June 3, 2007
Background Scripture: Amos 5:10-15, 21-24; 8:4-12; 2 Kings 13:23-25

Devotional Reading: Psalms 82

If we were to read somewhere in another page in this newspaper that a local pastor was asked to leave his congregation because of “charges of immoral behavior,” what might you assume was his offense? Sexual immorality? Drug addiction or alcoholism? Physically abusive behavior? Indifference or hostility to the poor?

Most people would probably vote for “sexual immorality.” A few might choose either the second or third, but no one would be likely to vote for “indifference or hostility to the poor.”

Why? Because none of us, I am certain, have ever known of a pastor whose indifference or hostility to the poor has brought dismissal or even censure. Furthermore, many Christians do not see “indifference or hostility to the poor” as either immoral in general or a violation of Christian teachings in particular.

And, although I have focused the above question on Christian pastors, it is equally relevant for all Christians, lay and clergy alike.

Scriptural references

Not for one moment would I suggest that sexual immorality, substance abuse and physical violence are not important to Christian morality, but am I in error in concluding that, as portrayed today, Christian concern is preeminently about sexuality?
Yet if we were equate the sheer number of scriptural references regarding attitudes and actions toward the poor and helpless, especially the prophets and the gospels, they would far outnumber almost all other moral concerns.

So why is it that so many of us express moral outrage at matters sexual, and so few regarding the poor, the powerless and the victims of injustice?

Amos proclaims: “Therefore you who trample upon the poor … you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine ...” (5:11,12) and “Hear this you who trample upon the needy, and bring the poor of the land to an end, saying ‘When will the new moon be over … that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals …’” (8:4,6).

Note: Amos, as well as the other prophets, did not distinguish between the “worthy poor” and the “unworthy poor.” Neither did Jesus (Matt. 25:31-46).

Amos did not blame the poor for their plight. He did not say that they deserved their poverty. Neither did Jesus.

What God hates

The people were shocked and outraged. Didn’t they live as respectable servants of God, faithfully holding ritual feasts, singing spiritual songs and praising Him with the music of many harps?

But that wasn’t what God really wanted of them: “I hate. I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.” He will reject their various offerings and “Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melodies of your harps I will not listen.”
So what does God want? “… let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (5:21-24).

Otherwise: “on that day … I will make the sun go down at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight. I will turn your feasts into mourning, and your songs into lamentation …” (8:9.10). Obviously, he means Israel, but might he also mean us?

M. Douglas Meeks says that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, saw “not simply service of the poor, but more importantly, life with the poor” as “an essential means of grace necessary to the continuance of faith.” Response to the poor is not an elective.

Archibald Rutledge has written about a black preacher’s widow who was always involved in ministering to the poor. He was so impressed that he built her an immaculate and fully-furnished little home in his own backyard. But he was shocked when, upon moving in, she invited the most disreputable woman in the county.

“How could you invite that creature into your pretty new home?” he demanded.

The widow softly replied, “Jesus would.”

When it came to the poor and disreputable, there is no question as to what Jesus did and would do again. The only question is, what would we have done, or will we do?

This farm news was published in the June 2, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.