Dave, I really admire your passion for the proclamation of the Gospel. It is what we need more than anything else. You seem, however, to conclude that the “only” solution to the malady that afflicts us is to “fix the person.” This, IMHO, is to be devoid of the other mandates that we find demonstrated by John Wesley, by the prophets, and by Christ. We must also attend to the physical, political, systemic, and structural artifacts that affect the quality of life.
John Wesley – in his discourse about the Sermon on the Mount, he stated, “performing our duty to God will not excuse us from our duty to our neighbor: that works of piety, as they are called, will be so far from commending us to God, if we are wanting in charity, that, on the contrary, that want of charity will make all those works an abomination to the Lord.” To Wesley, faith and works were always inseparable; but the evidence of authentic faith was works of mercy. He consistently taught his followers to “be more zealous for works of mercy, than even for works of piety.” If it had to be either one or the other, Wesley's choice was unmistakable: “works of mercy are to be preferred. Even reading, hearing, prayer, are to be omitted, or to be postponed, ‘at charity's almighty call,’ when we are called to relieve the distress of our neighbor, whether in body or soul.”
The Prophets – they were insistent on God’s command for just relationships within society. Amos insisted, “They sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals – they… trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth.”
Amos 2:6,7. To Amos, religious ceremonies were pointless and dishonest without justice. (5:21-24).
Micah laid the mistreatment of the poor at the feet of the rulers: “You who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin off my people, and the flesh off their bones; who eat the flesh of my people, flay their skin off them, break their bones in pieces, and chop them up like meat in a kettle, like flesh in a cauldron.”
Micah 3:2-4. His classic response is well known, “He has told you … what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? 6:6-8
Jesus – In the liberation passage found in
Luke 4:16-21, it is clear that Luke depicted Jesus’ ministry to be the fulfillment of God’s concern to alter the physical conditions of the people of Israel. When John the Baptist (
Luke 7:18-23) sent messengers to Jesus for validation of his messiahship, Jesus’ response is interesting, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes offense at me.” And, of course, the pronouncement of
Matthew 25 is condemning of “us” who refuse to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, and give water to the thirsty. It is by so doing that we bring “Good News” to others.
In the words of Francis of Assisi, “Preach at all times, using words whenever necessary.”
Originally Posted by Craig Laughlin
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