God Of Justice

Later this morning I shall go to church. Liz will lead the service. We shall sing the songs that we practiced on Wednesday. Pastor-Lou will preach well. We shall chat to friends, come home, discuss the service, reflect on what was said, the people we met…

This Sunday routine is an important part of our week – a good way to start it. This Tim Hughes song challenges it:

God of Justice, Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served

Jesus, You have called us
Freely we’ve received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go

Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in every way
Walking humbly before You God

You have shown us, what You require
Freely we’ve received
Now freely we will give

Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord

It’s not about the church institution or a Christian ideology. It’s not enough to have the correct set of beliefs, worship in the correct way, agree with a good sermon  or meet with a group of people who think the same as me.

I’m good at being a critical audience, observing the lives of others. I’m well practiced in measuring the value of something to me and my family – how happy it makes me, what I gain from it, its lasting benefits.

Tim Hughes reminds me that Jesus’ call to an active faith takes me outside my comfortable church, beyond the familiar and routine. It’s about living out Jesus’ mission, to seek out and support the weak, the broken, and the marginalised.

It’s not about ‘loving my neighbour’ as a feeling or a theory or creating some grand dramatic project. It’s the daily lived out practice, the humble, unspectacular compassion, the ‘love on legs’ faith that fills me up and sends me out to the ordinary but needy this week.