This is actually Part One: My Bad

I know many of you hate it when some of us get into "preaching." But I ask for your indulgence.

I have a long time pastor friend of mine who sends me his weekly sermons. He has great insight in what I consider the proper way to read and interpret scripture.

Even as an unbeliever I think you will find a nugget or two to chew on. I truly look forward to your feedback.
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Let Justice Roll Down
A Sermon by Dr. William D. Peterson
Aberdeen First Presbyterian Church
January 18, 2009

Text: Amos 5:21-24 “Yahweh is speaking through Amos" (From New Revised Standard Bible)

"I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."

The Sermon
Listen to this quote which I find chilling, but with which I can’t argue:

"More people are exploited and abused in the cause of religion than in any other way. Sex, money, and power all take a back seat to religion as a source of evil. Religion is the most dangerous energy source known to humankind."

Now, I ask, who would say or write something like that? It must be someone hostile to religion, right? Wrong!

The Who is a contemporary (though retired) Presbyterian minister, namely Eugene Peterson whose translation of the Bible into modern English is one of the most widely used biblical translations of the day. Well, then, he must be some radical from a hotbed of radical religion, right?

Hardly. He lives beside Flathead Lake in Montana, in a family home he helped his father build back in the ‘30s. In other words, to the extent that he is a radical firebrand, it is in the tradition of the very biblical prophets such as Amos. In fact, if we ask, “Where are these words found?”, the answer is – in the introduction to Gene’s translation of the prophetic book of Amos.

His claims about the danger of misdirected religious energy continue as follows:

The moment a person (or government or religion or organization) is convinced that God is either ordering or sanctioning a cause or project, anything goes. The history, worldwide, of religion-fueled hate, killing, and oppression is staggering.

Why did he write these words? Because he states with conviction that “the biblical prophets are in the front line of those doing something about it.

Prophets? Yes, prophets. Listen to this claim Dr. Peterson makes:
The biblical prophets continue to be the most powerful and effective voices ever heard on this earth for keeping religion honest, humble, and compassionate. Prophets sniff out injustice, especially injustice that is dressed up in religious garb... Prophets see through hypocrisy, especially hypocrisy that assumes a religious pose. Prophets are not impressed by position or power or authority. They aren’t taken in by number, size, or appearances of success.

And where do prophets get their message? Per Peterson again,
They pay little attention to what men and women say about God or do for God. They listen to God and rigorously test all human language and action against what they hear. In other words, when a credible prophet speaks, we’d best listen.

You might be tempted to say, “But the prophets wrote centuries ago. Could their message still be relevant in our enlightened day?” And the answer, per Eugene Peterson again, is “You bet!” Here are the final words from his intro to his poetic translation of the Book of Amos:

None of us can be trusted in this business [of religion]. If we pray and worship God and associate with others who likewise pray and worship God, we absolutely must keep company with these biblical prophets. We are required to submit all our words and acts to their passionate scrutiny to prevent the perversion of our religion into something self-serving. A spiritual life that doesn’t give a large place to the prophet-articulated justice will end up making us worse instead of better, separating us from God’s ways instead of drawing us into them. [emphasis added]
So, what is justice?

We might begin by saying what it clearly is not! Justice, does not mean “just us!” It also does not mean simply responding compassionately to people who are down on their luck due to tragic circumstances, though we can’t avoid that role either. Per the American prophet of the last century whose birthday we observe tomorrow, namely Martin Luther King, Jr., justice does not simply mean compassionate action, it means systemic transformation. Listen to his words. King says: On the one hand, we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life's roadside, but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life's highway. [emphasis added]