LET JUSTICE ROLL

Amen and amen! Going to take a little break from Genesis this morning. Last week, we talked about Justice out of Genesis chapter 13, and I want to continue thinking about Justice because of what we're experiencing together as a culture as a community as a country because of the the the violence and the issues in the pain and the fear and frustration. I want us to continue to think together about Justice. I was thinking about The opening paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1776. This was written we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men.

Are created equal?

self evident don't need a degree in biology. Don't need a scientific study week we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

What are the most profound sentence is written in political human history? I think greater than the Magna Carta greater than some of the ancient documents of Freedom. This is a beautiful statement of a dream of a vision of a country of people a community that enjoy the expression of equality.

It is beautiful as that statement is the moment the first slave ship docked on our Shores that dream was violated.

It's one thing to have a document that calls us to something a beauty. It's another thing to experience and live out that reality. I love our country. I love where and when God has placed us. That doesn't mean I love it with my eyes shut. We have a beautiful vision for who were supposed to be as a people. That is not who we have been.

The history of our people the history of our nation is not a history of equality.

It includes a history of great history of Oppression. and Injustice

Well, I can talk for hours and hours about that. I don't want to talk about just our country this morning because there's a greater document. then the Declaration of Independence

God has spoken.

In the scripture, we find this statement Galatians chapter 3 now before Faith came. We were held captive Under The Loft in prison until the coming Faith would be revealed. So then the law was our Guardian until Christ came in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that face come we are no longer under a guardian for in Christ Jesus you are

Sons and Daughters of God through faith Not through ethnicity not through performance. Not through religious obligation. You are adopted and accepted as Sons and Daughters into the family of God through Hey.

11 say some of you are he doesn't say some he said you all are.

You got faith in Jesus doesn't matter what you look like doesn't matter where you come from. Doesn't matter. How smart you are. How rich you are how skinny you are how strong you are how religious you are.

My faith in Jesus. You become a son. You become a daughter of God through faith. First many as you are baptized into Christ you have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek nor slave nor free no male nor female for you are all one in Christ. Somebody say Amen.

This is not the declaration of independence of the United States. This is a declaration. Open beauty and inclusivity and freedom of the church. The unity of the people of God in the gospel of God. The gospel good news of Jesus the reconciliation and Redemption that Jesus bring forms us into something new. The church is not defined by ethnicity or geography for economy or politics. Church is Define. Our identity is found in our faith in the Risen crucified King.

Whatever we were before Jesus Fades away because the old has come the new has begun if anyone is in Christ, Jesus he or she is what a new creation. That's true individually, but it's true corporately. Corporately were made into a new people a new family.

Church is beautiful. Glorious as that be a logical reality is as its stated in Galatians chapter 3 the moment. In our country, we had segregated churches we violated. the beauty and truth of this gospel

And that's not on government. That's not a left or right issue not political in the way that we normally think of politics that's on up.

It's it's on us. It's on the church.

only the church is under this preview this this this command this description of what life with Christ looks like

we are call to be an inclusive community. We are called. Barbie 4 in a government would ever call her. Jesus our King has called to love freely. to love openly to bring the good news to All Nations. To be God's people and God's presence to demonstrate what it looks like in the Kingdom of God in the kingdom of God is a kingdom of Justice. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of

the kingdom of God is a kingdom of unity. and a quality

Then let me be frank and as honest as I can be this morning, I have absolutely no hope. Where are country experiencing that kind of justice that kind of unity that kind of equality unless it happens in the church first.

If we can't do it with the power of the resurrected Christ dwelling within us if love and Justice cannot flow within those who have been three main board by the power of how to never happen outside.

I know this is my soap box and some of you may get tired of this eventually and I'd apologize. But I'm not sorry.

I'm going to keep banging this drum. Jesus didn't come so that you cannot go to hell. Jesus didn't come so that you can escape this world and Float off for some spiritual place called heaven. Jesus came to redeem and restore what was broken in God's good creation to put us back on track.

