Sunday, June 6, 2010

We have just concluded "They Like Jesus, But not the Church."  So where to from here?  The challenge of that series was to look for ways to move outside the "bubble" of the church and befriend some unchurched people.  Then let God love them through you in such a way that we as the Church become more like the loving Christ we represent.  Stories of how you’re doing that would be welcome – send an e-mail to me at nate@stmarksindialantic.org  – thanks!

This week we start a new series that is related to the Social Justice stream of the church.  What do we mean when we talk about social justice?  "Social justice is the application of the concept of justice on a social scale…Social justice is also a concept that some use to describe the movement towards a socially just world. In this context, social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality…"  <Wikipedia>

As we focus on how our faith challenges us to move towards making this world a more just place socially, we will be looking at how that happens over the next few weeks.  The series is called "Holy No’s" and we will look at how a "no" to something (as in protest) is also a "yes" to other things.  That is, to protest is not only to speak against, but also to speak for.  So we will look at how, in our lives, we need to practice "rightly focus protest" or "holy no’s."  And we’ll be talking about what that looks like based on an article by Marilyn Chandler McEntyre in Weavings magazine (Vol. 25; No. 2)  called "When No is Yes."

"Those who have learned the art of generous, life-giving protest have in common at least three things:  1. a deep sense of the common good – that no one is safe if some live in fear, that justice is everyone’s business, that care for others is a prerequisite to one’s own welfare; 2. a wide and complex understanding of public policy – who benefits and who pays the hidden costs when taxes are lowered or wars waged or jobs outsourced; 3. humility that comes from a lively awareness of whom they serve."  (from the article referred to above)

Holy No’s: Rightly focused protest…awakens

• Begin by reading the above introduction.
• Then spend some time in prayer asking God to awaken you in the areas of your life where you have "fallen asleep."
• Discuss some organizations or issues that are going on in our world or society today that are "behind closed doors" or that seem to be big issues that no one is discussing.  (e.g. the sex slave trade)
• Talk about what the role of Christians in light of some of these societal issues is (are we just to be people who "help the wounded" or are we to actively seek to change the policies, circumstances that bring these issues about?)
• Read Ephesians 5:8-20
  • Re-read vv 8-9 – Paul talks about how we were darkness – what do you think he means?
    • What does it mean to be "light?"
    • If we are already in light, why would Paul have to say, "Live as children of light?"

    • The fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true – Those 3 adjectives cover so much!  Good – like God – positive, uplifting, wonderful effect on humanity in general if not always on everyone involved.  For the common good.  Right – like God – righteous, the proper thing to do, the appropriate way to be.  True – without falsehood – without deception or lie.  What you see is what you get.  These are the fruit of “light-people” – this is what our lives are to look like.  Is there anything in your life that is NOT good, or right or true?

      • Spend some time in prayer allowing God to reveal anything in your life to you that may not be true or good or right – confess it in the silence – and, if you are willing to your group.

  • Re-read v 10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord – (being careful how we live, making the most of the time)  There is a sense here of living on purpose.  Rather than drifting through life, letting life happen to us, this is an invitation to live for God – to please God, living with care and attention to our choices and how we spend our time and making the most of it – when you think about it we really don’t have that much.  Living as children of light is to live with purpose.

    • What does a life lived on purpose look like?  How might it differ from one that is not?

  • Re-read vv11-14  Exposing, rather than participating in, works of darkness – This is the hard part of living as children of light – not only living in the light ourselves, but exposing the works of darkness. It reminds us of the baptismal vows to stand against evil and injustice in whatever forms they present themselves.  Part of our role as children of light is not just to live in light ourselves – but awaken the world to the deeds of darkness that are destroying life.  I think of the sex slave trade that is so powerful and present in today’s world…of Darfur and places where the powerful rule in injustice…of Amnesty International – that seeks to expose the works of the darkness. 

    • What are some other examples of how we could be involved in exposing the deeds of darkness?

    • How does exposing those lead to their loss of power and their overthrow?

  • Re-read vv15-20  What sorts of things is Paul calling us to do and how is he calling us to live in this world?

    • What might that look like in our lives in the 21st century? Brainstorm some possibilities.

• Close in a time of prayer asking Christ to live as light in you and through you to boldly expose the deeds of darkness.

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