Shelley Bloomer - May 10, 2015
Actors and Reactors
We like to imagine that we’re the heroes of our own stories. But we’re all-too-often reminded we’re not in control of even the most basic areas of our lives. This is good – a chance for us to remember that we’re living in God’s story, that the Holy Spirit is the main character, and we’re all invited to respond to what the Spirit is doing in our world. The Spirit acts, and we get to react.
From Series: "Go There!"
What lines are you afraid to cross? In the years immediately following Jesus’ resurrection, his followers had to reimagine what their religion looked like. The Holy Spirit compelled them to take the good news of resurrection and new life far beyond every border they’d ever known. The book of Acts helps us imagine the dangerous and exciting mission God is calling us to today. Don’t Go There!
More From "Go There!"
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We all have a tendency to compare ourselves to the people around us. And especially in the Church, this can make us feel better about the rough places in our lives. We say, Sure I need to get my schedule under control, but I’m not as bad as him. Okay, I have a tendency to gossip. But I’m not as bad as she is. I really need to be kinder with my words, but have you heard him? We see the people around us and we think,
Well. It could be a lot worse. I suppose I’m good enough.
But according to Amos, “not bad” is not good enough. According to Amos, our standard for our lives isn’t what we see around us, but what God calls us to be. That’s a tough pill to swallow, so Amos comes at us sideways. He begins his prophecy with oracles against the nations surrounding Israel. Oracles are predictions of doom, and Amos delivers seven, one to each of the nations around Israel.
Amos is clearly getting Israel on his side.
He knows he’s an outsider, a foreigner. And he’s coming to deliver a message from God to this people that’s not his people. So he begins with oracles of judgment against the other nations. He talks about how They, Them, Those People, the Others, are sinning. But Amos wasn’t done. He goes on, in 2:6
This is what the LORD says: “The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They sell honorable people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals. They trample helpless people in the dust and shove the oppressed out of the way. Both father and son sleep with the same woman, corrupting my holy name. At their religious festivals, they lounge in clothing their debtors put up as security. In the house of their god, they drink wine bought with unjust fines. — Amos 2:6-8 (NLT)
Instead of being priests to the world around them, Israel looks like the world. They’re darkness in the midst of darkness. This is why God is so angry: Israel should know better.
And what about us? Could we be like Israel today? Are we tempting God’s judgment?
Join us Sunday as we explore what Amos’ words have to say to us today.
