God’s name is being tossed around a lot lately in governance. That may be why Bob Dylan’s song, “God on our Side,” keeps running around my head. It goes: “You never ask questions, when God’s on your side.” I'd like to humbly suggest that we don't stop asking questions, while keeping in mind Jesus’ summary guidance for how to live our lives, His Greatest Commandment, in Mark 12, to “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.”
All through Scripture Jesus insists we care for the least among us. In the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Matthew 20, Jesus says about the poor and the powerless, “The last shall be first and first shall be last.” In the Parable of the Sheep and Goats, Mathew 25, Jesus teaches that, in God’s eyes, serving our brothers and sisters is serving Him. In the Parable, the righteous stand before a satisfied “King” in heaven: “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
The poor, the powerless, saints and sinners alike, are invited to God’s table. The Messiah shares a meal with the Tax Collector, who is an outcast; despised by society because of his corruption and greed. Jesus breaks all societal and religious conventions to sit with him eye to eye. The Adulteress, who is condemned by society for other reasons, is offered equal compassion and the same invitation- to begin a new life. These parables are among many with a similar resonance. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs that "the least of these" are deserving of our mercy and care. This includes the person on the street with no home, wherever they are from. These are the multitude, different in age, ethnicity, color, faith, lifestyle, biology...and more. In the story of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10, Jesus makes no distinction between “us” and “them" when it comes compassion. The Samaritan shows exemplary kindness and mercy to a stranger in need, despite their profound differences. There is much more to Jesus' redemptive message, of course, but I imagine that God must cringe a little when we act with cruelty toward our neighbor in His name, even when we are well intentioned. And God only knows how angry He is when the weakest and most vulnerable among us are persecuted and used like a fulcrum for worldly ambition.
We can't know the motivations in a person’s heart and it’s probably better that way. But while intentions are impossible to discern, actions are not, and we have been given some insight. Paul writes, in Galatians 5, that if we are living in harmony with God, it shows. Paul calls these the Fruits of the Spirit: “Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” This is what we look like, Paul says, not when God is on our side, but when we are on His. May we keep asking questions of ourselves and others as we try to live in harmony with God. The song pairing is a demo of an unrecorded song: “Baby’s Ways.”
Until next time, stay safe, be brave and keep walking in the light.
Baby’s Ways
My baby is loving
my baby is peaceful
my baby is patient
way down in her soul
my baby is faithful
my baby is kind
my baby’s ways
are always in control
And if you were to ask me
what makes her so
brother I’d have to tell you
that the spirit just flows…
My baby is loving
my baby is peaceful
my baby is patient
way down in her soul
my baby is faithful
my baby is kind
my baby’s ways
are always in control
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