Tag: evil

Protest As Faith

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality BlogLeave a comment

But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads!” (Acts 18:6)

“Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” (Genesis 32:28)

Deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13, NIV)

If it looks like terrorism, talks like terrorism, and acts like terrorism, it’s probably terrorism.

I have become exasperated in numerous ways in the past few days – not only from the federally-sponsored terrorism which is presently oppressing and abusing the Twin Cities of Minnesota, but also from some “Christians” who say ungracious and unfeeling statements concerning what is happening in where I presently live.

The greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area is now my home, so that my dear wife and I can be near our middle daughter and her family who reside in south Minneapolis.

At the least, it isn’t helpful to make comments, such as the following, which I have heard multiple times from some “Christians:” “Well, if the leaders and people of Minnesota would just give a little cooperation, then everything would be okay,” and “Don’t you think Minnesota leadership is creating this protest scene to hide fraud investigations?”

At worst, those comments are a projection that put the deportations and deaths of Americans squarely on the actual victims, instead of the real perpetrators. I, for one, will not stand for that sort of attitude and rhetoric, and as it turns out, neither will my fellow Minnesota residents.

Because even the “unbeliever” knows right from wrong and the face of evil when they see it up close and personal.

When I hear blatant lies from federal officials which contradict my own eyes, ears, and experience; and see it coming from persons with a cross dangling from their neck, I begin to better understand the biblical stories of defiant faith in the midst of this present darkness (e.g. Luke 18:1-8).

Maybe such “Christians” would like to explain to my grandchildren why they shouldn’t be afraid when I.C.E. helicopters hover over their home…

Perhaps such professing “believers” would like to try and reassure my 36-year-old Christian white daughter of three children that she is safe and has nothing to worry about…

Maybe such church folk would like to try and console the hundreds of grieving families who lament the injustice done to their loved ones…

Just once, I wish these “Christians” would take seriously the Gospel admonitions to love neighbor, welcome the stranger, and provide for the needy who are near them, no matter who they are and without prejudice. (Matthew 22:39; 25:31-46)

The experience of faux faith from others is what creates the conditions for protest. And I strongly argue that there is such a thing as biblical protest. It can take many forms.

I find myself giving protest to God. Yes, the Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And I do so because I believe this is what I am called to do for this time and for this place.

The biblical characters of Job, Abraham, Jacob, and Moses, along with the psalmists and the prophets, all protested God to make things right in the middle of unjust circumstances and victimization.

They all struggled and wrestled with God concerning their respective situations. Yet, they never let go of the Lord and their own faith, holding fast to God’s justice, God’s goodness, and God’s righteousness – trusting God when they don’t understand why and what the heck is going on.

The Lord responded to those struggling believers’ uppity protests in a favorable way (Genesis 18:26-32; Exodus 32:14; Job 42:7). Pleading to God when unjust evil is running amok is to rectify injustice. Keeping silent is to passively accept evil, making one complicit to the injustice.

Believe it or not, God is perfectly fine, and actually likes it, when humans remind God of who God is in God’s very character. Because God is just, right, good, holy, and loving all the time, God’s people fully expect these inherent character qualities of God to work themselves out in practical ways on this earth.

We express the depth of our faith by tenaciously clinging to what we know about God, instead of running from God, or simply relying upon ourselves, doing whatever the heck we want to do, and putting a spiritual veneer over the lies, as if we are really pleasing God.

Furthermore, Christian history is replete with godly protest. For example, Black spirituals, sung by enslaved African-Americans, such as “Wrestle On, Jacob” and “I Will Not Let You Go, My Lord” were forms of pious irreverence against the entire slave system through complaints to God.

For decades I have found the psalms to be my best expression of defiant faith. Along with the psalmist I pray with fervor and flavor:

Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord?
    Awake, do not cast us off forever!
Why do you hide your face?
    Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
For we sink down to the dust;
    our bodies cling to the ground.
Rise up, come to our help.
    Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love. (Psalm 44:23-26, NRSV)

I looked for pity, but there was none;
    and for comforters, but I found none.
They gave me poison for food,
    and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Let their table be a trap for them,
    a snare for their allies.
Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
    and make their loins tremble continually.
Pour out your indignation upon them,
    and let your burning anger overtake them.
May their camp be a desolation;
    let no one live in their tents.
For they persecute those whom you have struck down,
    and those whom you have wounded they attack still more.
Add guilt to their guilt;
    may they have no acquittal from you.
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;
    let them not be enrolled among the righteous.
But I am lowly and in pain;
    let your salvation, O God, protect me.

