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What Do You Get When You Cross Micah 6 with John 3:16?

by Chuck Gutenson 11-11-2009 | 5:00pm
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091110-0425-justice-revivalWell, you get progressive evangelicals -- a people who unite those two things too long separated: the invitation to become followers of Jesus and the call to join the struggle for the creation of just societies. What is it that progressive evangelicals do? Well, this week a bunch of them are gathered together in Dallas to call the city together under the aegis of Justice Revival. A revival that calls folks first to become followers -- no, not just followers -- but disciples of Jesus, and then does not stop there but goes on to invite them to become disciples who embody Jesus' concern for the poor and marginalized.

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How many of you have experienced the disappointment of finding that those who are most concerned about creating just societies are so often inattentive to inviting folks into relationship with Jesus? Or, on the other hand, experienced the frustration of seeing those who put such a strong emphasis on evangelism that they forget the biblical emphasis upon issues of justice? Well, if you have, then Justice Revival is for you -- whether you are in Dallas this week or not. Join with us, wherever you are, and make this a week of Justice Revival for you by praying for your kindred spirits, Christian brothers and sisters, in Dallas. Then, consider how you can, this week, unite the invitation to become followers of Jesus with the call to become involved in social justice concerns. Partner with us, and let the spirit of Justice Revival take root where you are, and let us do what we progressive evangelicals do best: recognize that participation in the struggle for social justice is not something one adds to being a Christian, but rather that it is at the center of what it means to follow the Crucified One!

Chuck Gutenson is the chief operating officer for Sojourners.

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by: ckgmail

11-11-2009 @ 7:25pm

Thanks to Sojourners for sponsoring this event. Evangelism minus Justice equals an incomplete faith.
Charles Kiker
Charter/Founding Member
lFriends of Justice

by: MacArthur4

11-11-2009 @ 7:36pm

Evangelism minus Justice equals an incomplete faith.

Don't you mean minus your kind of justice ? Perhaps you could lead us in the Prayer of unity , my way or the highway ?

Perhaps we need to stick with the Justice Christ makes up for. If we received justice , we would not like it . Some of us may be and not yet ready for "your" political insight.

by: Jeffrey_Warren

11-11-2009 @ 8:08pm

Your justice is the western, forensic kind: handing out punishment for guilt. That's not what Chuck means, nor is it what is conveyed by tsedakah. It would be good for you to investigate the range of expression that this word from the OT text carries.

by: ckgmail

11-11-2009 @ 7:25pm

Thanks to Sojourners for sponsoring this event. Evangelism minus Justice equals an incomplete faith.
Charles Kiker
Charter/Founding Member
lFriends of Justice

by: MacArthur4

11-11-2009 @ 7:36pm

Evangelism minus Justice equals an incomplete faith.

Don't you mean minus your kind of justice ? Perhaps you could lead us in the Prayer of unity , my way or the highway ?

Perhaps we need to stick with the Justice Christ makes up for. If we received justice , we would not like it . Some of us may be and not yet ready for "your" political insight.

by: Jeffrey_Warren

11-11-2009 @ 8:08pm

Your justice is the western, forensic kind: handing out punishment for guilt. That's not what Chuck means, nor is it what is conveyed by tsedakah. It would be good for you to investigate the range of expression that this word from the OT text carries.

by: Liadan

11-11-2009 @ 9:29pm

Actually, that sounds interesting. How would I go about investigating "justice," "tsedakah"? I'm not sure how to start.

I always wonder why some Christians are so interested in punishing others that in loving them?

by: Liadan

11-11-2009 @ 9:29pm

Actually, that sounds interesting. How would I go about investigating "justice," "tsedakah"? I'm not sure how to start.

