Tremendous Resource: The Gospel of Shalom: A Justice Reading of Scripture

Dr. Robert Linthicum has just made available for downloading the complete three year cycle of his “The Gospel of Shalom: A Justice Reading of the Lectionary Scripture”  This is based on his 48 years of study of  how the Scripture deals with the issues of social justice. Reading along for the past year has changed my theology and given me a much better understanding of the problems in my community and the Church’s role in responding to those problem. Evangelicals please don’t be afraid this is a thoroughly solid evangelical work.That expresses both aspects of loving God and loving your neighbor.

The work is available in PDF downloads based on the lectionary year.

This summer he plans to release Truly Strategic Scriptures Avoided by the Lectionary, which I am looking forward to.

Anyone who wants a solid theology perspective on social justice issues should check out his website.

Article link: My take: Why my church rebelled against the American Dream – CNN Belief Blog – CNN.com Blogs

We American Christians have a way of taking the Jesus of the Bible and twisting him into a version of Jesus that we are more comfortable with.

A nice middle-class American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn’t mind materialism and would never call us to give away everything we have. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts.

A Jesus who wants us to be balanced, who wants us to avoid dangerous extremes, and who for that matter wants us to avoid danger altogether. A Jesus who brings comfort and prosperity to us as we live out our Christian spin on the American Dream.

But lately I’ve begun to have hope that the situation is changing

via My take: Why my church rebelled against the American Dream – CNN Belief Blog – CNN.com Blogs.

Article Link: Our Take: Rethinking Christmas – CNN Belief Blog – CNN.com Blogs

As much as both of us love a good meal with our families, we’re pretty sure Jesus didn’t come to initiate a sentimental pause in holiday consumption. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” John’s gospel says. Jesus moved into the neighborhood, and it wasn’t necessarily good for property values.

Christmas reminds us how Jesus interrupts the world as it is to reveal the world as it ought to be. When we pay attention to the story, it exposes our desperate need for a better way. This always makes some people mad.

via Our Take: Rethinking Christmas – CNN Belief Blog – CNN.com Blogs.

Links to Selected Lausanne Documents

Lausanne Documants Index

Lausanne Covenant

The Manila Manifesto

Exposition and Commentary of Lausanne Covenant by John Stott

Evangelism and Social Responsibility

Article Link: Draft version of Lausanne Capetown Committment

Draft version of Lausanne Capetown Committment

Article Link: Lausanne World Pulse – - My Hope for 2020: A United, Humble, Bible-focused Church

First, I have hope for a Church that is less divided, less polarized. The Church today looks too much like the church in Corinth—divided among itself and not of the same mind. Such divisions are not only harmful to the Church’s members, hindering their care and growth, but is disastrous for our witness in the world.

How can a divided body show the world a whole gospel? I hope local churches will find ways to come together for the sake of their missionary efforts, for the sake of being true witnesses for Christ in a divided world. Churches can come together on all sorts of matters, from the building of friendships over shared meals, to working together to help troubled youth suffering under the influence of drugs.

Second, I hope for a Church that is focused on what is local, without trying to create grand schemes for world domination. Such local practices of faithfulness are what change the world—one story at a time.

Related to this is the hope for a Church the genuinely takes the whole Bible seriously. This includes the beginning of Genesis through the end of Revelation. The Bible begins and ends with creation and new creation; however, the Church (locally and globally) has been very weak at caring for creation and thinking about its practices and witness in relation to the earth God has given us. At the very least, it’s time for each local church to start thinking about mundane matters like what it does with waste, for in these also the Church is obedient to her call to care for the earth.

via Lausanne World Pulse – Themed Articles – My Hope for 2020: A United, Humble, Bible-focused Church.

From Grace Gems: Every Man has a Heaven and a Hell

by Newman Hall

Every man has a heaven and a hell.

Earth is the ungodly man’s heaven; his hell is to come.

The godly have their hell upon earth, when they
are vexed with temptations and afflictions by Satan
and his accomplices; their heaven is above in endless
happiness. If it be ill with me on earth, it is well that
my torment is so short and easy; I cannot be so
unreasonable as to expect two heavens!

