Dear Presbyterian Brothers and Sisters,
God sends the Church to work
for justice in the world: exercising its power for the common good; dealing
honestly in personal and public spheres; seeking dignity and freedom for all
people; welcoming strangers in the land; promoting justice and fairness in the
law; overcoming disparities between rich and poor; bearing witness against
systems of violence and oppression; and redressing wrongs against individuals,
groups, and peoples. God also sends the Church to seek peace: in the Church
universal, within denominations, and at the congregational level; in the world,
where nations and religious or ethnic groups make war against one another; and
in local communities, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and homes. These acts
of peacemaking and justice are established upon God’s gracious act of
reconciliation with us in Jesus Christ, and are a way of participating in
Christ’s priestly intercession or advocacy for the world (Directory
for Worship W-5.0304).
These
beautiful words are copied from our new Directory for Worship which we recently
approved. After the last General Assembly when I was studying and discussing
this proposed new Directory for Worship, I remember appreciating these words.
In discussing the proposed new Directory of Worship, I remember highlighting
this glorious language about God sending the Church to do the work of justice.
Isn’t it beautiful that this proclamation is part of our understanding of
worship! Amen and Amen!
In
recent days, this beautiful language and this high calling to work for justice
have flooded my heart and mind with a new urgency. And I wonder today, given
how fragile and meek we Presbyterians have become in the public sphere, whether
we can truly claim this calling. Can we work for justice? Can we exercise power
for the common good? Can we bear witness against systems of violence and
oppression?
Today
is the day for this witness. There have been recent, active expressions of Klu
Klux Klan activity within the bounds of our Presbytery. They have gathered
outside Churches to insult and intimidate Church people as they leave worship
services. They smeared the windshields in church parking lots with their
messages of hate. Maybe we want to duck our head, and sigh with relief, that it
happened at a Church down the street, not my Church. Maybe we want to close our
eyes grateful that it happened in a town on the other side of our Presbytery,
not my town.
God
sends the Church to work for justice in the world.
Every time that evil thoughts,
and evil people and evil groups crawl out of their dark places where they
typically stay hidden and make an appearance in the light of day, the Church
must respond. Of course, we know this has happened in every era and in every
generation. Now it is happening in ours.
Please organize a
vigil, stand in the streets, invite every church and all your friends, light
candles, read Scripture, sing hymns, say prayers and claim the calling to work
for justice. At the vigil organized and gathered on the square in Chambersburg
in front of our Central Presbyterian Church, our colleague Pastor Scott
Bowerman said it well, “The darkness is not strong enough to put out even one
candle.”
Now is the time for the
Church to shine the light of Christ into the darkness of this world.
In the name of Jesus!
