God in my Everything – Justice

I want to make my mark for good in the world. And Christians are to fight for mercy and justice for all. But what does all that look like in the real world ? What practices and habits really help ? How should my faith and my politics go together ? Should governments act just like individuals but on a larger scale – or do governments have a very different role to play? Join us as we take a deep dive into scripture and then try to see how biblical teaching can guide a citizen of a modern Democratic Republic today. See the show notes below for the images of Conservatives, Liberals, and Libertarians mentioned in the sermon.

JUSTICE – What is fair and right to everyone involved. Equal opportunity not equal outcomes.

MERCY – A free choice to go beyond what is fair to forgive or bless someone else

Jeremiah 22:3.

 Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Isaiah. 10:1-3.

 “Woe to those who enact evil statutes, and to those who continually record unjust decisions, so as to deprive the needy of justice, and rob the poor of My people of their rights”

Zechariah 7:9-11

 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’ 11 “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs

1 Corinthians 16:1-2

 Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

What did Jesus say ?

Matthew 25:31-43
 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ … ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

How would I know if I have gone wrong in Politics ? (some LP thoughts)
1. If my faith has to accommodate and fit into my preexisting stands on social and political issues, Jesus is NOT my Lord, my politics is. Conversion means trading “the world according to me” for “the world according to Jesus.”   Is my actual religion Christianity or is it Politics ? In the end politics is a cruel and heartless taskmaster.

2. If I am not personally using my money and time to directly help individuals in some way on a regular basis

3. If I am not donating my time and money to my church community as it serves those in need

4. If I vote purely on what’s best for me, rather than what is best for the most people a generation from now

5. If my solutions don’t take into account actual sinful human nature, if I ignore actual outcomes

6. When I ignore fair and due process to get the results I want

7. When I confuse personal morality with the responsibilities of the state, or claim all morality is personal.
8. When I reduce politics to economics, or when I ignore long term economic implications of policy

This sermon series draws upon the work of Ken Shigematsu and his book, “God in my Everything” You can see it here:
https://www.amazon.com/God-My-Everything-Ancient-Rhythm/dp/0310499259/