I will praise the name of God with a song;
    I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This will please the Lord more than an ox
    or a bull with horns and hoofs.
Let the oppressed see it and be glad;
    you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
For the Lord hears the needy
    and does not despise his own who are in bonds. (Psalm 69:20-33, NRSV)

May the Lord take notice of defiant faith, and bring justice to the nations. Amen.

Learn To Do Good (Isaiah 1:1, 10-20)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
Visiting a Poor People, by Vladimir Makovsky, 1874

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah…

Hear the word of the Lord,
    you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the teaching of our God,
    you people of Gomorrah!
What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
    says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
    and the fat of fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls
    or of lambs or of goats.

When you come to appear before me,
    who asked this from your hand?
    Trample my courts no more!
Bringing offerings is futile;
    incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and calling of convocation—
    I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
Your new moons and your appointed festivals
    my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
    I am weary of bearing them.
When you stretch out your hands,
    I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
    I will not listen;
    your hands are full of blood.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
    remove your evil deeds
    from before my eyes;
cease to do evil;
    learn to do good;
seek justice;
    rescue the oppressed;
defend the orphan;
    plead for the widow.

Come now, let us argue it out,
    says the Lord:
If your sins are like scarlet,
    will they become like snow?
If they are red like crimson,
    will they become like wool?
If you are willing and obedient,
    you shall eat the good of the land,
but if you refuse and rebel,
    you shall be devoured by the sword,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (New Revised Standard Version)

Today’s Old Testament lesson is a stout and ancient warning against an age-old problem: Worshiping properly on a high holy day, yet living an evil and unjust life the rest of the days. It’s the mentality of “I give to God what’s required on the Sabbaths and festivals, so I can therefore do what I want the rest of the time, because that’s my stuff and my time.”

Just to be clear: That sort of evil thinking and behavior will raise the ire of the Lord every time. It’s dichotomous messed-up thinking. It’s the wrongheaded notion of believing that my financial and professional success is obviously a validation of God’s blessing upon me.

However, motives of gaining more wealth, rather than being motivated by humility, meekness, righteousness, purity, mercy, and peacemaking, will end badly, no matter who we are.

One of the problems here is an arrogant assumption that we’re right in what we are doing. We feel justified in living a duplicitous life. I have power, authority, and wealth; you do not. Thus, I’m right; you’re wrong; and I can do whatever the heck I want because God is on my side, not yours.

In terms of contemporary Christianity, this is the megachurch mentality: Since there are so many church attenders and money being placed in the offering plates, this is an unquestioned sanction from God of our rightness.

Then, when Sunday passes and Monday comes, both parishioner and pastor feel justified in using their wealth in ways that are inconsistent with the ways and words of Jesus.

Indeed, many times the name of Jesus is rarely (if ever) used in justifications of living the rich life. A blind eye is turned away from the poor and needy. When pressed, far too many parishioners admit to the belief that the poor are underprivileged because of their own personal sin.

Such “Christians” get away with their injustice before God, largely because there is a mass of churchgoers who honor the wealthy and give them places of authority and power.

They think God has shown favor by “blessing” particular people and communities with wealth (because God would never bless someone with poverty!). This can even go so far as to elect a leader of a nation because he is exorbitantly rich. Never mind his daily immorality, meanness, and lying; God has blessed him, right?

Wrong! So says the prophet Isaiah. Judah and Jerusalem, in their hubris, claimed special status. They are God’s people; others are not. They believed they had divine immunity from judgment. After all, only the Judeans worshiped the Lord; all other nations were pagan worshipers.

But their worship and sacrifices, in Isaiah’s day, were offered with no concern for justice and righteousness. So, God called them to repent; and gave them a chance to learn how to please the Lord.

And what pleases God is removing evil and learning to do good.

“Good” is defined by God as seeking to meet the needs of the common people; rescuing those who are oppressed; defending the cause of the orphan, and pleading the case of the widow. There’s no mention of wealth as a sign of divine blessing.

In reality, Judah’s situation before God was pitiful. They failed, even refused, to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. Therefore, the Lord called them to repentance and reformation.

