Some Things Never Change

I've been gone awhile and haven't been able to update, but here is the next installment on Amos. I have finished the book, and read quite a bit on the general commentaries and the critical commentaries and have learned quite a bit about the historical context. I was struck by the fact that, as they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same. As I began in the last entry, the people of Israel had become very adept at putting on the appearance of worship. But God is not fooled - He saw how they behaved in their everyday lives, oppressing the poor, selling them off, trading them for as little as a pair of sandals. You see, at that time, the poor had little recourse to combat injustice - the wealthy ran the court system, like everything else. Does that sound familiar? One commentary I read said that the line in chapter 2 verse 7:

"They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed"

was an indictment of the wealthy, that they actually coveted even the dust that the poor heaped on their heads as a sign of sorrow. This is the sin of Israel - that the wealthy used the poor to gain increasing wealth, no matter the consequences to those they use all the while "going to church" and pretending holiness. Today, especially in America, there is a great rift between the haves and the have-nots. I was thinking about this the other day in the light of the current economic situation and it rings all too familiar. I look at how people were taking advantage of through predatory lending, how people were used to create great wealth for some while bankrupting others (Bernie Madoff, Joe Nacchio) - with no remorse. Israel is condemned for this among other sins such as not only ignoring the warnings of the prophets, but telling the prophets to be quiet. These people had no desire to hear from God - at the same time they went to worship as prescribed and perhaps believing they were the righteous, though I fail to see how it could be possible that they were sincere in that belief. Read God's consequence in verses 13 to 16 of Chapter 2 - not a pretty sight.

We are in danger in today's church of being in the same place. Take a look at how some people come to church each Sunday as a social convention and then, as they say, "live like hell" the rest of the week. I would even call us to look at the teachings within the church such as "ask and you shall receive," using God as some kind of cosmic slot machine - if you put in the right things, God has to pay off to meet your fortune. This is too common in many of the health and wealth preachings that attract too many. Look at how many older and poor people are targeted by these teachings and send in their money to ministries that promise great blessings from God. Some are desperate and have hopes that giving to the ministry will save them from their financial situations. Woe to those "preachers" who make their fortune on the heads of these people! Will they suffer any less consequence than that described by Amos? Then, if the people who give don't get their reward, it's because they didn't have enough faith. As Pastor Win said several weeks ago, find in scripture where that is the primary order of things. It's more of an escape clause for those selling the "investment Jesus" model. The giving of tithes and offerings is an obedience thing, a commitment thing, a support for the ministry of the Word, and not a means of securing your personal financial security. These are tools to help ministry work. Unfortunately, sometimes the physical ministry overwhelms the spiritual ministry and money, rather than service, becomes the driving force. Surely, in today's world, financial support of ministry is important, but it needs to be held in proper perspective.

God reminds the people of Israel, through His prophet Amos, the history of God's commitment to His chosen people - and then condemns them for their response and corruption of the relationship. The first two chapters call the people on their sins. Chapter three gives them a lesson in cause and effect. That is where we will start next time. In the meantime, take a good look at how you live out your worship on a day to day basis. How do you treat people, especially the "great unwashed?" Do you just throw money at a ministry and not "dirty your hands" with the day to day relationship with the poor, wounded and oppressed, or do you jump in there and serve? We are called to fight social injustice, and not just in the political realm - we are to serve. That is true worship. Are you a worshiper?