Let Justice Roll Down

LET JUSTICE ROLL DOWN

Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5:24

During this past year’s general election, the topic of God and Government came up for discussion, as it always does when elections are upon us. I noticed especially that the younger folks were troubled by the mixing of the two kingdoms––Church (religion) and State (government). The questions from these young people drove me to thinking. Was their reaction against the involvement of the Church in the Moral Majority, the Republican Party and in issues of elections, appointment of judges and legislation justified?

As I mused on these things, I came to two conclusions. First, the Evangelical Church’s unqualified support of the Republican Party was neither wise nor always justifiable. The Church of Christ is above party politics, for it represents the Kingdom of God––something larger than life, greater than self and lasting forever. Much of politics is both partisan and prejudiced, representing the coalition of strange bedfellows to foster personal (and selfish) agendas. This is true of both Republican and Democratic politics. The Church loses its prophetic voice when it is co-opted by any political party.

Second, it is truly impossible for God and politics not to interface. Both Church and State were ordained by God as His servants in pursuit of what is good (Romans 13:1-6). Both have the same goal in mind, from two complementary perspectives: temporal and eternal (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Both, by necessity, deal in the realm of morality: Law and ethics for the State, and Theology and religion for the Church. Hence, both are rightly concerned about marriages, homosexuality, life in the womb, poverty, racism, war, free speech and the like. God in politics is just as necessary as the State in morality.

Amos reminds us of this. In our passage for today (Amos 5:18-24), the prophet warns us not to be in a hurry for the Day of the Lord. This expression, found also in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Zechariah and Malachi, refers to God’s day of recompense and judgment––a prefiguring of the second coming of Christ and His final judgment (Revelation 20:11-14).

Amos has a simple message: “Do not attempt to please God with religion alone. Your faith has a place in the public square. Justice and righteousness have a way of both transforming the church and correcting the State. God will be heard in the public square. Church and State are His right hand and left hand. God in politics is a reality of the Kingdom of God.”

John Perkins of Mississippi is a Christian leader, a civil rights advocate and the founder of Voice of Calvary Ministries. His biography, depicting the squalor, prejudice, violence, pain and shame of a black man’s life in the rural South in the 1940s and 1950s, is titled Let Justice Roll Down. When I was a pastor in Jackson, Mississippi, I came to know and respect John Perkins. I once spoke with him about the challenge of racism and the Christian Church. I’ll never forget what he told me. He said, “Go read Amos 5:24. Here’s what you’ll find. ‘Justice’ is the Hebrew word mishpat. It has to do with doin’ right in public things. ‘Righteousness’ is the Hebrew word tsedaqah. It has to do with doin’ what’s right in personal things. You can’t be personally for God and publically for the world. You can’t be privately a Christian but publically a Republican. You can’t be half a man, and you don’t look to me like half a preacher. Go be all God called you to be. Let justice roll down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Go and do what the Gospel freed us to do…all of it!”

You know, I never knew if John Perkins was a Democrat or a Republican. He never talked about the elections. But John was used by God in both Church and State. He understood the prophets. He was one…is one to this day, and I have been both challenged and privileged to know him. He taught me that God in politics is really not the issue. The real issue is how we live for God in the affairs of men and work for what the Gospel brings. Please read Psalm 85:8-13.

PRAYING FOR THE PCA

CEP: Pray for the development of a system of training that will allow us to offer live two-way training through the Internet. This will allow us to help small and large churches alike and keep the costs low. While it is not as personal as being there, it will allow us to be in many places at one time.

CC: Pray for the extension of our BUILD capital campaign. Pray that God will send thosewho have the heart and the ability to partner with us in this endeavor. Pray that all the gifts and talents to support the campaign will be provided.

MNA: Pray that the economic challenges facing the people of North America will bring revival in His Church. Pray that the PCA will find new ways to reach out to people in our communities who are hurting in ways not experienced in more comfortable days.

PCAF: Pray for the PCA Foundation’s grant recipients, that more people will be moved to support them with prayer, their time and their financial resources.

RH: Please pray for the outpouring of God’s Spirit on the unique “Brave Heart” camp for children who have lost a parent, sibling or close friend. Pray that the God of all comfort will comfort these grieving children, give them hope for eternity and courage to pursue life in the Lord Jesus Christ.