The worship service was led by the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu. Rev. Chun was a dynamic preacher - his message focused on humility. I am always amazed how the Spirit speaks; as I was reviewing the rolled up budget numbers earlier to be presented at the final business session, I had jotted down thoughts to express as we are challenged to fund the new mission initiatives approved during the week. Those thoughts were of our need for humbleness if we, the PCUSA, are to be seen as Christ's church attracting people to worship and serve Christ with and through the PCUSA.
Following worship we moved into our final business session. On behalf of the Mission Coordination and Budgets Committee, I presented the new budget with significant new funding planned for mission work. It was approved on voice vote. The "script" provide to me recognized that the General AssemblyMission Council may make "necessary adjustments" to the approved mission budget if giving is insufficient to cover planned mission activities. Concern for a shortfall is apparent and, as we say many times within our own congregations at budget time, we need faith to succeed.
I was invited to share my personal view of our challenge with the assembly. It goes as this:
We have too much fear and too little faith. We fear that if we seek justice it will be more difficult to attract others to our church and to give. We fear that if we show kindness to all it will be more difficult to attract others to our church and to give. We must consider Micah 6:8 as one unified requirement - we must do and seek justice with humility and not with pride, self righteousness and arrogance; we must love and show kindness with humbleness yet with boldness not withdrawing timidly; and our humility will be known. Consider the Good Samaritan - he gave of himself and just did justice rather that telling those with power who passed by of their failures and demanding their action and the Good Samaritan was not timid, showing kindness, not only by helping directly, but also by being willing to be associated with the one in need as he maintained a relationship beyond immediate care. If we can overcome pride and arrogance in seeking justice and overcome timidity in loving and offering kindness, I believe that the PCUSA can see a new era with individuals drawn to this denomination as true to Jesus Christ and with old and new members committed to giving and tithing to advance the great ends of the church.
Blessings and Peace, Kears
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1 comment:
There is a problem with the word justice. It has many meanings. Two common meanings are:
"the use of authority and power to uphold what is right, just, or lawful" and "fairness, eqity". When one says they "seek justice", it is important to clarify which justice you are seeking.
The first definition is found in the Barmen Confession. It says that the role of the State is to maintain peace and adminsitor justice through the use of threats and force.
Your article, I believe, is not refering to this kind of justice. You are not seeking to use threats and force. You are talking about a different definition of justice. (Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.)
There are those, though, that are seeking to use threats and force to administor justice. They are also saying they are "seeking justice".
These are just my observations. I have no solution to how you differentiate the two different meanings and end goals of people using this phrase. Any suggestions?
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