Post Christmas Prayer

Long after the angels disappear into the heavens, the shepherds return to their flocks, the magi journey home and the great star sets, Jesus remains.

The Child in whom we rediscover God’s great love for humanity becomes the adult Redeemer who challenges us to imitate his selflessness and compassion in order that we might transform our world in love…

May we allow the miracle of Christmas to continue long after the holiday trappings have been packed away;

May we welcome the adult Messiah and his challenging Gospel to recreate our lives, making the peace, justice and hope of this holy season a reality in every season of the new year.

~ Post-Christmas Prayer: CONNECTIONS, Jan.1, ‘95

Meaning...

I do not see how it would be possible to find a meaningful life in a meaningless universe. The only purpose that is worthy of life is something bigger than life itself. It is more than maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain for a few years on earth. The only purpose worthy of life is to be part of a grander vision – the redemption of creation, the pursuit of justice, becoming a saint. ~ John Ortberg

Don't Hide Your Faith

Do not hide your faith and your beliefs under a bushel basket, especially in this world that seems to have gone mad with political correctness. ~ Justice Clarence Thomas

Sweet Justice...

Justice is so sweet when it puts others in their place, yet so frightening when it does the same with us.

~ Chris Tiegreen

Post Christmas Prayer

Long after the angels disappear into the heavens, the shepherds return to their flocks, the magi journey home and the great star sets, Jesus remains.

The Child in whom we rediscover God’s great love for humanity becomes the adult Redeemer who challenges us to imitate his selflessness and compassion in order that we might transform our world in love…

May we allow the miracle of Christmas to continue long after the holiday trappings have been packed away;

May we welcome the adult Messiah and his challenging Gospel to recreate our lives, making the peace, justice and hope of this holy season a reality in every season of the new year.

~ Post-Christmas Prayer: CONNECTIONS, Jan.1, ‘95

Social Justice...Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Humanistic and/or atheistic groups can do works of social justice and can even move toward the margins with compassion. Government agencies can implement programs and systems to aid those on the margins.Their motivation will not be a transcendent reality but it is noble work. We applaud any work that alleviates suffering but let's be clear. Without a solid proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, any work in the areas of social justice and ministry in the margins is NOT fulfilling the call of the Church.

We hurt for the things Jesus hurts for and it is clear from Scripture that Jesus touched the untouchable, was present with the despised, and entered the hell of people's lives to bring resurrection. Our encounter with Jesus will move us with compassion to the broken people in our world. It will move us toward a righteousness that desires to seek justice. Yet, it is the outcome of the primary encounter of Jesus Christ, the salvation of our souls.

~ John Comstock

The Church Is...

The Church is not a court of law, equipped to dole out condemnation and administer punitive justice. The courthouse is suited for such things as these.

The Church is filled with former prisoners, dead in sin, that have become slaves chained to Jesus Christ.

The Church is a hospital where the dead come to life. The Church speaks with a moral conscious, grounded in the Person of Jesus Christ, uncompromisingly and unapologetically living as channels of free flowing love and grace.

~ John Comstock

Upside Down World

In an upside down world, it is always good to follow Jesus. In this fallen world, He was scandalous but for all the right reasons. The scandal of grace turns an upside-down world right-side up in God's economy. May we never stop speaking of the public scandal that took place on the cross. It is the one holy scandal that brings restorative justice to the perpetrators of all scandals that are grounded in sin. ~ John Comstock

Mercy & Justice,

"Mercy and justice, grace and discipline belong together." 
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Restorative Justice

Passion for Justice and Mercy

How do I live out a passion for justice and mercy in ways that actually make things better for people over time? ~ Jedd Medefind

Right Relationship

Justice infers a right relationship between human beings. There has to be mercy... love... caring for one another. ~ Sean Litton

True Stewardship

Social justice is not a tip off the excess... It is a true stewardship of the resources that God has entrusted us with. ~Dan Boone

Integral to Social Justice - Family

The family is an integral part of social justice because it's the starting point of social justice. ~ Rudy Carrasco

Justice Is More than Law

Justice is more than just the law. It's more than just the enforcement of the law. ...Justice infers a right relationship between human beings. There has to be mercy... love... caring for one another. ~ Sean Litton

Turn It into Testimony

"Don't bear trouble, use it. Take whatever happens - justice and injustice, pleasure and pain, compliment and criticism - take it up into the purpose of your life and make something out of it. Turn it into testimony." ~ E. Stanley Jones

Do You Recognize Him?

"The incarnation is the irruption of God into human history: an incarnation into littleness and service in the midst of overbearing power exercised by the mighty of this world; an irruption that smells of the stable. The Son of God was born into a little people, a nation of little importance by comparison with the powers of the time. He took flesh among the poor in a marginal area—namely, Galilee; he lived with the poor and emerged from among them to inaugurate a kingdom of love and justice. That is why many have trouble recognizing him." ~ Gustavo Gutierrez 

...to Save us from Ourselves...

"Lord, teach us to understand that your Son died to save us not from suffering but from ourselves, not from injustices, far less from justice, but from being unjust. He died that we might live—but live as he lives, by dying as he died who died to himself." ~ George MacDonald

What Are You Searching For?

“Why do so many today want to wander off to South Africa or Kenya or India or Russia or Honduras or Costa Rica or Peru to help with justice issues but not spend the same effort in their own neighborhood or community or state? Why do young suburbanites, say in Chicago, want to go to Kentucky or Tennessee to help people but not want to spend that same time to go to the inner city in their own area to help with justice issues? I asked this question to a mature student in my office one day, and he thought he had a partial explanation: 'Because my generation is searching for experiences, and the more exotic and extreme the better. Going down the street to help at a food shelter is good and it is just and some of us are doing that, but it's not an experience. We want experiences.” ~ Scot McKnight

True Preaching

"Whatever else the true preaching of the word would need to include, it at least would have to be a word that speaks from the perspective of those who have been crushed and marginalized in our society. It would need to be a word of solidarity, healing and love in situations of brokenness and despair and a disturbing and troubling word of justice to those who wish to protect their privilege by exclusion." ~ Letty M. Russell