To the reality that God designed all of creation for to be a place where God dwells with his people.

The gospel. Jesus is not simply a gospel of forgiveness. It is a gospel of forgiveness. Thank God I need forgiveness.

Met most of you you're not any better.

Gospels, not simply enough for forgiveness. It is also a gospel of freedom. A gospel of Justice a gospel of righteousness a gospels of Holiness. It is a Redemptive realistic reality calling us who he made us to be his Imager. the Imago Dei the image of God on Earth

course that includes being forgiven, but it's so much more.

Last week I said we cannot separate Justice from the reality of the Gospel. Hannah the scriptures will not allow us to

Isaiah chapter 40 to one of the greatest christological passages in the Old Testament and Isaiah 42 says this behold my servant this prophetic passage about the one that God is going to send that's going to get it right the passage about Jesus. Behold my servant whom I uphold my chosen in whom my soul Delights. I put my spirit upon him. He will bring forth. Justice to the nation

You're going to break my heart. You could spend decades in the Evangelical Church listening to the gospel in the way. The gospel is presented and you would not expect the text to say that.

You expected to say he will bring potential forgiveness to those who pray the right prayer in the right place at the right way, and they won't have to go to hell and I'll go to heaven. We've lost sight of what God.

He's doing through Jesus.

We turn the gospel into something that we wanted to be.

Dodge really clear forgiveness is a part of it, but it's simply a functional part. I'm a grander vision of God wear for a creation. Did exist in his shallow? A creation that exist in Harmony and unity of Creation with Justice roll.

Jesus came to bring forth Justice to the nation. That sounds primarily political were the political invitation to the people's to the families to the to the races to whoever we find. That's who Jesus came. To bring Justice for he didn't just come to bring Justice for the juice. Can you bring Justice for the Nations?

all week long I've been listening to the words of the prophet Micah

rolling through my head Michaels given a hard word to the people of God the nation of Israel at the time.

rebuke the stinging rebuke about the way they were living their lives.

reduce them that they weren't going to the temple. He doesn't rebuke them that they weren't religious enough doesn't have anything to do with whether they were a good religious people. They had all the religion down. They went to the temple they offer their sacrifices. They prided themselves on being God's people.

but when they were in at the temple They live and active. a different way forgot comes through Mica and says this with what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high, so I come before him with burnt offering. And calves a year old. Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of Rams with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Should I give my first-born for my transgressions the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

And this is the one verse you know out of Micah.

We have told you. Oh, man. What is good?

What does the Lord require of you?

but to do justice to love kindness

and to walk humbly.

Michael saying there's a gap between the people of God and God himself. What what's what's the problem here? Is it a religious problem? Is it a worship problem in a secondary way. It is a worship problem, but it's not that's not the primary issue.

Is a yearling sacrifice going to do it is a thousand sacrifices going to do it. No, like it says listen get this right? That's made it clear.

This is what he requires of you do justice.

Love kindness and walk humbly. with her guy Upchurch this is this this is a call. We need to heed a call. We need to hear.

Because much like the ancient Israelites would come and offer their sacrifices and then go walk and live in Injustice. But deeply grieve the heart of God's the Evangelical Church in America has been gathering together in segregation. In Injustice silence in the face of the Injustice that is taking place around focusing on the religious and spiritual forgiveness of the gospel and snoring and neglecting the Justice the kindness the humility that God requires.

Rather than being the light of the world we've hidden ourselves under a bushel.

Your mic is not the only Prophet that God sends to his people. This is a persistent and consistent problem with the people of God. Isaiah goes into much greater detail right from the beginning Isaiah chapter 1 Isaiah sent to the people and any says this this is God speaking.

what to me is the multitude of your sacrifices says the Lord I've had enough of burnt offerings of Rams on the fat of well fed beef. I do not Delight in the blood of bulls or Lambs or a go.

fired up his people order in the system, but now he's coming the way that you're doing what I've asked you to do. Makes it intolerable to me. I'm not Delight in it because when you come to appear before me. trampoline of my court No, it's the way that they're doing. It is in violation of what it is that they're doing.