I always wonder why some Christians are so interested in punishing others that in loving them?

by: ckgmail

11-12-2009 @ 1:37am

What is "my" political insight to which you refer. I am certainly not talking about retributive justice here, but the OT justice which is to make things right, to straighten crooked paths, or what is currently sometimes referred to as restorative justice. "Now what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justice (tsedekah) and to love mercy (chesedh) and to walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:8

by: ckgmail

11-12-2009 @ 1:37am

What is "my" political insight to which you refer. I am certainly not talking about retributive justice here, but the OT justice which is to make things right, to straighten crooked paths, or what is currently sometimes referred to as restorative justice. "Now what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justice (tsedekah) and to love mercy (chesedh) and to walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:8

by: BlueDeacon

11-12-2009 @ 1:53pm

That happens when religion is used as a cultural touchstone and becomes "establishment." Jesus, on the other hand, calls us to do things differently (and the root for "holy" means "different").

by: BlueDeacon

11-12-2009 @ 1:53pm

That happens when religion is used as a cultural touchstone and becomes "establishment." Jesus, on the other hand, calls us to do things differently (and the root for "holy" means "different").

by: ElrondPA

11-12-2009 @ 6:24pm

What makes some people instinctively recoil from "creating just societies" language is that too often, that seems to be code for "I'm going to take money from someone who has worked hard and intelligently and give it to someone else who has less, whether they've worked hard or not." Fair? Not always, but it happens often enough that suspicion naturally builds.

Only about half of American adults pay ANY federal income tax. Is it just for people to control a budget that they have no responsibility to provide for, to impose taxes that don't affect them? It's easy to spend other people's money...

by: ElrondPA

11-12-2009 @ 6:24pm

What makes some people instinctively recoil from "creating just societies" language is that too often, that seems to be code for "I'm going to take money from someone who has worked hard and intelligently and give it to someone else who has less, whether they've worked hard or not." Fair? Not always, but it happens often enough that suspicion naturally builds.

Only about half of American adults pay ANY federal income tax. Is it just for people to control a budget that they have no responsibility to provide for, to impose taxes that don't affect them? It's easy to spend other people's money...

by: abasch

11-12-2009 @ 7:16pm

I usually don't through "bible darts" but this is some pretty strong, convincing, and exciting stuff:

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? (NIV)

Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke? (NASB)

by: abasch

11-12-2009 @ 7:16pm

I usually don't through "bible darts" but this is some pretty strong, convincing, and exciting stuff:

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? (NIV)

Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke? (NASB)

by: TedVothJr

11-12-2009 @ 10:39pm

Hebrew 'tsedakah,' better çedaqah, Greek dikaiosynê, Latin justitia, gave Luther fits, because he realized he could never on his own be just before God. I'm sure you'd agree, MacArthur4, God does indeed say 'It's My Way or the highway'.

Then Luther came to understand the truth of 2nd Corinthians 5:21 'For he has made him sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' çedaqah, dikaiosynê, means 'justice, righteousness'.

In God's eyes, to say 'crossing Micah 6 with John 3.16' is divine silliness, because they're different ways of saying the same thing: if the righteousness, dikaiosynê, of God has truly been made over to your account, you WILL behave with justice, dikaiosynê, or you will be a crabbed, miserable, bitter, angry, frightened, unhappy, unfruitful, petty-minded, ungrateful little Christian.

And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control.

by: kathrynwiley

11-16-2009 @ 3:02pm

Love it! Thanks for reminding us that Christianity isn't just about us and our own agendas. And you are so right: it is at the center of following the Crucified One!

by: TedVothJr

11-12-2009 @ 10:39pm

Hebrew 'tsedakah,' better çedaqah, Greek dikaiosynê, Latin justitia, gave Luther fits, because he realized he could never on his own be just before God. I'm sure you'd agree, MacArthur4, God does indeed say 'It's My Way or the highway'.

Then Luther came to understand the truth of 2nd Corinthians 5:21 'For he has made him sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' çedaqah, dikaiosynê, means 'justice, righteousness'.

In God's eyes, to say 'crossing Micah 6 with John 3.16' is divine silliness, because they're different ways of saying the same thing: if the righteousness, dikaiosynê, of God has truly been made over to your account, you WILL behave with justice, dikaiosynê, or you will be a crabbed, miserable, bitter, angry, frightened, unhappy, unfruitful, petty-minded, ungrateful little Christian.

And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control.

by: uberVU - social comments

11-14-2009 @ 11:48pm

Social comments and analytics for this post...