“If we have the kingdom at last–it is no great
matter what we suffer on the way to it.” Thomas Manton

“All the sufferings of the believer are not hell;
but they are all the hell he shall suffer.” John Mason

We Are Not Fine: It is Time to Change Course

As I write this I think it is quite accurate to say collectively; we are not fine. The problems facing the world are immense if not cataclysmic. The world economy is in a state of collapse, decades of gains against poverty in the world have been wiped out. We face tremendous challenges as people, nations, and a global society.

In my opinion both capitalism and communism have failed. It is time we change course. I believe that Christians should take the lead in this change of course.

We need a new model. We need to consider how our actions affect others not just how they benefit ourselves.

Just one case in particular. I heard a commentator yesterday remarking that fear and greed drive the market. Neither one of these are values that are Biblical and should be embraced by Christians. I just posted yesterday a link to an article that talked about how greed has caused much of the world food crisis, people seeking to make an exorbitant  profit off an  essential of life.

I believe that now the world is looking for answers. We can use this as a tremendous opportunity. We need to explore new solutions.

The problem in my opinion, in the developed world at least is in our definition of wealth. Capitalism is concerned with the accumulation of capital and capital is viewed in terms of things and money. Socialism is concerned with the redistribution of things and money so there is less inequity in things and money. Communism is the forced redistribution of things and money. The problem is all these economic systems miss the point.

Real wealth is not defined in things and money. Things and money only have value when they contribute to a just and healthy world. Real wealth, at least the type of wealth I am talking about, cannot be measured economically.

Real wealth is a just society, healthy relationships, health, joy, vibrancy in life, strong faith, clean air and water, healthy foods, lessening of disease, loving families, safe neighborhoods, people caring about each other. It is about respect and dignity, fairness and justice, giving instead of receiving, the value of each life, courtesy, justice, friendliness, art and beauty. The pursuit of money and things often pushes all these things by the wayside.

It is time to rebuild our communities by first rebuilding community, rebuilding relationships by loving our neighbor. We may be rich in economic terms, although much of that evaporated into thin air recently, but we are poor spiritually and relationally.

As we work to rebuild our communities and lives let us be guided by the teaching of Scripture. The majority of people in the US claim to be Christians; then let us follow the two great commandments articulated by Jesus Christ. To love God and love our neighbor. If we do these we will be well on our way to be truly wealthy and bringing healing to our land and indeed to the world.

Resource: AIDS is Real and It’s in Our Church

AIDS is Real and It’s in Our Church: HIV/AIDS in the African Church

Is a website and featuring a downloadable pdf book and online version on AIDS and the Church in Africa. This looks to be a very good resource for churches and individuals dealing with HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Psalm 82.2-4

During my devotions this week I came across this verse.

2 “How long will you [a] defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?
Selah

3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

4 Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82.2-4 NIV

The note [a] indicates the you is plural.

The ESV is similar

Psa 82:2-4
(2) “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
(3) Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
(4) Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

Scripture cross references include:

1 Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
Do you judge uprightly among men?

2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.
Psalm 58:1-2 NIV

5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
or to deprive the innocent of justice.
Pr.18:5

17 Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice or

take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Deut. 24:17 NIV

16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy,
and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know me?”
declares the LORD.
Jer. 22.16 NIV

17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more

Psalm 10:18 NIV

4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Isa. 11.4 NIV

12 because I rescued the poor who cried for help,
and the fatherless who had none to assist him.
Job 29:12 NIV

These verses are just a few that show how we are to love our neighbor, especially the poor and needy, weak and helpless, widows and orphans.

Tear Fund Articles on DR Congo

Tear Fund has the following articles about the DR congo:

Prayer: Peace talks resume over DR Congo crisis

Pray for the Democratic Republic of Congo

Pray: DR Congo church gives shelter to newborns

Pray: New birth in DR Congo

Crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Humanitarian crisis spirals in DR Congo

DR Congo partner treats conflict victims

Tearfund targets 15,000 for DR Congo aid

Church helps vulnerable in battle for survival

Tearfund targets aid at 75,000 in DR Congo

How the church is helping in DR Congo

DR Congo crisis in pictures

Tough times for those in DR Congo camps

Partners show courage during testing time

Hospitality

Church provides shelter to the displaced

Conflict puts women’s safety in jeopardy

Thousands face misery after fleeing fighting

Congregation rallies to community’s needs

Who Tearfund is working with in DR Congo

Background to the current conflict in DRC

The Christmas story in DR Congo

Tear Fund: Global Poverty Prayer Week

Tear Fund is spomsoring a Global Poverty Prayer Week 23 February to 1 March 2009.

