Every week I get an email from the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity. Today’s really made me think. I’ve read about a million comments from Christians in differing spheres of influence about the economic situation, but I liked how this brought in the question of personal responsibility and response.
A world of violence
This is what the Lord says: for three sins of Edom, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he pursued his brother with a sword and slaughtered the women of the land, because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked… Amos 1:11
It’s a violent world and over the past year or so we have seen and heard enough to give us an understandable sense of despair. Amos was called to speak God’s words of judgement to the northern kingdom of Israel. But he began his prophecy with the judgement of God on the surrounding pagan nations, Damascus, Gaza, Edom. He knew what was going on. He could speak knowledgably about dirty wars, destruction of homes, enslavement of communities, rape as a weapon, indiscriminate killing of neighbours, betrayal of kin, revenge, savagery and the absence of pity.
Then Amos goes on to bring God’s words of rebuke and judgement to his own people, to those who knew God’s laws – Israel and Judah, prosperous, comfortable, at peace, and dutifully religious. Perhaps not so bloodthirsty as their neighbours, they oppressed the poor and crushed the needy, slept around, got drunk and told the prophets to shut up.
Prosperous, comfortable, at peace, doing pretty well? Is that not the way we have been for some years now? Are we seeing God’s judgement at work today? Is economic meltdown a judgement on other people’s greed, or on our own as well? Have the systems to which we have been party, oppressed the poor and crushed the needy?
Israel and Judah were called to be beacons of God’s light and love in a world of violence and greed. They failed and judgement followed. Their calling is now ours, Christians, children of light, his church, in a world of violence and greed. There are many battlegrounds for us. In a time of economic hardship, crippling debt and uncertain futures, maybe we should model a simpler lifestyle and from our church communities provide networks of support. In a world of violence, we should maintain our giving to those charities which seek to help the poor, encourage fair trade, mop up after wars, and rebuild shattered communities.
And Amos’ calling to speak out a word of warning to those who are responsible for violence and greed is ours as well. And like Amos we speak primarily to our own people, our own nation and ourselves.
Margaret Killingray
The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
St Peter’s, Vere St, London, W1G 0DQ (t) 020 7399 9555 (e) mail@licc.org.uk Visit www.licc.org.uk for articles and events listings.
