Scripture: Job 38:1-4
[In response to Job and his friends presenting simple answers to complex problems, God enters into the conversation] Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding…”
Thought for the Day: Why is it that we live in an either-or society? I understand that in politics, we must eventually choose and vote, but it appears impossible to suggest that the person I’m not voting for may actually have a couple of good ideas. Not only are we incapable of saying so, but the tendency is to demonize the other. This same tendency is seen when it comes to solving significant social problems. In recent tragedies and acts of violence, including the heartbreaking murder of Deputy Goforth, there appears this immediate rush to cast blame in one direction or another. I understand the desire for simple answers, but at the end of the day, oversimplified explanations are getting us no closer to actual solutions to the larger problem. People point to personal responsibility, and YES…let’s be clear, an individual must be and will be held accountable. But we also need to ask broader questions about our social context that shapes an individual to make that decision. The counter point – there are those who believe we should blame only the social forces without talking about individual responsibility. To do so will also limit the capacity of our culture to solve the problem. At this point, we know very little about the recent tragedy suffered within our local sheriff’s department, and prayer for the family and for fellow officers is a priority. At the same time, let us stretch ourselves and rise above the human propensity for an either-or response. Let the judicial process do what it was created to do – prove beyond a reasonable doubt and seek justice within our current system of laws -AND- let us seek to ask tough questions about our social context, and all the cultural influences that help to create an environment where such horrific choices are made. It will be a stretch for almost all of us, but a stretch we must be willing to make if we desire real solutions.
Prayer: Have mercy on us, O Lord! We weep for a brother who has died in the line of duty. His death is senseless, and our community cries out for answers. Let us seek your will, God of Grace and Justice; let us rise above easy solutions that will solve nothing; let us have the courage to follow you in the difficult work of building your reign of justice and peace on earth. Amen.
Let Us Gather Together
for worship this morning
at 8:15, 9:30 & 11:00
