why does Mark, the bare-bones of the Gospel, take us on a retrospective trip to John the Baptizer? No matter: it’s instructive to read about how the Baptizer spoke up about Herod’s “appropriation” of his brother’s wife, Herodias. Herod had appreciated John’s sincerity and was sorry that his step-daughter & her mother conspired to execute John. But what could he do? He’d promised before his friends and officials–so John lost his head over a dancing-girl! Herod the bon-vivant was contrasted to the ascetic John, which fits with Mark’s presentation of binary evil and good: it’s either one or the other. Reading ‘twixt the lines, the Good News is that we don’t have to settle for the ethics of this political moment….
The role of the prophet is to confront and publicly point out spots of idolatry, that is, those places where human selfishness has promoted itself and closed out God. Amos & John the Baptizer lived about 700 years apart, yet their efforts continue to be necessary in every generation. Where can We The Church speak about materialism and distrust to a society which condones winning at any cost? Or should I just keep quiet and collect my pension….? Pray for wisdom, both mine and yours.
In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King
My ruminations on lessons proscribed for the coming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot at horacebrownking.com
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