The Value of One

I began my spiritual journey of 2015 with two personal desires.  One, to begin a three-year in-depth study of the Gospel of Matthew.  And, two, to come to an understanding of what God was saying to the Hebrew people, and to us today, when the prophet Micah was inspired to state these words:

"He has showed to you, o human, what is good and what the Lord does require of you.  For to do justly and to love mercy (lit. - covenant loyalty) and humbly walk with God."  (my translation)

I was told by a well-known and respected teacher and writer, "Don't write beyond people's attention spans!"  Therefore, I will attempt to share with you my understanding of Micah 6.8 in three separate writings.

The Hebrew word used by the prophet Micah to communicate God's first requirement is mishpat.  Mishpat occurs over two hundred times in the Old Testament and its most basic meaning is to treat people equitably. 

Unfortunately, mishpat if often translated  as "justice" which conveys only a partial meaning and limits the implications this word has for the members of God's family.  When we hear or read the word "justice," we typically think of our legal system.  "To do justly" (mishpat) has little to do with our legal system but everything to do with how we judge others.  And how we "judge" others is rooted in the fundamental belief that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them" (Genesis 1.27). 

Acknowledging that all humanity is made in the image of God coupled with the mandate "to do justly" (mishpat) instructs believers to "judge" others not by the color of their skin, the clothes they wear, their origin of birth, their sexual orientation, their belief or non-belief, or their socioeconomic standing but by recognizing every human as being an "image bearer of God" (imago dei).

In a sermon entitled, The American Dream, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: The whole concept of the imago dei, as it is expressed in Latin, the "image of God," is the idea that all men have something within them that God injected.  Not that they have substantial unity with God, but that every man has a capacity to have fellowship with God.  And this gives him uniqueness, it gives him worth, it gives him dignity.  And we must never forget this as a nation.  There are no gradations in the image of God.  Every man from a treble white to a bass black is significant on God's keyboard, precisely because every man is made in the image of God.  One day we will learn that.  We will know one day that God made us to live together as brothers and to respect the dignity and worth of every man.  (Emphasis mine.)

I can't help but compare Dr. King's remarks to those of scientist Stephen Hawking - "the human race is just a chemical scum on a moderate size planet." 

So, let me ask you a couple of personal questions.  Do you see everyone as being created in the image of God regardless of their race, gender, their origin of birth, their sexual orientation, or their socioeconomic standing?  Do you see everyone as being worthy of respect and dignity - even those outside the church; those who don't believe what you believe?  Or do you see "others" as nothing more than a "chemical scum on a moderate size planet?" 

If you see others as being an "image bearer of God," will you be content being "nicer, more pleasant, and more bland" or will you become "absolutely revolting"? 

***As an aside, all humans are made in the image of God but not all humans are members of God's family -- see John 1:12&13. 

Absolutely Revolting!

Philip Yancey in his book, Vanishing Grace, writes that he had church described to him as a place where "a nice, pleasant, bland person stands in front of other nice, pleasant, bland people telling them to be nicer, more pleasant, and more bland." (p. 94)

So, the question is: Is your church "bland" or is it "absolutely revolting"?

Here's a few "revolting" ideas for a church to become absolutely revolting:

One.  Become a place of grace for individuals battling substance abuse.  Be a sold-out sponsor for a recovery program such as Celebrate Recovery or Remedy.  In addition to the recovery program, offer classes to the addicts and their families that focus on "learning to live life differently" - anger management, forgiveness, handling stress, keeping promises, etc.   Offer marriage, parenting, and money management classes.  Purchase and manage a ranch or farm for addicts to learn responsibility, gain self-confidence and self-respect.

A church sold-out to addicts and their families!  Talk about revolting! 

Two.  Become a church committed to social justice in your community by radically living out the requirements set forth in Micah 6.8 - "to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God."  "To do justly" for the poor and disadvantaged would include implementing elements of RELIEF - monetary provisions for immediate needs; food drives; adopt a family outside of your church for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas, etc.,  DEVELOPMENT - parenting, marriage, and money management; assistance to obtain education - a GED or financial assistance for undergraduate studies or technical school.  And, REFORM - work with local leaders to help refine or reform existing programs that assist the disadvantaged.  Work with your community's existing relief organizations to further their mission instead of creating a duplicate service.  Too many times the church appears to be trying to duplicate already existing community programs! 

How revolting would that be to witness a church working in cooperation with a secular organization! 

Three.  Become a church that not only has a youth group but one that provides one-on-one mentoring.  The object of mentoring must be to help develop a teen's character - not to get them to attend your church or to "save" them.  Either of those may happen but it should not be the primary reason for mentoring! 

How revolting would that be??!!!

Four.  Become a church that intentionally and intently reaches out to the elderly in your community.  Work with your local assisted living facilities to discover how your church could help provide moments of joy and companionship for their residents.  Even a ministry to senior saints can be done in a revolutionary, revolting way! 

Five.  Become a church that is a shelter in the storms for the homeless.  Use your church building as a shelter for the homeless during those wintery nights when the potential for loss of life is high.  Develop a criteria that would dictate when your "storm shelter" would be opened.  Work with local shelter employees and police department to develop safety and behavioral parameters for your "storm shelter."  (As many of you know, a friend of mine who was homeless froze to death because there was no place for him to go.  A loss of life that could have easily been prevented!) 

How revolting would it be to have "those people" in your church for one, two, or three nights where your church body would provide food, a bed, and shelter for the "least of these" ???

Another quote to close this out:  "I'm looking for a second reformation.  The first reformation of the church 500 years ago was about beliefs.  This one is going to be about deeds.  It is not going to be about what the church believes, but about what the church is doing."  Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life.

Will your church be part of the "absolutely revolting" second reformation or will it remain "bland, pleasant and nice"? 

If you, your pastor, or your leadership team would like to discuss these "revolting ideas" with me or if they need assistance in creating an "absolutely revolting" church, contact me and I will offer any wisdom, resources, or leadership I have to launch a "revolution."