Just because Jerusalem had the temple, this sacred space didn’t inoculate the people from judgment. The bald fact of the matter is that the people were living with self-destructive habits of stupidity. And God had enough of it.

In essence, the Lord said to Judah, “Let’s get serious about this.” Despite all the disobedience, God was willing to entertain the people’s change of heart and life – that is, if they themselves were willing to do so.

It’s important for all of us to “have it out with God,” to engage the Lord forthrightly, passionately, intelligently, and realistically.

There are really only two choices: Choose life or choose death. Choose to connect in meaningful, right, good, and just ways with God and neighbor; or choose to disconnect from others and do whatever the heck you want.

Each of our choices impacts what will happen tomorrow and into the future.

Decisions consistent with justice, righteousness, and goodness will ultimately go well for us. Decision-making borne of selfishness, a lack of mercy, and callousness toward others will create all sorts of problems.

Judah’s practical and existential decision came down to whether they wanted a just and productive society, or an invading Assyrian army. Which would you rather have?

To have a public daily life of disrespect and disregard for the needs of others (and of God!) is to invite being up a stinking creek without a paddle, and no one around to hear the yells for help.

Nothing can ever replace good old-fashioned turning away from hate, unforgiveness, bitterness, and pride; and turning toward what is good, right, just, and godly – and then ordering our collective public life around caring for the least and the lost among us.

May it be so, to the glory of God.

God of judgment and grace, you ask not for sacrifices but lives of trusting faith that acknowledge Your power and mercy. Give us a deep belief in Your sovereign goodness, so that we may follow You all the days of our lives, as did Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

A Calling Is a Sacred Responsibility (2 Kings 9:1-13)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
King Jehu

The prophet Elisha called to a member of the group of prophets, “Get ready, take this jug of oil with you, and go to Ramoth-Gilead. When you arrive there, look for Jehu, Jehoshaphat’s son and Nimshi’s grandson. Go to him, then pull him away from his associates, taking him to a private room. Take the jug of oil and pour it on his head. Then say, ‘This is what the Lord has said: I anoint you king of Israel.’ Then open the door, and run out of there without stopping.”

So the young prophet went to Ramoth-Gilead. He came in, and the military commanders were sitting right there. He said, “Commander, I have a word for you.”

“For which one of us?” Jehu asked.

The young prophet said, “For you, Commander.”

So Jehu got up and went inside. The prophet then poured oil on his head and said to him, “This is what the Lord, Israel’s God, says: I anoint you king over the Lord’s people, over Israel. You will strike down your master Ahab’s family. In this way I will take revenge for the violence done by Jezebel to my servants the prophets and to all the Lord’s servants. Ahab’s whole family will die. I will eliminate from Ahab everyone who urinates on a wall, whether slave or free, in Israel. I will make Ahab’s dynasty like the dynasty of Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, and like the dynasty of Baasha, Ahijah’s son. And as for Jezebel: The dogs will devour her in the area of Jezreel. No one will bury her.” Then the young prophet opened the door and ran.

Jehu went out to his master’s officers. They said to him, “Is everything okay?

Why did this fanatic come to you?”

Jehu said to them, “You know the man and the nonsense he talks.”

“That’s a lie!” they said. “Come on, tell us!”

Jehu replied, “This is what he said to me: ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king of Israel.’”

Then each man quickly took his cloak and put it beneath Jehu on the paved steps. They blew a trumpet and said, “Jehu has become king!” (Common English Bible)

The biblical books of 1 & 2 Kings (originally one book of Kings) tells of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah over a five-hundred year period from c.960-586 B.C.E. The dynasties of the house of Omri and the house of Jehu were the longest lasting in Israel.

The books of First and Second Kings are primarily concerned with an evaluation of the 20 kings of Judah and the 19 kings of Israel. Of greatest concern was whether the particular king was loyal to God, or not. If the king tolerated worship of other gods besides Yahweh, and established sacrifices outside of Jerusalem, then that king was evaluated as doing evil in the eyes of the Lord.

This judgment of the kings is consistent with Deuteronomic laws of sole loyalty to God, and the importance of a central location for all Jewish people to worship (in Jerusalem).

