This past Sunday, I drew attention to the Scripture’s teaching that in all moments of iniquity, transgression, and sin (Ex. 34:7), God is the aggrieved party. In other words, when righteousness is violated, God and his glory should be our goal in pursuing justice. Justice in the Christian community isn’t about equity of outcomes, but about returning to alignment with God’s character (righteousness). This means that some issues aren’t black and white. Let me illustrate with poverty in America. Postmodern Social Justice theory argues for equity of outcome, saying there shouldn’t be billionaires in the world, but that wealth should be limited and redistributed to the poor. We’re seeing this play out in cities like Seattle and New York with recently elected mayors. But if God is the aggrieved party, then we have to balance some biblical teaching. For example, Paul tells the Thessalonians that if a person doesn’t work, they don't eat (2 Thess. 3:10, Prov. 6:6-11). At the same time, God urges his people not to oppress the poor by taking advantage of them in the courts, charging them high interest, withholding the wages of day laborers, etc (Dt. 24). He also urges us toward generosity in feeding and clothing the poor in their time of need (James 2). Israel had cities designated as store houses where the poor could get food and opportunities for them to glean in the field for their daily bread (Dt. 14, 26). So, if God is the aggrieved party, both the sluggard and the oppressive rich have offended him with their actions, and both should return to his righteousness. Income redistribution isn’t justice because it isn’t modeled after God’s righteousness. 

This Sunday, as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we’ll consider what God is accomplishing through his own right hand, to restore righteousness by bringing justice. Join us as we celebrate the rule of Christ, the one who loves righteousness (Hebrews 1:9).

God’s people have struggled with his justice since the founding of our race (Cain, Gen. 4:13, 14). When we observe the injustice in the world (corruption in government, acts of violence, poverty, etc.), it’s easy to conclude that God isn’t paying attention. Psalm 13 opens with the question, How long O Lord? Isaiah challenges God’s people for concluding, My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God? (Is. 40:27). What is God’s justice and how does it function? It’s an important question, especially if we are to consider God’s command that we pursue justice (Micah 6:8).

Before we do justice, we must understand God’s righteousness. Justice is part of God’s righteousness. If he isn’t just, he isn’t good. If he doesn’t act consistently to his justness, then he isn’t righteous. If our lives are meant to align with God’s character (righteousness), then our pursuit of justice should align to his. This includes identifying vulnerable communities (poor, widows, orphans, and sojourners) as recipients of justice. Join us this Sunday as we consider the call for justice by considering the justice of God. Together we will worship the One whose throne is established for justice (Psalm 9:7, 8).

Yesterday, western cultures celebrated the life of St. Patrick. Catholics typically wear green and drink some good Irish Ale. Protestants in the British Isles typically wear orange as the continuation of their protest of Catholicism and to celebrate William of Orange, a protestant monarch. Whatever color you wore, and whether you got pinched or not, the short story of St. Patrick (unknown true name) is that he was born in a Roman province but was captured by the Irish at sixteen and made a slave for about six years. After escaping, he returned home and engaged in religious studies, becoming a priest and later a bishop in the Catholic Church in Britain. Then, after having a vision of the Irish, he felt called to return to his captors to bring them the gospel. He ministered among the Irish establishing churches, monasteries, and schools, while condemning the practice of slavery. According to tradition, he died on March 17, 461.

It’s a good story of how Christ can transform a person and a community. His famous quote is “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”

It’s a good example of what Christ has come to create. In a world of “survival of the fittest,” where power and strength are used for self, Christ establishes a community of righteousness. Here we are not talking about our justification (the declaration of righteousness before the court of God), but the harvest of righteousness from a people who align with God by the power of the Holy Spirit. This Sunday we’ll consider what it means to be a righteous community as we worship the One who has come to establish righteousness on the earth. Join us!

I ride motorcycles. Not news to our congregation, I know, but I practice motorcycle partiality. Let me explain. Motorcyclists have a signature wave that they give other motorcyclists. It’s a cool, left-handed move that signals, I recognize and respect you. We don’t give this recognition to scooter riders. Even though scooter riders take the same risks of a motorcyclist, wear the same safety gear, and take the same test, they do not receive the same respect. My older brother sold his motorcycle and rides a large scooter, for which I mock him repeatedly. Does that make me a scooterist? Probably.

Partiality is a consistent Biblical word for favoring someone over another. It’s an ancient sin of the human heart, hailing all the way back to the foundations of humanity. Every culture has its forms of partiality that are perpetuated within it. America, along with every known country, has issues of partiality that shape and define it. Join us this Sunday as we consider how Postmodern Critical Theory addresses partiality, while we worship the only One who is impartial!

