8/15/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Sometimes Christians are portrayed as elitist snobs. Social justice warriors may wish to show their virtue by proudly proclaiming that they are morally superior to “religionists” and “unthinking” people who are brainwashed into oppressive behavior.
As a Christian scholar, I agree that we need to be thinking people. I also would affirm that we have no business oppressing anyone. Here’s what God says. In Isaiah 56:1 he says to preserve justice. And he indicates that the justice we should preserve is going to be consistent with his righteousness.
This is not a stance that allows for any sort of ethnic discrimination. Verses 6-8 call people of every nation to God. This is so they can be blessed by the God who created and sustains all. However, simply because everyone is invited does not mean that anything goes.
God calls people to keep his covenant. Specifically in this passage, they keep the Sabbath and participate in the offerings which God has decreed. These are very specific activities, done in compliance to God’s decree. He does not accept just anything. He has, in fact, made a way of salvation.
The Christian confesses that the end of the sacrifices is Jesus, who gave himself as the once for all sacrifice for sin, the sin of the world, my sin and your sin. God is approached through this sign of grace, by faith, not by any works.
All are called. All are welcome. But God has given a very particular and specific means of grace. There’s no getting around it. We come to him according to his decree. In other words, it isn’t elitist. It’s according to God’s command. Come, freely. Receive and live.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Sometimes Christians are portrayed as elitist snobs. Social justice warriors may wish to show their virtue by proudly proclaiming that they are morally superior to “religionists” and “unthinking” people who are brainwashed into oppressive behavior.
As a Christian scholar, I agree that we need to be thinking people. I also would affirm that we have no business oppressing anyone. Here’s what God says. In Isaiah 56:1 he says to preserve justice. And he indicates that the justice we should preserve is going to be consistent with his righteousness.
This is not a stance that allows for any sort of ethnic discrimination. Verses 6-8 call people of every nation to God. This is so they can be blessed by the God who created and sustains all. However, simply because everyone is invited does not mean that anything goes.
God calls people to keep his covenant. Specifically in this passage, they keep the Sabbath and participate in the offerings which God has decreed. These are very specific activities, done in compliance to God’s decree. He does not accept just anything. He has, in fact, made a way of salvation.
The Christian confesses that the end of the sacrifices is Jesus, who gave himself as the once for all sacrifice for sin, the sin of the world, my sin and your sin. God is approached through this sign of grace, by faith, not by any works.
All are called. All are welcome. But God has given a very particular and specific means of grace. There’s no getting around it. We come to him according to his decree. In other words, it isn’t elitist. It’s according to God’s command. Come, freely. Receive and live.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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