Convicting…
This morning I saw a tweet by Tim Schreader. It came from a session he is in at Willow Creek with Joel Houston of Hillsong church. It referenced this passage in Amos. Here it is in the NLT…
Amos 5:21-24 (New Living Translation)
21 “I hate all your show and pretense—
the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.
22 I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.
I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.
23 Away with your noisy hymns of praise!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,
an endless river of righteous living.
Here it is in the Message. This is the version that Tim linked to…
Amos 5:21-24 (The Message)
21-24“I can’t stand your religious meetings.
I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.
That’s what I want. That’s all I want.
OUCH! That is convicting. A lot to think through there. Now, I know the Message is a paraphrase and not a literal translation, but I think this verse speaks strongly to us today, in this paraphrase.
I only I have one thought though. The non-paraphrased version speaks to living righteously and the Message version does not. I wonder why that was left out? Is this an assumption that fighting for justice anf fairness, IS living righteously?
What do you think?
“Is this an assumption that fighting for justice and fairness, IS living righteously?”
Through Christ we are God’s mouth piece to the world, to bring about the news of salvation… Salvation that can bring Justice to the world.
Is Justice fair? My bet is only God’s will be. But we have proven over and over again that we can not measure up to God’s fair judgment of what is right and wrong. That is why it is only through Christ we can be consider righeous.
II Cor 5:20-21 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
and staying with the theme of your post
The Message:
We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
21How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.
Good stuff Carl. I was actually surprised that the paraphrase left “right living” out and added “fairness”. I am not sure there is anywhere in scripture, that we are told to fight for or serve fairness.
Well, it doesn’t say we have to take a shower everyday, either.
TheNorEaster´s last blog post…WaterFire
Huh?
All right. Fine. I’ve sat on this one long enough. The delay in my response was only because I had–and still have–very serious doubts as to whether or not you are going to understand.
So here goes nothing.
As confused as you were by my statement, I was even more confused by yours: “I am not sure there is anywhere in Scripture that we are told to fight for or serve fairness.”
What are you kidding me? All you had to do was read the whole chapter.
10 How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth!
11 You trample the poor, stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent. Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses, you will never live in them. Though you plant lush vineyars, you will never drink wine from them.
12 For I know the vast number of your sins and the depth of your rebellions. You oppress good people by taking bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
13 So those who are smart keep their mouths shut, for it is an evil time.
14 Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed.
15 Hate what is evil and cling to what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice.
And by the way, the fairness of God is demonstrated perfectly through the life of Christ–you know, the Lamb of God who died for the sins of world. And are we not called to be like Him?
And that, to me, is understood just as surely and as simply as basic hygiene–like taking a shower everyday.
Why are you still drinking infant’s milk when you should be eating solid food? (1st Cor. 3:2)
OK Nor, I hear you, but I respectfully disagree, based on my context.
The Bible does not speak to fairness, it speaks of justice. I believe the world’s view of fairness is wrong. Not everyone has the same abilities or giftings. Not everyone can be a teacher or a CEO. Not everyone is a musician or an athlete. but our world says, “you can be anything you want to be” and I believe that scripture says the world is wrong.
The world would say, “if he gets one, I should have one too…that’s fair”. I disagree and so does scripture. Verse 11 specifically speaks to justice. Not fairness. Fairness (by the world’s standards), would say that everyone should gets the same amount of grain. Justice, would fight for the rights to have grain. Completely different perspective and one that our world has lost site of.
So, that is my context and my perspective to asking the question.
God DOES seek justice and will be just in all He does and in His judgement of us all. But “fairness” is not something God seeks. Justice and fairness are two completely different things in the worlds eyes and God does not seek the “fairness” that the world cries for.
“Why are you still drinking infant’s milk when you should be eating solid food? (1st Cor. 3:2)”
OK, did you seriously just attack me personally with this?
…I knew I should have kept my mouth shut.
Thanks for the post… I think we sadly don’t step back and consider what God thinks of our “efforts” for Him. Can you imagine if we used this passage as an initial benchmark! (for me, GULP!)
Have you heard the song “Instead of a Show” by Jon Foreman? Based on this verse…and just as convicting – just in a song! Lyrics: http://tinyurl.com/ln3dy5
Dennis´s last blog post…BIND – Day 4
Great song Dennis!
On point Brent…
Ultimately…are we worshiping the God of the Church or the Show we put on each week.
Jason Curlee´s last blog post…Caption This
Brilliant. Kindred thoughts & conviction Brent.
Chad Jarnagin´s last blog post…Magical moments… in Cincinnati?
Convicting, yet also beautiful. Weird how those two go together sometimes. Great post Brent.
Brent,
Thank you for sharing this! My spirit is officially stirred up. How much more direct does God have to be for us to get it?? We can’t fool Him. We have to stop with the show and the fanfare, and set it all aside to strive for holiness and righteousness. I believe God so desires our silent moments with Him over the “loud, noisy hymns” we sing for our own ears and needs. We have to check ourselves, as worship leaders, to be SURE we aren’t serving ourselves.
Again, thanks, man. I needed to hear this today.
Blessings,
Wayne
Wayne Thomas´s last blog ..Sunday Set List – 6/28/09
It’s one of the hardest things we do as worship leaders. To come humbly and to not be people pleasers. It comes too easily for me.
Have an amazing weekend!!!