Systemic Injustice

Yesterday Jeff's sermon looked at the topic of the systems of injustice that are present in any society and government, including ours. He asked the question of how we, as followers of Jesus, are to think about those systems. We aren't personally responsible for them, but often we benefit from them or indirectly support them in some way.

As a specific example, he brought up the issue of fair housing, particularly as it relates to how minorities often seem to be denied the same opportunities for housing that whites have. Neighborhoods are only very slowly becoming less segregated, median home values are much lower for African-Americans, and predatory "sub-prime" loans are given to African-Americans at a much higher rate. For many of us at Hillside, we're not directly affected by this issue - but is it our responsibility to care about it? If we do care, what can our response be in the face of such a systemic issue?

Sabbath and Jubilee years

I'm a little late getting this week's discussion going, but there is interesting stuff to discuss...

This Sunday, Conrad Hopkins helped us look at Leviticus 25 and the command God gave to the Israelites to take every 7th year off from working their land, and in every 50th year to return all land to its initial owner. In setting up this kind of rhythm (which, as far as we know, was never actually observed by the Israelites), it seems that God was asking them to hold loosely to their possessions and to their work, and so to to trust more fully in His provision. This rhythm would also help combat the problem of some ending up with too much while others had too little.

What are the implications for us as followers of Jesus today? How can we incorporate Sabbath rhythms into our life in ways that help us see all we have, including our jobs and possessions, as gifts from God and not things to hoard? What are our responsibilities for being concerned with those who have less than us? When we're the ones in need, do we have the courage to admit our need and lean on our Christian communities to help sustain us?

Big questions, particularly for us as we live in a pretty affluent area of a very affluent country, but with great needs all around us.

Biblical Justice - The Stranger

This morning, Jeff argued from scripture that we, as people trying to fully embody the way of Jesus, are to give special attention to caring for the stranger, the sojourner, the foreigner, the immigrant. He connected this theme in scripture with today's issue of illegal immigrants among us. In your view, how can we as a church and as individual followers of Jesus respond to the immigrants with whom we come in contact, legal or illegal? Remember, we're not looking for a political solution to the country's immigration problem here. We're wondering what a life and/or a church that embodies Jesus looks like when it comes into contact with the stranger. What do you think?