Information is available here. Some related links follow.

Prayer resources.

Prayer week film

William Wilberforce

If I have a hero that is a famous person, I would have to say it is William Wilberforce. To me he embodies in many ways who a Christian should be.

Here are some links about him:

William Wilberforce Wikipedia Article

U.S. House Resolution in Honor of Wilberforce

BBC William Wilberforce

Wilberforce House Image Gallery

The Age of Wilberforce

Gathered Leaves: Lessons from William Wilberforce

And what flowed from this? “Christianity without distinction,” Wilberforce wrote, “professes an equal regard for all human beings.” Abolition, public health initiatives, educational and prison reforms, working for better conditions in factories—all these and many more good works sprang from Wilberforce’s commitment to the golden rule.

A Spectacle More Glorious

Wilberforce Central

Amazing Movie

The Philanthropist

Who Was William Wilberforce?

How William Wilberforce Changed the World

William Wilberforce and His Circle of Friends

William Wilberforce Biography

Steadfast Companions: The Story of the Clapham Circle

More Links on Poverty and Development

Here are a few more links on articles related to this blog’s interest in poverty and development.

How to Help the Poor Without Hurting Them…and Ourselves

Justice and Poverty

The Goal of Christian Mission

Different Views of the Poor

The Poor and Oppressed in the Psalms and Wisdom Literature

Turmoil in markets: not an excuse to pull back on aid promises to the poor

Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Wisdom

The Multi-Dimensional Causes of Poverty

Deep Justice

Just Worship

Best of Deep Justice

Lausanne Documents

Here are links to some Lausanne Documents on subjects relevant to this blog.

I have found the Lausanne documents to be very helpful in filling in some of the weakness I find in the Reformed Theology I believe. I think the Westminster Confession of Faith and the other classic documents of the reformed faith very well cover the basics of the faith but where I find them weak is in the area of missions, cultural engagemant, and social justice. To be fair these issues were not core issues in their day. So to fill in the gaps I have found great insight in the Lausanne documents. (I am just a lay person and have no formal theological training-I just find these helpful to me and my understanding)

Christian Witness to People of African Traditional Religions

Evangelism and Social Responsibility: An Evangelical Commitment

Christian Witness to the Urban Poor

An Evangelical Commitment to Simple Life-style

World Vision Webpage: Facing Tough Times With Faith and Confidence

World Vision has a new webpage, Facing Tough Times with Faith and Confidence.

It has some encouragement for us in the light of the economic downturn but we must also not let our  tough times keep us from the realization that for billions of the world’s people tough times are all the time. It is a time to give and to advocate like  we have never done so before.

Two Christmas Hymns

Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art:
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child, and yet a king,
born to reign in us for ever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal Spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all-sufficient merit
raise us to thy glorious throne.

Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

The Christmas Story

Today is Christmas Day and with all the hustle and bustle and with even more importantly with all the pain and suffering, with all the violence and heart-ache, with all the poverty and sickness and disease, let us not forget that on a day 2000 years ago god Himself came and dwelt amongst us. He came not as a rich and powerful king, but as the son of a poor family far from their home and family, under the rule of a harsh oppressor.  In many ways they were like the internally displaced people today in so many places. But this child Jesus, God With Us, did not remain a child. He grew up and led the only sinless life, he died a horrible death from torture, but He rose again. On the cross he paid the penalty for our sins and gave all who trust in Him eternal life. Today let us take  some time to reflect on the greatest gift ever given us. Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.

(1) In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
(2) This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
(3) And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
(4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
(5) to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
(6) And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
(7) And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
(8) And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
(9) And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
(10) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
(11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
(12) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
(13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
(14) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
(15) When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
(16) And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
(17) And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
(18) And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
(19) But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
(20) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2.1-20 ESV

Jubilee Centre on Human Rights

As part of their reflection on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights  two short blog posts were published.

Are Human Rights Really Universal?

Human Rights a Christian Conception?

Some good questions to ponder.

Historical Book: The Congo for Christ: The Story of the Congo Mission

The Congo for Christ: The Story of the Congo Mission is a PDF scan of a book written around the turn of the century about the Baptist Mission Society in the Congo.

Some publication info is available here.