This post was mentioned on Twitter by jeffpartain: What Do You Get When You Cross Micah 6 w/John 3:16? - http://bit.ly/1EAIvm...

by: kathrynwiley

11-16-2009 @ 1:02pm

Love it! Thanks for reminding us that Christianity isn't just about us and our own agendas. And you are so right: it is at the center of following the Crucified One!

by: kathrynwiley

11-16-2009 @ 1:02pm

Love it! Thanks for reminding us that Christianity isn't just about us and our own agendas. And you are so right: it is at the center of following the Crucified One!

by: kathrynwiley

11-16-2009 @ 3:02pm

Love it! Thanks for reminding us that Christianity isn't just about us and our own agendas. And you are so right: it is at the center of following the Crucified One!

Comments sorted by highest rated. After voting you must refresh your page to see the sort order change.

by: ckgmail

11-11-2009 @ 7:25pm

Thanks to Sojourners for sponsoring this event. Evangelism minus Justice equals an incomplete faith.
Charles Kiker
Charter/Founding Member
lFriends of Justice

by: ckgmail

11-11-2009 @ 7:25pm

Thanks to Sojourners for sponsoring this event. Evangelism minus Justice equals an incomplete faith.
Charles Kiker
Charter/Founding Member
lFriends of Justice

by: MacArthur4

11-11-2009 @ 7:36pm

Evangelism minus Justice equals an incomplete faith.

Don't you mean minus your kind of justice ? Perhaps you could lead us in the Prayer of unity , my way or the highway ?

Perhaps we need to stick with the Justice Christ makes up for. If we received justice , we would not like it . Some of us may be and not yet ready for "your" political insight.

by: MacArthur4

11-11-2009 @ 7:36pm

Evangelism minus Justice equals an incomplete faith.

Don't you mean minus your kind of justice ? Perhaps you could lead us in the Prayer of unity , my way or the highway ?

Perhaps we need to stick with the Justice Christ makes up for. If we received justice , we would not like it . Some of us may be and not yet ready for "your" political insight.

by: Jeffrey_Warren

11-11-2009 @ 8:08pm

Your justice is the western, forensic kind: handing out punishment for guilt. That's not what Chuck means, nor is it what is conveyed by tsedakah. It would be good for you to investigate the range of expression that this word from the OT text carries.

by: Jeffrey_Warren

11-11-2009 @ 8:08pm

Your justice is the western, forensic kind: handing out punishment for guilt. That's not what Chuck means, nor is it what is conveyed by tsedakah. It would be good for you to investigate the range of expression that this word from the OT text carries.

by: Liadan

11-11-2009 @ 9:29pm

Actually, that sounds interesting. How would I go about investigating "justice," "tsedakah"? I'm not sure how to start.

I always wonder why some Christians are so interested in punishing others that in loving them?

by: Liadan

11-11-2009 @ 9:29pm

Actually, that sounds interesting. How would I go about investigating "justice," "tsedakah"? I'm not sure how to start.

I always wonder why some Christians are so interested in punishing others that in loving them?

by: ckgmail

11-12-2009 @ 1:37am

What is "my" political insight to which you refer. I am certainly not talking about retributive justice here, but the OT justice which is to make things right, to straighten crooked paths, or what is currently sometimes referred to as restorative justice. "Now what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justice (tsedekah) and to love mercy (chesedh) and to walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:8

by: ckgmail

11-12-2009 @ 1:37am

What is "my" political insight to which you refer. I am certainly not talking about retributive justice here, but the OT justice which is to make things right, to straighten crooked paths, or what is currently sometimes referred to as restorative justice. "Now what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justice (tsedekah) and to love mercy (chesedh) and to walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:8

by: BlueDeacon

11-12-2009 @ 1:53pm

That happens when religion is used as a cultural touchstone and becomes "establishment." Jesus, on the other hand, calls us to do things differently (and the root for "holy" means "different").

by: BlueDeacon

11-12-2009 @ 1:53pm

That happens when religion is used as a cultural touchstone and becomes "establishment." Jesus, on the other hand, calls us to do things differently (and the root for "holy" means "different").

by: ElrondPA

11-12-2009 @ 6:24pm

What makes some people instinctively recoil from "creating just societies" language is that too often, that seems to be code for "I'm going to take money from someone who has worked hard and intelligently and give it to someone else who has less, whether they've worked hard or not." Fair? Not always, but it happens often enough that suspicion naturally builds.

