Readings for today: Isaiah 54-58
“Why can’t you just stick to preaching the gospel?” I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been asked this question over the last twenty years. Usually it comes after particularly challenging sermons preached to particular issues in particular contexts. Racism. Classism. Nationalism. Economic and social privilege. Human sexuality. Pro-life issues like abortion or the death penalty. The assumption behind the issue is that Jesus never engaged in social justice or structural reform so why should His followers? But such a perspective fails to take in the whole counsel of God revealed in the Scriptures. Further, it shows a lack of understanding of just how threatening Jesus was to the social and political order of His day.
At the same time, I do appreciate the sentiment behind the words. We must preach the gospel. We must preach the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Only Jesus saves. Only Jesus redeems. Only His death on the cross pays the full penalty for our sin and satisfies the demands of God’s justice. Only His resurrection defeats the power of sin and death and offers us victory. Only by the Word of God becoming flesh and blood and moving into our world are we given access to the Kingdom. Self-help. Social movements. Political organizations. These things simply cannot achieve what only God can do. Only those who have received Christ can give Him away. Only those who have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness can give forth light. Only those who have been set apart for God’s purposes can promote His Kingdom values of justice and righteousness and peace in our world. It’s the same point an ancient prophet named Isaiah once made to the nation of Israel…
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.” (Isaiah 58:6-12)
Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” If you love Me, follow in My footsteps. If you love Me, do not only as I say but also as I do. Show compassion to those who are lost. They are slaves to sin. They walking in darkness. They are blind and do not see. Do not be surprised when they embrace all kinds of selfishness and greed and anger and violence. This is to be expected from those who live in bondage. Hold accountable those who are found. Judgment begins at the house of the Lord. Those who have been set free should not turn and use their freedom for their own gain. They should not submit again to a yoke of bondage and act according to their former ways. They must relinquish the underhanded, manipulative, power-hungry ways of this world and instead pursue the way of Jesus. They must be salt, preserving all they can that is good and righteous and pure and true in our world. They must be light, exposing all that causes evil and suffering and pain and heartbreak. They must serve as agents of God’s justice and God’s righteousness and God’s peace not only individually but corporately in the systems and structures of our world, be it political or economic or social.
To who much is given, much is expected and we’ve been given the gift of the gospel! We’ve been given the greatest gift one could ever receive so with it comes the greatest responsibility a person could ever bear. To bring hope and peace and joy to a world full of despair, conflict, and deep sadness. Thankfully, we do not do this alone. Jesus has not left us alone. He has sent us His Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in our hearts, we find ourselves longing for the same things God longs for. Salvation. Justice. Righteousness. Peace. These are the values of the Kingdom of God that the world so desperately craves. So…Christian…it is time to answer the call! It is time to move to the front lines of our current cultural conflict! It is time to march! It is time to speak up and speak out! It is time to loose the bonds of wickedness! It is time to set the oppressed free! It is time share our bread with the hungry! Bring the homeless into our homes and into our lives! To clothe the naked and reconcile with our families! As we give ourselves way for the sake of the gospel - both individually and corporately as a nation - here’s God’s promise…
Our light will break forth like the dawn. Our nation will experience healing. Righteousness will go before us. The Lord Himself will have our back. When we cry out to the Lord, He will answer. When we stop oppressing, stop blaming, stop acting in selfish, greedy, power-hungry ways, then the Lord will satisfy our every desire and make us strong. He will make us a fruitful garden. He will rebuilt our ancient ruins. He will provide a foundation for future generations. But only as we seek to follow Him. Only as we seek to repair the breech and restore our streets and lift up the poor and powerless. This, friends, is the gospel in action.