Ring no more of an offering. Your incense is an Abomination to me new moon Sabbath in the calling of convocation. I cannot endure iniquity and your solemn assembly your new moons and your appointed fast my soul. This is Harsh. Don't sugar coat it. What does God heal? when people who claim to be his people Worship Kim in ways that she called them to worship out of a heart and reality of Injustice. What does God feel about it? The text says God says I hate it.

When you gather in your churches, can you send your song and you pass your office and you listen to a sermon and you walk out with hatred in your heart and you perpetuate for you ignore the Injustice is around you I'm not super psyched about your worship service.

My soul hates it. They become a burden to me. I am weary. a bearing

when you spread out your hands. Hi my eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers. I will not loosen your hands are. Oh.

Wash yourself. Make yourself clean remove the evil of your Deeds from before my eye.

cease to do evil Just listen to God. Listen. learn to do good seek Justice

correcting oppression bring Justice to the fatherless plead the Widow's.

Is in ancient Israel in this time the Widow's the fatherless. These were the oppressed. These were the marginalized these were the powerless in society. You want me to hear you? You want me to honor you you want me to be with you? seek Justice correct oppression fight for those who cannot fight for themselves

Let us reason together.

I know this. I mean, this is a harsh opening imagine Isaiah's going. a little nicer

I got comes hard and hot and heavy. not happy You're missing it. But here's the gray skiers the mercy here's the faithfulness of our God. Even when we are faithless come let us reason together though. Your sins are like Scarlet. They shall be as white as snow that they are red like Crimson they can become like wool.

God does not give up on them. God does not write us off. Even when we are faithless. He is faithful. It so he calls I believe God is calling to us. I know God is calling to me. I believe God is calling us much like he calls through Isaiah and Micah to ancient Israel to be the people of God. Not just when they gather for worship putting all of life. Driven by the values in ethics and Ethos of the kingdom of God, not the kingdoms of this world.

I think it's not the only one that's do one more Amos shorter and more poetic.

Straight to the point I hate. I despise your feast and I take no Delight in your solemn assembly. But let me be clear to translate this into our modern reality. This was written to Israel. Linda written to Israel about when they would come to the temple and offer their sacrifices and worship and offer their prayers and We live in a different reality now because of Christ. We don't worship any Temple we worship gather together as the people of God. We are the temple.

the same principle Did the prophets are speaking over and over and over again to Israel need to be spoken to us?

I hate I despise your worship services.

Your worship songs your prayers your Gathering. I take note to lights in your solemn assemblies, even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I will not accept them in the peace offerings of your fat and animal animals. I will not look up on them. Take away from me the noise of your songs to The Melody of your Harps. I will not listen. I'm pretty sure drums guitars and smoke machines factor into their to somehow

May I make a joke out of that? That's what we do. We try to tweak thinks. We try to tweak the way we do things with you and rather than dealing with the real issues of our heart. And the way that we live not when we gather together and worship, but when we're dispersed and Scattered as the people of God in the world.

I will not listen. But let Justice. roll down like the water

This is God speaking. Let Justice roll down like the water. Let me be real clear. We're not in a season and a time where what we need are more worship Gathering and better singing and more giving and more preaching and more of the richest reality of Christianity. That's not lacking in the world right now. What is lacking right now is God's people living out God's justice in the world. That's what we need.

Let Justice roll down like Waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing. stream

Where my heroes is a man named? John Perkins, dr. Perkins has been a voice

and a light Justice in our country for decade

read his book again this week.

Call let Justice roll.

