A Confession: Psalm 37 and Justice
I need to confess. I tried to write this post in a way that was more pithy and full of wit, but each time the words just didn’t seem right. In truth, there is no way to really smooth over the fact that I have failed the community and world around me in such a way that nothing less than a heartfelt confession and repentance is in order. The point of the matter is this:
I have used my ministry, my church, my own caution and a myriad of other excuses as a buffer of inaction towards the injustice and problems of our community and world.
Some may say that’s a harsh analysis, after all, I’m a pastor so I help people all the time right? Well yes, but how shameful would it be to come to end of my life and career, only to realize that the only impact I made was within the walls of a church. That may be a very AMERICAN way to do ministry, it may be a very EFFECTIVE way to do ministry, and it may be a very LOGICAL way, but its not BIBLICAL. I should be working to improve the lives of the community around me. Psalm 37 says this:
v.3: “Trust in the Lord, and DO GOOD; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”
v.17: “For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the RIGHTEOUS.”
v.21: “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is GENEROUS and GIVES.”
v.25-28: “I have been young, and am now old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, his children begging for bread. He is ever lending GENEROUSLY, and his children become a BLESSING. Turn away from evil and DO GOOD; so shall you dwell forever. For the Lord loves JUSTICE”
v.30: “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks JUSTICE.”
Now, that’s A LOT of emphasis on doing good and justice and righteousness for just one chapter of Scripture. Enough, that we should take notice. Righteousness is the state of being in right relationship with both God and those around you. That’s the biblical concept and its one I’ve ignored for far too long. I cannot express how sorry I am for living a contented spiritual life while this world fell apart around me; while children were dying for reasons that could have been solved; while women and children were pressed into sexual slavery across the globe; while families lived in squalor just a few blocks away, etc……..
I could go, but its a personal list and this is a public confession of a very personal sin. So, you may disagree, and that’s fine but I’m not done confessing yet, sand none of us should be. Everyday we should be seeking the Word of God for where our lives don’t match up and then repenting of that and striving to restore this Creation that was wrecked by OUR SIN.
Total time in prayer last week: 6 hours
Total time in prayer this week so far: 1.5 hours