To understand why it was so important for Jehu to be anointed with a mission is to know something of the house of Omri, and in particular, the king Ahab and his queen Jezebel. They are both conveyed to us in the biblical text as a power couple who want what they want, without a lot of concern about the subjects of their kingdom.

Jezebel was a follower of Baal and Asherah, not Yahweh. She provided for hundreds of their prophets. Her husband the king was fine with this situation. Jezebel was a clear enemy of God’s prophets, and killed hundreds of them, so that there were only a few left, including Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 18:13).

Ahab and Jezebel’s powerful misuse of authority is relayed in the story of Naboth (1 Kings 21). Ahab wanted to buy Naboth’s vineyard, which was adjacent to his own land. But Naboth refused to sell, mainly because the land was his family’s ancient generational inheritance.

Jezebel went to work and arranged false witnesses to claim that Naboth had cursed both God and King (which was the ultimate sign of treason in Israel). As a result, Naboth was wrongly stoned to death; and Ahab unjustly confiscated his property.

Elijah prophesied that Ahab’s descendants would die, his dynasty will perish, and that Jezebel would be eaten by dogs (1 Kings 21:17-24). In our story for today, this is alluded to in the reference of God eliminating all that belong to Ahab who “urinate on a wall,” that is, unjustly marking the territory of another as their own property.

Indeed, it all shook-out according to prophecy. Ahab died in battle. Then, Ahab and Jezebel’s son Ahaziah succeeded him as king. Young Ahaziah died two years into his reign, and his brother Jehoram became king. Jehoram was then killed by Jehu. After this, some of Jezebel’s own palace officials tossed her out a window to her death, and dogs descended on her carcass – all to Elijah’s earlier prophecy.

Injustice, unrighteousness, abuse of power, and selfish concerns are ugly nasty business. These sorts of attitudes and behaviors ruin people, and keep others locked into patterns of poverty and powerlessness. God is not okay with any of it.

Whenever we are in the middle of oppression and/or authoritative people abusing their power for their own benefit, its hard to maintain our sense of rightness and goodness. Yet, we must. In such times, patience and perseverance is needed without resorting to attempts of paying back evil with evil.

What’s more, we can find ways of tapping into the spiritual power of God within us, in order to resist and subvert unjust authority with righteousness. To some degree, everyone can do something by employing nonviolent resistance tactics like networking, protest, persuasion, non-cooperation, and speaking out through either speech or writing.

Only those who possess nothing can be entrusted with everything. Systemic evil isn’t changed from the top, because those at the top benefit from the system. Rather, structural evil is transformed through grass roots efforts from the bottom up. What’s more, individuals rarely change from the outside-in, but rather from the inside-out.

A ruling establishment is not always necessarily wrong. Yet, it takes a lot of willing accountability and plenty of intentional soul searching for administrations to remain on the straight and narrow.

Such realities characterized Jehu. He was a non-descript military man. There was nothing, in particular, which distinguished him as having a special calling from God.

Yet, although Jehu fulfilled his calling, he added to the call; the Lord was not pleased with Jehu’s form of violent bloodshed, and so, put an end to Jehu’s house, just as Omri’s house had been purged from Israel.

Power and authority will do that to a person – which is why leaders must be continuously vigilant to guard against developing a thick ego and following their pride.

And so do we. Anyone who receives a call from God has a sacred responsibility and trust to fulfill that calling with competence, care, and conscientiousness.

Almighty God, direct me in all my activity with Your grace, wisdom, and help, so that in all I do and say may glorify Your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Integrity In All Things (Proverbs 11:3-13)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year C1 Comment
The Narrow Road, by Debbie Clark

Integrity guides the virtuous,
    but dishonesty ruins the treacherous.
Riches don’t help in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness rescues from death.
The righteousness of the innocent makes their path straight,
    but the wicked fall in their wickedness.
Those who do right are saved by their righteousness,
    but the untrustworthy are caught by their own desires.
When the wicked die, their hope perishes.
    Yes, any hope based on money perishes.
The righteous are saved from distress,
    and the wicked take their place.
The godless destroy their neighbors by their words,
    but the righteous are saved by their knowledge.
When the righteous succeed, a city rejoices;
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
A city is honored by the blessing of the virtuous;
    it is destroyed by the words of the wicked.
Whoever despises their neighbor lacks sense;
    a sensible person keeps quiet.
A slanderer walks around revealing secrets,
    but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence. (Common English Bible)

Integrity appears to be in short supply these days. No matter whether it’s a church, a corporation, an institution, organization, or governmental administration, it only takes one person in authority who is without integrity to ruin the whole enterprise.