His story is autobiography. Pals of being born and growing up in the Deep South in Mississippi in time of intense racial hatred segregation and Injustice Tell the story of how his older brother who was called to serve in the military came home on a leave-in with shot by a deputy for nothing. And nothing was done how growing up in that intense culture and Society of evil all the wild looking and seeing the white churches meeting over and over and over again.

and those same white Christians walking out of their churches

perpetuate racial Injustice

He didn't grow up in the church didn't grow up with in Christ. He eat he grew up with a lot of anger and a lot of hate but God in his Mercy let him to Faith as an adult man. He began to immerse himself in the scriptures. He began to grow into server if he began to share the gospel first with children through child evangelism fellowship and then with others and in that process God called him to do something that he did not want to do. Called him. Go back to Mississippi. Go back to where you came from bring the gospel of justice and peace and Reconciliation to this place of Darkness. So he went back he started schools in a church and social justice Minister. He started doing education. They started fighting for equality.

And there was so much resistance. Sure resistance from the clan. Sure, there was resistance from the people in power and those that economies were threatened, but there was also resistance from the churches. from the clergy

Tell the story Saturday, February 7th 1970. The 1970 y'all. ancient history

He had gathered with some of his people that they brought in some students from a nearby college for a peaceful protest in March.

After the March they loaded up the students back in Vans and began to drive them back to their college. When I got out into a another County a county even more racist than where he was the lights flared up.

Cops arrested two of his friends 19 college students brought them to jail word is brought to him into a couple other pastors they get in their car. They drive to the jail.

In front of the jail police officer points them to the parking lot. They drive around to the parking lot when they get out of their car a dozen police officers and state troopers come out and begin to immediately beat them in the parking lot.

They dragged them inside. They continue to beat them. They shave their head in for moonshine on their head. They take them to punch them. The covered with blood they get worried that the FBI might be coming to investigate they make them clean up their own blood. And then when the FBI doesn't show up, they beat them some more all night long all night long all night long. 4 hours and hours an hour brutally

brutalized by men But that Sunday we're in a worship service.

I got great you didn't die. Everybody thought he was going to die. He took the worst of it.

When he was finally released.

Finally set free. He had to spend weeks in convalescent. It was during this time that he faced a major turning point in decision.

Hate began to fester and grow within him. Despair began to put a toll hold within his heart and salt have I made any difference have we done anything if we can be brutalized this easily? Are we are we making any difference?

He was forced in that moment to make a choice.

Is there truth and Power in the Gospel of Jesus or should he like so many in the Justice movement of the past reject Christianity as a white man's religion.

and embrace hatred

it is very honest he kind of wanted to go that way. I get that. I can understand that. The desire to fight hatred with hatred brutality with brutality.

God wouldn't let him go there. So as he's laying in this convalescents thinking about all this and despairing God begins to Whispering and remind him. That doctor that saved your life that doctor that comes and sits with you every night until you fall asleep that doctor who is taking care of you and giving you back life. That's a white man who loves me. That lawyer who is fighting your case for you free of charge. That's a white man that's standing with you and it became he began to recognize that hate can't Prevail. Let me read you in his words. He says it better than I could.

I began to see what's horror. How hate to destroy me destroy me more devastatingly and suddenly than any destruction. I could bring on those who have wronged me. I could try and fight back as many of my brothers head. How would I be different from the white to hate me and where would hating get me? Anyone can hate. This whole business of hating and hating back. It's what keeps the Vicious Cycle of racism going the spirit of God worked on me as I lay in that bed an image formed in my mind the image of the Cross of Christ on the cross that blotted out everything else in my mind. Jesus knew what I had suffered he understood and he cared because he had experienced it all himself. This Jesus the one who had brought good news directly from God in the heavens had lived what he preached. He was arrested and falsely accused like me through an unjust trial. He also faced a Lynch Mob and got beaten but even more than that, he was nailed to a rough wooden planks and he was killed killed like a common criminal at The crucial moment. It seemed to Jesus that even God himself had deserted him. The suffering was so great. He cried out in agony he was But when he looked out at that mob that had lynched him he didn't hate them. He loved them he forgave them and he prayed to God to forgive them Father forgive these people. They know not what they're doing his enemies hated.