Only about half of American adults pay ANY federal income tax. Is it just for people to control a budget that they have no responsibility to provide for, to impose taxes that don't affect them? It's easy to spend other people's money...

by: ElrondPA

11-12-2009 @ 6:24pm

What makes some people instinctively recoil from "creating just societies" language is that too often, that seems to be code for "I'm going to take money from someone who has worked hard and intelligently and give it to someone else who has less, whether they've worked hard or not." Fair? Not always, but it happens often enough that suspicion naturally builds.

Only about half of American adults pay ANY federal income tax. Is it just for people to control a budget that they have no responsibility to provide for, to impose taxes that don't affect them? It's easy to spend other people's money...

by: abasch

11-12-2009 @ 7:16pm

I usually don't through "bible darts" but this is some pretty strong, convincing, and exciting stuff:

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? (NIV)

Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke? (NASB)

by: abasch

11-12-2009 @ 7:16pm

I usually don't through "bible darts" but this is some pretty strong, convincing, and exciting stuff:

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? (NIV)

Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke? (NASB)

by: TedVothJr

11-12-2009 @ 10:39pm

Hebrew 'tsedakah,' better çedaqah, Greek dikaiosynê, Latin justitia, gave Luther fits, because he realized he could never on his own be just before God. I'm sure you'd agree, MacArthur4, God does indeed say 'It's My Way or the highway'.

Then Luther came to understand the truth of 2nd Corinthians 5:21 'For he has made him sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' çedaqah, dikaiosynê, means 'justice, righteousness'.

In God's eyes, to say 'crossing Micah 6 with John 3.16' is divine silliness, because they're different ways of saying the same thing: if the righteousness, dikaiosynê, of God has truly been made over to your account, you WILL behave with justice, dikaiosynê, or you will be a crabbed, miserable, bitter, angry, frightened, unhappy, unfruitful, petty-minded, ungrateful little Christian.

And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control.

by: TedVothJr

11-12-2009 @ 10:39pm

Hebrew 'tsedakah,' better çedaqah, Greek dikaiosynê, Latin justitia, gave Luther fits, because he realized he could never on his own be just before God. I'm sure you'd agree, MacArthur4, God does indeed say 'It's My Way or the highway'.

Then Luther came to understand the truth of 2nd Corinthians 5:21 'For he has made him sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' çedaqah, dikaiosynê, means 'justice, righteousness'.

In God's eyes, to say 'crossing Micah 6 with John 3.16' is divine silliness, because they're different ways of saying the same thing: if the righteousness, dikaiosynê, of God has truly been made over to your account, you WILL behave with justice, dikaiosynê, or you will be a crabbed, miserable, bitter, angry, frightened, unhappy, unfruitful, petty-minded, ungrateful little Christian.

And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control.

by: uberVU - social comments

11-14-2009 @ 11:48pm

Social comments and analytics for this post...

This post was mentioned on Twitter by jeffpartain: What Do You Get When You Cross Micah 6 w/John 3:16? - http://bit.ly/1EAIvm...

by: kathrynwiley

11-16-2009 @ 1:02pm

Love it! Thanks for reminding us that Christianity isn't just about us and our own agendas. And you are so right: it is at the center of following the Crucified One!

by: kathrynwiley

11-16-2009 @ 1:02pm

Love it! Thanks for reminding us that Christianity isn't just about us and our own agendas. And you are so right: it is at the center of following the Crucified One!

by: kathrynwiley

11-16-2009 @ 3:02pm

Love it! Thanks for reminding us that Christianity isn't just about us and our own agendas. And you are so right: it is at the center of following the Crucified One!

by: kathrynwiley

11-16-2009 @ 3:02pm

Love it! Thanks for reminding us that Christianity isn't just about us and our own agendas. And you are so right: it is at the center of following the Crucified One!