The more I read Scripture, the more I am sure that the social justice concerns of Jesus and the prophets would be considered "woke" in today's political and evangelical environment.
I agree that the Bible is very social justice oriented. Alas, I think woke has become a perversio of social justice and it treats all differences as injustices.
About karma, am I missing something here? If karma is taken as the natural consequences of human actions, then a lot of these consequences can be seen as the natural results of the rich exploiting the poor, churches being silent in the face of injustice (see Letter from a Birmingham Jail), self deception in calling Jesus "Lord" but not following his precepts (bless, don't curse; forgive 70x7, etc), etc. Though "karma" is not a Christian concept per se, isn't it true that God's universe has a moral dimension that people thwart at their own risk? It seems to me that God's justice is not something arbitrary imposed on a morally neutral universe, but rather the intrinsic nature of creation. Granted, earthquakes and hurricanes aren't moral or immoral in themselves, but human failure to anticipate and prepare for natural disasters is a moral issue. And doesn't Christianity acknowledge that other religions have many partial truths, such as karma, rather than being wrong in every aspect?
Yes to ultimate justice and peace for the millions who are deprived of it in this lifetime.
But, how and when is this dispensed? Pre mortem? Post mortem? both?
Does God punish certain people throughout history for their transgressions and rebellions? If so, how? Through natural disasters and plagues? By a divine commissioning to invade pillage and murder a neighbouring tribe/ country ? killing even the babes in arms.- canaanites ect.
Not sure I can treat Amos et al with this kind of prophetic insight, but, I could well be wrong.
Perhaps this sort of passage is using the hyperbolic emphasis of the age to convey the utterly central truth that how we live, individually, and collectively, over the course of our lives really does matter-particularly how we treat others...
Perhaps what Amos is really pointing us to is that God most cares about human dignity and that we better get busy defending and upholding it.
All the prophets are very instructive, not least Amos and you apply Amos very soundly here. Thank you. Recently "Encounter with God" SU notes have been taking us through the prophet Ezekiel, who had far from any easy life because of his faithfulness to his calling. Judgement is real. Same story - very powerful.
Peter Keith - Wagga, member of South Wagga Anglican Church.
The more I read Scripture, the more I am sure that the social justice concerns of Jesus and the prophets would be considered "woke" in today's political and evangelical environment.
I agree that the Bible is very social justice oriented. Alas, I think woke has become a perversio of social justice and it treats all differences as injustices.
About karma, am I missing something here? If karma is taken as the natural consequences of human actions, then a lot of these consequences can be seen as the natural results of the rich exploiting the poor, churches being silent in the face of injustice (see Letter from a Birmingham Jail), self deception in calling Jesus "Lord" but not following his precepts (bless, don't curse; forgive 70x7, etc), etc. Though "karma" is not a Christian concept per se, isn't it true that God's universe has a moral dimension that people thwart at their own risk? It seems to me that God's justice is not something arbitrary imposed on a morally neutral universe, but rather the intrinsic nature of creation. Granted, earthquakes and hurricanes aren't moral or immoral in themselves, but human failure to anticipate and prepare for natural disasters is a moral issue. And doesn't Christianity acknowledge that other religions have many partial truths, such as karma, rather than being wrong in every aspect?
Very, very well said.
Tough one this...
Yes to accountabilty for what we do in this life!
Yes to ultimate justice and peace for the millions who are deprived of it in this lifetime.
But, how and when is this dispensed? Pre mortem? Post mortem? both?
Does God punish certain people throughout history for their transgressions and rebellions? If so, how? Through natural disasters and plagues? By a divine commissioning to invade pillage and murder a neighbouring tribe/ country ? killing even the babes in arms.- canaanites ect.
Not sure I can treat Amos et al with this kind of prophetic insight, but, I could well be wrong.
Perhaps this sort of passage is using the hyperbolic emphasis of the age to convey the utterly central truth that how we live, individually, and collectively, over the course of our lives really does matter-particularly how we treat others...
Perhaps what Amos is really pointing us to is that God most cares about human dignity and that we better get busy defending and upholding it.
All the prophets are very instructive, not least Amos and you apply Amos very soundly here. Thank you. Recently "Encounter with God" SU notes have been taking us through the prophet Ezekiel, who had far from any easy life because of his faithfulness to his calling. Judgement is real. Same story - very powerful.
Peter Keith - Wagga, member of South Wagga Anglican Church.