But Jesus for gay.

Couldn't get away from that the spirit of God kept working on me and in me until I could say with Jesus I forgive them.

Spirit of God help me really believe what I had so often professed that only in the love of Christ. Is there any hope for me or for those I had once worked so hard for After that, God gave me the strength and motivation to rise up out of my bed and return the Mendenhall and spread a little bit more of his love around. Oh, I know man is bad depraved. There's something built into him that makes him want to be superior if the black man had the advantage if he just has bad just as bad so I can't hate the white man. problem spiritual Black or white. We all need to be born again. It's a profound mysterious. Truth. Jesus is concept of love overpowering hate.

Listen carefully to what he say. I may not see its victory in my lifetime. But I know it's true. I know it's true because it happened to me on that bed full of bruises and stitches. God made it true in me. He washed my hatred away and replaced it with a love for the white man in rural, Mississippi. I felt strong against stronger than ever what doesn't destroy me makes me stronger. I know it's true because it happens. to me

Oh the power of the Gospel. Turn hate into love.

Turn Pilots.

Make friends out of enemy.

To bring healing to the heart and soul. And bring strength the pursuit just and righteous.

This is what the spirit of God and church only the spirit of God. longs to do within his people

the causes to move and see and fights. Not as the world fight.

But it's Christ fought. fight with faith we fight by submitting and surrendering to God. We fight by entrusting ourselves to him and standing up for the true.

We fight not with a balled fist. but with an open hand we fight not just the pain and hatred of the enemy but we fight the pain and hatred in our own heart. surrender that to the Savior who died that we might be set free.

You're close with. pause beautiful words in Romans chapter 12

Let Your Love

Be genuine.

not talking about casual affection the following about not talking about sensual attraction or any of the other things that we make love into in our culture.

Talking about a deep committed Covenant or responsibility to others who are made in the image of God love is the Fulfillment of the law.

Let Your Love be genuine

Anyone says that he loves God but hates his brother the truth is not in him. He's a liar.

Let Your Love be genuine

You say you love God, how can you not love your neighbor made in God's image.

Let love be genuine. Not just the people that look like you. Not just to the people that make you feel good about yourself. Not just to the people that are easy to love let love be genuine.

Let It Be consuming let it be real let love be the reality that drives you because love is the reality that saved you

Let Your Love be genuine up hey, what's evil

Hey, what's evil? And I just selected hate. This is the problem in our culture right now. Selective. Hey cancel Tulsa. We hate this we hate death, but it's random.

evil evil

you can hate one type of evil and still hate another type of evil. You don't have to choose one. Let's hear.

Hey, what's evil hold fast?

love one another with brotherly affection

family Family Guy love one another with brotherly affection outdo one another in showing honor.

before apple and veal

fervent in spirit

So I serve the Lord.

High circular loving one another caring for one another

rejoice in Hope patient in Tribulation

the constant in track

be constant in prayer contribute to the needs of the Saints and seek to show Hospitality bless those who persecute you. And do not curse them.

Oh that those who claim to follow Jesus and use Facebook. Would be guided by this.

Joyce with those who Rejoice we with those who weep

let me just Just talk for a minute. Practically if we're going to love like this text talks about we're going to leave Injustice in the fullness of the Gospel if we're going to love there's only one way that happens that happens relationally. It happens through relationship. It's not a concept. It's not abstract. Its relational Incarnation. All you got to be present.

You got to know each other you got the beef with each other. How do you love someone How Do You Weep with someone how do you rejoice with someone if you don't know them? If you don't see them if you're not with them.

one of the challenges

The faces the modern Evangelical Church. Is that for the past several decades ever since the sixties and Civil Rights Movement?

