"Let Justice Roll"
Sermon Presented October 29, 2006
Amos 5:21-24, Micah 6:8
In Barak Omama's new book The Audacity of Hope, he shared an incident that happened two years ago when he flew to Birmingham, Alabama to deliver a speech at the city's Civil Rights Institute. The institute is across the street from the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, where in 1963 four young girls were killed by a bomb planted by white supremacists. Before the senator from Illinois spoke, he went across the street to visit the church. There he saw the still-visible scar along the wall where the bomb went off, along with portraits of the four children who died. The clock at the back of the church was still frozen at 10:22 a.m.
After the tour, the pastor, deacons, and Obama held hands and prayed. Then Obama sat alone in a pew to gather his thoughts. These thoughts went through his mind: What must it have been like for those parents 40 years ago, knowing their daughters had been snatched away by violence? How could they endure the anguish unless they were certain that some purpose lay behind their children's murders, and that some meaning could be found in their immeasurable loss?
The parents of these slain children soon saw President Lyndon Johnson announce on national television that the time had come to overcome. They later saw Congress pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Friends and strangers must have assured them that their daughters didn't die in vain - that they awakened the conscience of a nation and helped liberate a people; that the bomb had burst a dam to let justice roll down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream. And yet, would even that knowledge have been enough to console their grief and keep them from eternal rage - unless they also believed that their child was now in a better place? Justice and faith in God can bring peace to our souls. (Time, October 29, p. 60 ff)
This morning we are continuing our conversation about Justice. It's what people all over the world are clamoring for and yet it is denied to many. I have chosen two scriptures from the Hebrew prophets for this morning. The first is Micah 6:8, which reads: "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream." The second is Amos 5:21-24, another message from God through a prophet: "I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream."
This isn't the message we usually hear preached in most Christian churches. Christian sermons usually focus on right beliefs concerning theological issues: sacrificial giving to support the church and its programs, regular worship attendance, and caring for our own. But God says to a people steeped in the rituals of worship, that he doesn't want their music and their offerings. Why? Because they are failing to do justice! They are neglecting the rights of others. They aren't leading righteous lives according to God's standards.
One of the greatest Christian advocates for justice for American slaves was John Woolman, a Quaker who kept a journal from 1720 - 1772 - a journal that was published after his death. Woolman, a tailor by trade, lived in colonial New Jersey where the affluence of the farmers and businessmen depended on slave labor. But Woolman received a revelation from God that slavery was an abomination and that Quakers should set their slaves free, and he devoted his life to sharing that message. (Keep in mind that this was before the colonies even became a nation!)
For two decades, Woolman traveled from town to town, farm to farm, meeting to meeting, speaking his truth until Quakers reached a consensus that they all had to free their slaves. Early in American history Quakers took a stand against slavery, primarily because of John Woolman, who was willing to hold the tension between what was - and what could be. But it's important to note that the entire Quaker community was also willing to hold that tension. They let the tension between reality and possibility move their hearts to justice, truth, and love. (Hidden Truth, by Parker Palmer: p. 181)
We sometimes think: "I see the needs, but what can one person do?" so we do nothing. "Let the politicians get their collective acts together and solve the problem. That's where the power lies." But did you ever see a politician who daily tests the winds of public opinion do anything about justice for a group or person needing justice unless his or her constituents were pushing hard from behind? It's difficult to act on unpopular or seemingly inconsequential issues or issues that don't serve our own self-interests, so we usually do nothing.
Owners of coal mines, drug companies, spinach farms and tobacco companies don't change their practices unless they are forced to do so by multi-million dollar law suits. Public opinion plus large cash settlements can work for justice for those needing justice. Why don't we speak and act for justice before deaths occur and rights of people are trampled upon for too long a time? Again, it's because we act in our own self interests, and one of these interests is our time.
The youth served by the Milwaukee Christian Center are ones who need justice. They are poor, with 50% Hispanic, 30% African American and 20% other races. When Roundy has mission projects there, we will see first hand the problems faced by minority children and youth in poverty. It's easier to seek justice for our own group - women ministers, homeowners threatened by a shopping center or power lines, tax issues, voting rights, or issues dealing with people in the military who have a loved one serving in Iraq. But we need to go to bat for those needing justice who can't do it by themselves - those who have no voice.
Tomorrow morning, there will be a large rally at Marquette for "Clergy against the Death Penalty." Now I doubt if any of those who attend will ever be faced with the death penalty, but we are rallying because we believe it is a religious issue that needs to be addressed. There are frequent peace rallies attended by those who believe that war is wrong from a religious and moral perspective. There are vigils when a child or youth is killed in the inner city, and some who live in the safety of the suburbs also take part because they care about the issue. It takes time to write to congressional representatives about the rights of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, ending the Iraq war, or support for the people of Darfur because even though we care about these issues, we don't make the effort to have our opinions heard. I receive daily e-mail messages from Sandy and Lamar Cope of the Baptist Peace Fellowship asking me to make contacts or attend meetings to learn more about issues, and I do nothing. We don't let justice roll down like a river when we do nothing.
Justice issues were prominent in the Journal Sentinel this past week. We saw headlines advocating justice for Frank Jude, justice for sexual minorities, justice for those on death row, justice for women who believe they are called by God to be Catholic priests, justice in Iraq, justice for voters, justice for Arabs and Muslims, and justice for prisoners being tortured. There are many issues out there, and we can all find something we can pursue with vigor.
Last Thursday I went to Madison with Sandy, and while Sandy, Paul and I were eating in the dining hall, Senator Herb Kohl was making the rounds. I was impressed with the way he spent time visiting with the students and listening to them. (I realize he had time because he doesn't have strong opposition.) However, when I had time to visit with him, I didn't mention any issue I was concerned about. Now how often do you get an opportunity to speak to a senator in person? Not often, and I blew it. I didn't take the opportunity to do what I could to make my voice heard. I plan to write to him today.
We here at Roundy pride ourselves on our worship. We delight in the amount of offerings we give to missions. Our Easter and Christmas Eve services are marvelous celebrations. And yet God says to us: "Unless you are concerned about justice for all people and then do something to make justice a reality, your life isn't pleasing to me and your acts of worship are in vain." How do we answer? We are trying, but we have a long way to go. Let's get involved with justice issues so that justice will roll! Let's get involved with people who need to be recipients of justice. God continues to call to us through ancient and modern prophets. Will we follow through with actions and not just good thoughts?