It’s baseball season! Go Braves! I have a long history with the Braves, having moved to Atlanta in 1977. I remember attending the old Fulton County stadium, then Turner Field, and now Truist Park at the Battery. I had the privilege of watching Dale Murphy back in the day and meeting him in person. People say I look like John Smoltz. I was at the stadium when they honored Hank Aaron before his death in 2021. I’ve lived through their ups like 1995 and 2021 World Series championships, and their downs like their 1988 season where they lost 106 games (tickets were cheap). All this history gives me a perspective on the Braves. Avid fans talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the team, the coaching staff, who to blame for their failed seasons and who to credit for their successful ones. 

Life can be viewed like that of the Brave’s fan. We can assess the team as good or bad; we can attach blame to the owners and managers for their decisions; we can accuse the referee’s for their calls, etc. We each have a different view depending on our lived experience and every fan can have ideas about how to change the team, even recommending the batting line up for each game. Avid fans might even be heard saying, I wish they’d put me in charge because I’d get the team back on track. Everyone’s a critic!

This week we’re going to build on our understanding of Postmodern Critical Theory with their view of the world and ask if it conforms with Scripture. Together, we’ll worship the One who governs the world in righteousness.

Do you remember freshman orientation? You sat in a large room of scared classmates as people explained what your college experience would be like and what you should expect. You looked around the room, comparing yourself with others. You met your overly enthusiastic student advisor who built up the college experience. You met your faculty advisor who told you to see them whenever you needed anything (yeah right). Then you jumped into classes, and while you created some memories, you soon realized that you were oversold on the glory of college. 

Well, imagine you were a child during or immediately after World War 2. The western nations had survived WWI, the Great Depression, and now another world war with the horrors of the Holocaust. Would you start to question the wisdom of western culture? Would you start to question the stories that you were told about the glory of western culture, modernity (think Industrial Revolution)? Would you become cynical, even skeptical of western culture and look for alternatives? Well, some people did, and Critical Theory was born. Critical Theory is a way of looking at yourself, others, and the world that fundamentally rejects western culture and its values. It seeks to deconstruct western civilization and its meta narratives. It’s currently attempting to remake society! 

Join us Sunday as we consider this Theory and worship the only One whose story can create a beautiful community.

One of the challenges with the current social justice movement is that it’s not rooted in truth. Let me explain. In the middle of the last century (generally speaking) culture began moving away from the Enlightenment idea that something could be known through mankind’s reasoning ability. Trust in reason became an issue in the new postmodern construct. Reason leads to fact (reality, truth, objectivity).  Postmodernism is deeply distrusting of anything definitive. You’ve noticed this in the recent attempts to classify gender. How many genders are there? Someone following the Enlightenment model would say there are two genders while someone following Postmodern thought would say that gender is a construct and cannot be determined. 

Consider the ramifications of not having any type (Christian or secular) of foundational truth. How can a person know virtue without some type of foundation? As believers, we have a foundation. Scripture presents us a foundation of what justice and righteousness look like in a person who is knowable, God. Join us Sunday as we consider the foundation of righteousness and justice in the person of God, and let’s worship the source of virtue.

In Micah 6:8, the prophet records God’s indictment against His people, saying, for the LORD has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel. In the following verses He recounts some of His saving acts for them and offers an answer to the question: what does the LORD require from His people? Sacrifices? Offerings? Mighty deeds of valor? Most of us know the famous answer, He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

But what does the prophet mean by do justice? Like many things, the world (those outside the church) has co-opted that word. When George Floyd died from his engagement with law enforcement in May of 2020, Minneapolis experienced violent riots in the name of justice. People talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a form of social justice. Illinois recently gave 44 residents $25K as reparations, again in the name of justice. But is that justice? Join us as we consider biblical justice and worship the One from whom righteousness and justice flow.

The Apostle James addresses the emptiness of faith that isn't accompanied by works. While his main point is that genuine faith is more than assent—it is relational fellowship with Christ that produces action—he asks this question:

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that (James 2:15,16)?

Did you know that the Corinthian believers were doing just that? The believers in Jerusalem had experienced a famine and were literally starving. The churches in Macedonia (Phillipi, Berea, and Thessaloniki) which were poor people, sent a generous gift, while the wealthy Corinthians were holding back. What good is that kind of faith, especially in the context of God's generosity?

Join us this week as we consider the difference between tithing and thriving, while worshipping the greatest Giver, Christ!

Often, members of our church will ask me one or more of a series of questions: What does the Bible say about tithing? Are we supposed to give ten percent of our income to the church? Should we give ten percent of our gross or net?

Do you know the answers to these questions? Have you incorporated them into your financial stewardship of God’s gifts? Do you understand why we join in supporting a local church?

Join us Sunday as we look to Scripture and worship God for His generosity in Christ.