The Moral Arc

Morning readings: Psalms 122; 149, Isaiah 51:1-8, Galatians 3:23-29, Mark 7:1-23

The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said: "The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice." He was not the first to use this particular metaphor. In 1857 Unitarian minister Theodore Parker used it in a sermon against slavery. Between Parker and King, other religious referenced the "moral arc." This image endures because because it bears out over time. Over the centuries, as prejudices become less acceptable, more and more people have gained access to freedom and justice .

Jesus constantly expanded the circle of justice to include the disenfranchised and despised. As Paul wrote to the Galatians: "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3:28). Distinctions that separate human beings from one another have no meaning in the kingdom of God. Since Paul's time, the moral arc has led the church to remove divisions and champion justice in the form of abolition, civil rights, child labor laws, and other progressive social movements. Like society at large, the church experiences an uneven ebb and flow of progress, but on the whole it moves in the direction of justice. What barriers to justice are eroding right now?

Popular wisdom says that once we get to know individuals  or groups, we are more inclined to consider them equal and treat them justly. While this is generally true, and while it is desirable to broaden our understanding of the world by getting to know people, a hard truth remains: we simply don't have time to understand all the people Jesus would have us love. Does Christian love - expressed in mercy and justice - require us to understand its recipients? It does not, and demands to be extended especially toward those who remain alien to us.

Perhaps the only real division is between people we understand and people we don't. Can we rise to the challenge of loving people justly even when our lack of understanding makes us uncomfortable? The road to justice arcs beyond our ability to see, but it is where Christ waits to meet us.

Evening readings: Psalms 100; 63

Staying On the Mark(et)

Today's readings: Ps 75, 76; Est 2:5-8, 15-23; Acts 17:16-34; John 12:44-50

Some churches approach evangelization like a marketing campaign, while others consider this tactic crass. Demographic analysis and ad campaigns may not seem spiritual, but they can get butts in the seats. Prayer groups and one-on-one meetings may seem more spiritual, but risk becoming insular activities that impact only existing members. Trite as it may sound, a healthy approach lies somewhere in the middle.

Paul knew a thing or two about marketing. When he spoke to the Athenians, he used familiar phrases from Greek poets and philosophers (Acts 17:28) to support his position. When modern churches try to appear relevant by co-opting the latest trends, they aren’t as far from Paul as we might think. In Paul’s Greece, a person’s choice of philosophy was a social statement as much as a system of thought, so Paul knew to keep his references culturally savvy. He chose to “speak their language.”

Critics of Christian culture – including many Christians – often point to “relevant” marketing efforts as a sign of desperation or insincerity. If Paul is our example of effective evangelism – and if he isn’t, who could be? – such critics might want to temper their judgments. On the other hand, a packed house does not indicate a successful church, at least not by Christ’s standards of success. A large congregation means nothing if its members are not challenged to fully live the Gospel because to do so might negatively impact the collection plate or the head count. Conversely, a small congregation is not by default virtuous or successful, especially if it isn’t reaching out to the greater community.

A successful congregation is one that shares the Good News in ways people can understand and are attracted to, without compromising its message. The primary goal is never numbers-driven. Some churches also run the risk of speaking “Christianese” – insider language which may be meaningful to members, but leaves outsiders feeling excluded. Think what “slain in the spirit” sounds like to a non-Christian. A church should not resemble a club with a secret password. If we follow Paul’s example, we will see that presenting the unexpurgated Gospel message in a sincere but relatable way is the only marketing plan we need.

Comfort: Some of the best evangelism is simple truth, plainly spoken.

Challenge: Check your church’s promotional material for “Christianese.”

Prayer: Compassionate God, teach me to share Christ’s message.

Evening reading: Ps 23, 27

Tomorrow's readings: Ps 93, 96; Est 3:1-4:3; Jam 1:19-27; Matt 6:1-6, 16-18

Astounding Gifts

Today's readings: Ps 16, 17; Job 9:1-15, 32-35; Acts 10:34-48; John 7:37-52

“The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.” (Acts 10:45)

This verse points out the difference between accepting someone superficially and truly including them, a distinction sometimes lost on even the most well-meaning individuals. While sitting at a table with Gentiles was a major step for the Jewish Christians, this sentence tells us they were not yet accepting the Gentiles as equals. Not until the Spirit poured out gifts upon the Gentiles did the Jews recognize they were deserving of the same baptism.

How long do we wait until we truly include new people in our community, church or life? We almost always let them in the door, and can see them as additional help for the bake sales and nursery duty, but when do we stop thinking of them as the “new” people? Do we wait until they somehow earn our approval, like the apostles did, or do we start treating them as equal members of the body of Christ ASAP? Each person brings their own astounding gifts, so it is to our benefit to truly integrate them as lovingly and efficiently as possible. Beyond that, it is simply the Christian thing to do.

On the other hand, sometimes we withhold our own gifts until we are confident a community has fully embraced us. While it’s natural to be cautious when entering a new group, being too reserved slows down the process of acceptance and inclusion. We should work to be aware of our own gifts, because life in a Christian community is a two- (and twenty- and two hundred-) way street. We are to use our gifts to support a community as much as the community is to support us.

We all have gifts to offer. Sometimes we don’t even know what they are until we are called upon to try something new. As part of a community, we should always be eager to offer and accept each other’s gifts.

Comfort: As Christians we are truly accepted and truly accepting.

Challenge: Look for opportunities to share your gifts. Don’t be shy.

Prayer: God of truth, thank you for revealing the gifts of your people.

Evening readings: Ps 22

Tomorrow's readings: Ps 20, 21; Job 10:1-9, 16-22; Acts 11:1-18; John 8:12-20