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Text: Genesis 37-50; Isaiah 61 ● As we talk today, the objective is not to invoke feelings of guilt; I’m not sure indifference is appropriate either. I hope that our reflections will prompt “repentance” (a different way of thinking and responding). Maybe much of what I’ll share is just my ‘thinking out-loud’; or, “re-thinking” out loud! I will say this… I think God is always trying to move things to the ‘bottom shelf’ for us! (keep them within our reach) We always seem to start out simple; it’s life that seems to lead to complexity. Review: ► “Accidental-Design” Sounds like an ‘oxymoron’, but it’s a phrase that I would use to describe this sense that God’s sovereignty allows us to end up in places, situations and relationships which we would typically attempt to avoid; but which will allow us to “add value” (like an ‘exit interview’: As a result of my having been there, _________; like leaven… barely noticeable at times, but having lasting impact). ● Joseph is, by ‘accidental-design’, in the perfect position: to further the damage or join God in his rebuilding work; to leverage his power/influence for his own personal satisfaction or perpetuate the dream of God. Reminder: wounded people wound others, but they are also in the best possible position to perpetuate justice. ► There is both a ‘personal’ and ‘political’ dimension to Christianity. When using the word ‘political’, I’m not referring to a certain party or platform, but to the larger definition of ‘society’ [from the Greek, “polis”, which means ‘city’]; it’s about the ‘life of the city’, and the life of the city is the people and the systems/structures which order their lives (not buildings and infrastructures, but the way people ‘are together’). (2) historical approaches to faith which have proven detrimental to our development as Christ-followers: 1) Because we have promoted the message as primarily about some inward, personal experience, we have failed to address the story’s social implications- how it affects how we are with others. You can’t love God if you won’t love others [take a trip through 1 John for clarification] (i.e. we’ve assumed that you can be mean-spirited, critical, unforgiving, and uncaring and consistently live in a manner that’s inconsistent with God’s heart). I don’t want to argue about the appropriate response, but, at the very least, it’s really ‘unattractive’ 2) We’re confused about why simply knowing the right things about God has not produced the life of God in us. Truth is “relational”; it always produces the right ‘way’ to live, not just the right ‘answers’. Good faith is not about just offering ‘directions’, but about providing a ‘demonstration’ (i.e. it’s like learning a new game: don’t just read me the box… let’s play a round; show me how it’s done. Also, it’s like learning a new language: we learn it best when we are immersed in it… when it’s conversational). ► Another word for God’s dream… “shalom” (wholeness; peace). God’s dream for peace (‘shalom’) has always involved transforming the individual, which, in turn, will allow for the restoration of the community and the systems/structures under which we live. Jesus knew that you couldn’t rely on legislative reform for transformation (Matthew 18:3 “Unless you change… you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”). ► God’s dream not only envisions his good intentions for his creation, but sharply criticizes human systems and structures that attempt to oppose or prevent those good purposes from being realized. The story repeatedly challenges social systems which ignore the most vulnerable- widows, orphans, and the poor: the ‘marginalized’… people with no ‘voice’. ● Our mission (as the church)- whether we choose to accept it or not- is to show people what it looks like to live under the reign of God (kingdom). And, as we live out the story, we discover that people most often do not come to Jesus, then to church… they come to church (as the people), then to Jesus! ● You and I have been placed/positioned in a world that God wants to rebuild, restore and renew. God wants to be recognized in the least expected places: in the midst of ruin and devastation.
Ruin and devastation… it’s
where he does his best work! |
