Things I read in the Bible today that I swear to God were not in there before Eugene Peterson learned how to type:

“I can’t stand your religious meetings.
I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretntious slogans and goals.
I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice — oceans of it.
I want fairness — rivers of it.
That’s what I want. That’s all I want. ” Amos 5

Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about.

“Religion is the most dangerous energy source known to humankind. The moment a person (or government or religion or organization) is convinced that God is either ordering or sanctioning a cause or project, anything goes…..The biblical prophets continue to be the most powerful and effective voices ever heard on this earth for keeping religion honest, humble and compassionate. Prophets sniff out injustice, especially injustice that is dressed up in religious garb. They sniff it out a mile away….Prophets are not impressed by position or power or authority. They aren’t taken in my numbers, size or appearances of success….A spiritual life that doesn’t give a large place to the prophet-articulated justice will end up making us worse instead of better, separating us from God’s ways instead of drawing us into them.

-Peterson’s forward to the book of Amos

And this from Mark 4 on a current favorite topic of mine, living generously:

“Are you listening to this? Really listening? Listen carefully to what I am saying — and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.”

How do I live out a life of justice and generosity? By pointing to the sin of others and protecting my own way of living? Or by laying down my own life to allow others to enter more deeply into the community of Jesus?

One thing that strikes me so powerfully these days about Jesus is how he interacted with the marginalized in his society — the people who the religious community deemed ’sinners’ and gave no to place to; the people who even the secular society shoved to the edges. What was Jesus’ response to these? His first response was to give them a place of deep welcome — to dine with them, to go into their homes, to welcome them into story and conversation.

Yes, yes, as my husband Paul is so quick to point out he also said “Go and sin no more.” But as my friend Neil points out, I’m not Jesus. I can’t seem to do that with good result. Not without a lot of time and relationship flowing under the bridge anyway, and even then rarely and only if executed with the utmost delicacy.

So setting aside condemnation and correction and looking toward justice (oceans of it) and fairness (rivers of it), what is to be the way of my living? How do I set a welcoming table. How do I become the most embracing place?