We've done something like this. We said what we have a civil rights movement. We repealed the Jim Crow laws. We we've taken away racism is not a problem anymore and because of the inclusivity of Jesus because of Galatians chapter 3, we should all be color blind. We should all be color by we shouldn't see color wheat. We shouldn't see Ray. I see people say this all the time. I don't even see race. I don't even see color and it's funny because the very next thing they always say to me is I have a really good black friend.

Love to hear me love is not colorblind. color matters because God make color

God apparently likes diversity.

Could have made us all look alike. Yeah, did he know? This is not rocket science.

To be color-blind is disrespectful to the image that God has made in the individual. We don't do it with anything else. I don't say you know what? I'm I'm I'm gender-blind tell you when I see you. I don't even I don't even see a man.

How disrespectful would that be how disingenuous is it? Race and color and ethnicity is a part of who we are and church gibdist will always be a part of who you are. I've always been a white man. I'm a white man today. I will be a white man for eternity. My brother Duane who stepped out to help somebody always been a black man hits a black man today. He will always be a black man in the kingdom of God for eternity. That's not something to be ignored if that's something to be minimized it something to be a brace and rejoicing and delighted and that has that made us to say to be color-blind his disrespectful church if you said.

It's been it's being said in our church body.

Stop it.

we love all

or who all are

live in harmony with one another

I love that it I love that for live in harmony with doesn't say live in Melody with each other. Far too often. That's what the church tries to do. Melody let's all sing the same no. Melody let's all look the same act the same value the same if we try to make everybody the same. That's not what the gospel does. The gospel takes all of our differences brings them together not into uniformity, but in the complementarianism now, we've got Harmony minor with your notes with their enough comes together to make something better and greater and more beautiful than any one of our notes could buy it. to live together in appreciation in the lights But the difference is that we each bring. To this beautiful Masterpiece that got his trading through his people live in harmony with one another. Don't be haughty.

Associate with the lowly never be wise in your own sight repay. No one evil for evil to give thought to do. What is Honorable in the sight of all If possible so far as it depends on you.

live peaceably

Republicans live peacefully with Democrats Democrats live peacefully with public

white slacks, whatever shade you may be the Feast of Lee up to you with all 6 piece don't pick fights. Don't roll over stands for truth. But as far as it's up to you seek, peace.

Ask yourself if you want to be right or do you want to be right you?

You want to win the argument or do you want to win the person? As far as it's up to you live peaceably with all beloved never avenge yourself.

Believe it to the wrath of God. It is written vengeance is mine. I will repay says the Lord he see. He knows it may look like they're getting away with it.

It may look like God is not doing anything.

the trust vengeance is mine. I will repay says the Lord to the contrary if your enemy is hungry.

Thirsty give him something to drink for by doing so you will Heap burning coals on his head.

Do not. You overcome by evil.

But overcome evil.

Wicca

Stock quote it all it takes for evil to prosper is for good men to stand idly by.

I'm deeply convinced then convicted that the reason. Racial economic and Injustice has flourished in our country. It's not because of the evil of man. Man's always been evil and Injustice. The reason it has flourished. Is because the church has been silent. And that silence is complicity.

judgement starts with the household of faith

It's up to us. the show the world what love looks like

the only way that happened. It's for us to know.

to know love It took on flesh. The no love that came not to be served but to serve and gave his life. As a ransom for many to know the love. That lays down its life. for its strength

We know love a love unlike anything. This world has ever experienced. Through Jesus the king. He loved us not because we were lovely. But because he is love He Loves Us In Spite of Ourselves. He loved us when we were sinful and in opposition to Kim. And he laid down his life for.

And he calls to me and he calls to you and he calls to all who will hear his voice if anyone would follow he must deny himself.

Take up his cross.

and Fala

search it's time for us to follow in the footsteps of our loving crucified King. Stan for the just and the righteous the God has created for his aura. Time to be the church. Amen.