This is why it is so important to never normalize bad behavior and bad speech. It will do no good to simply say, “Well, that’s just the way he is.” Everyone, no matter who they are, must be held accountable for their words and actions. And if we choose to let the unvirtuous person continue in their lack of integrity, then we ourselves become complicit in their unjust activity.

What the unrighteous person fails to realize, is that watching out for number one and taking advantage of others will eventually come back to bite them. The unscrupulous rich person will lose their wealth. The unjust person will come face to face with what their injustice has done. The slanderous person shall be unmasked and seen by all for what they truly are.

The Teacher of Proverbs informs us that evildoers will suffer in their wickedness; whereas the righteous shall be rewarded. Everyone eventually receives what they deserve – whether it’s the righteous or the wicked.

This sort of karmic sense of justice happens both in this life and the life to come. Those who do and say whatever they want, without any integrity, undergo a double-suffering: They’re tormented now in the present, and likely into the future; that is, unless they undergo some Scrooge-like transformation.

The suffering of the wicked is caused by their own stupid foolish choices without any direct intervention by God. God’s law, much like the natural law of gravity, has consequences if you choose to disrespect it. In that sense, the wicked also suffer divine condemnation.

The Lord favors good people,
    but he condemns schemers. (Proverbs 12:2, CEB)

Even though the wicked prosper, by no means is it permanent. And although the righteous are deeply disturbed and troubled by the constant lies and evil machinations of wicked persons, they shall realize a world that is just, right, and good. Injustice and unrighteousness are temporary.

The evil person will surely not go unpunished,
    but the children of the righteous will escape. (Proverbs 11:21, CEB)

It may drive us batty to see that evil is having its way, and that the wicked are doing quite nicely for themselves, but the Teacher seeks to comfort the righteous with the reality that it will not always be this way.

Stolen bread is sweet,
    but afterward the mouth is full of gravel. (Proverbs 20:17, CEB)

We know we’re living in an upside-down messed-up world because the righteous too often suffer and the wicked too often prosper. But it won’t last.

It’s important we remain honest and above board – no matter the circumstances. Whether its in business dealings, leadership, family relations, community involvement, or political activity, its imperative to be a person of integrity without any hint of duplicity.

Dishonesty may get the wicked person where they want to go in the short term, but it has a devastating price to pay. Deals with the devil always do.

Better a little with righteousness
    than great profits without justice. (Proverbs 16:8, CEB)

The Lord is a just God. That means God does more than show justice in all things; justice is a part of God’s very character and makeup. God cannot be unjust because God is Justice with a capital “J.”

Its way above our pay-grade to seek retribution and revenge on another. Exacting judgment belongs to God, and not you nor me.

Don’t say, “I’ll repay the evildoer!”
    Wait for the Lord, and he will save you. (Proverbs 20:22, CEB)

In the past several months, I have largely abandoned social media and electronic conversations with others. There is too much of the godless (cloaked in godly language) destroying their neighbor with their angry words and ignorant misinformation. I don’t want to get sucked into that vortex of ridiculousness. I’ll let the Lord deal with them. I have bigger fish to fry than to get involved in unhelpful and often harmful communication.

I rather choose to focus my time, effort, and words on reminding myself and others of the need for integrity in all things; always remaining prudent; and practicing self-awareness. When Christ returns, I’d like him to find me patiently waiting in quiet trust – instead of spewing a bunch of nasty vitriol that is consistent with Satan, not God.

For me, Proverbs isn’t simply a nice book of the Bible to read. Rather, it is vital knowledge to internalize and learn from. Without the wisdom of Proverbs, I’m undone and adrift. I need these short pity statements of experiential truth to help me understand how to talk and act in this fallen world.

This is why its important to read Proverbs slowly, carefully, prayerfully; to meditate upon these wise statements; and to reflect on putting them into practice. Integrity in everything – both speech and action – will serve us well, now and forever.

Wise God, may divine wisdom shape my thoughts, decisions, and actions each day as I seek to live by the Spirit. Lead me into all truth as I submit wise teaching; and to You as my Counselor and Guide; through Christ my Lord. Amen.