Author: Bruce Ray

Remember that you are dust…

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Last night, I heard the words that I hear every Ash Wednesday: Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. We were asked to consider what these words meant to us this year. Initially, I thought about how this year exposed how vulnerable and weak we all are–our veneer of permanence being stripped away by a microscopic killer virus. But this year, I faced my mortality – not from COVID-19, but from a misdiagnosed bacterial infection that put me into a hospital bed for 4 days and included an episode of arterial fibrillation (A-fib). It was the first time in my life when I actually considered that my life could end. Though thankfully my A-fib was a one-time thing with no long-term effects, it was a stark reminder that indeed I am dust. I am a vapor. I am just a blip on the timeline. Life is short.

My A-fib episode has become a motivator. My body, though dust, is valuable and needs care and attention. What I put into my body matters. Movement matters. A healthy lifestyle matters. But no matter how much I do right for my body, it will at some point wear out. I am dust. To think differently is denial. I may delay the inevitable, but I will not be able to stop time.

My A-fib episode has also become a gift, shifting my attention from the temporary to the eternal. I am finite, God is infinite. And I am not “just” dust; I am dust that God formed and redeemed and filled. God’s Spirit is in this dust, moving me toward all that is eternal. And one day (later, rather than sooner, I pray), I will trade this perishable dust for an imperishable body on the day of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:51-54).

Life is short, but life need not be meaningless. As long as this dust has breath, I will not waste it on selfish interest, but do my best to live it each day for the One who loved this dust so much that he took on flesh, gave himself to death for me, and rose again. I will pursue loving Christ by loving others; I will endeavor to serve Christ by serving the “least of these”; I will seek Christ by seeking the kingdom of God and God’s justice. As long as this dust has breath.

Day 2 – First Steps

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Ephesians 2:13-14

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.” 

Where have we gone astray?  Walls of hostility still exist and barriers of racism, sexism, classism, and other -isms of our time still deny people access to the things that give life. Ibram X. Kendi, author of How To Be an Antiracist, writes, ” The heartbeat of antiracism is confession.” Confession is required to dismantle and break down all of the walls that continue to separate us. But true confession isn’t easy. It only comes through honest self-reflection. And it must be ongoing because the foundations of our walls have been laid deep in our minds and our hearts. Take a moment to consider the walls you create or maintain and get ready to make your confession before God. .

Prayer: Merciful God, as we enter this Lenten season, we are grateful for the way that you chose to bring unity and peace to people—through the gift of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who broke down longstanding walls of prejudice and hostility between Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave and free. As good as this news is, we confess that we continue to divide people into groups of “us” and “them,” excluding those who are different from us and denying their human dignity.  Forgive us when we create barriers rather than tear them down. Forgive us for pretending as if the walls do not exist. Forgive me for building and maintaining the wall that excludes __________ from your gracious welcome.

Holy Spirit, break the walls within me and open my heart to those on the other side. Bind us together in love and peace, forming us into a witnessing, welcoming and forgiving community of grace where no walls of exclusion and division can survive.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Ash Wednesday – The Journey Begins

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Romans 12:3
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.”

“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
This is the phrase that is spoken as ashes are imposed on our foreheads each Ash Wednesday. What does this mean to you? Have you ever thought of yourself as “not dust?” How did such thinking change your behavior toward yourself? toward others?

Prayer
I am a moment, but You, O God, are forever…eternal. The truth is…I can get all high and mighty, and when I elevate myself and think that I’m all that, I see everything and everyone as beneath me and I treat them like dirt. Today, You remind me that I’m dirt too—no better, no different than anyone else. Forgive me for my arrogance. Forgive me for judging others as “less than” me. Restore me to “sober judgment” so that I can be in right relationship with You and in right relationship with my neighbor. Amen.

Lent 2021 – “Breaking Down Walls”

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Welcome to our 2021 Lenten Compact

This year, we are on a journey with Jesus who–says the Apostle Paul–broke down the dividing walls of hostility on the cross. Throughout his life, Jesus refused to live within the boundaries of existing social order. He regularly broke down the walls of exclusion as a demonstration of love for his neighbor–giving us an example to follow.

Throughout Lent, we will post daily Scriptures and prayers related to our theme. We will also post occasional links to stories and articles that identify the harm done by existing walls such as racism, sexism, classism, etc.

So, here we go. “Let the walls fall down.”

Lent 2021 – “Breaking Down Walls”

~ Bruce Ray

Every day, we witness and experience “walls” of hostility, division, exclusion, hatred, and ‘isms’. Most of us have participated regularly in adding bricks to the walls through our own attitudes, actions, words, and silence. Are walls inevitable in a broken world? Are we destined to tribalism and ongoing conflict? Is there any hope for healing and unity? Is reconciliation possible or is it a far-off dream?

We believe walls are constructed and maintained in order to advantage some and oppress others. We also believe that walls have no place in God’s beautiful creation. It is sin that separates us and divides us. Yet, the apostle Paul spoke of an end to the walls that have traditionally defined – and divided- human relationships. “For Christ himself has brought peace to us… In his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us…creating in himself one new people.” (Ephesians 2:14-15) As a result, in Christ, there is “neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female.” (Galatians 3:28). God is a “Wall-Breaker!” God broke down walls of exclusion; God is breaking down walls now; God will continue to break down walls until we are all reconciled to God and to one another.

This year, we are “Giving up Walls” for Lent–the attitudes and actions of division and exclusion. And in giving them up, we are going to resist rebuilding old walls or building new ones so we can more fully experience the new humanity that God established through the cross. So, join us on the journey.

Each day during Lent, starting February 17, 2021, we will post a Scripture and a Prayer to lead you into a time of reflection on the walls that we must break down.

We also invite you to join us on Sunday mornings during Lent (via our Facebook page) as we look at the ways Jesus modeled “Breaking Down Walls.” And we will become a “Wall Demolition Crew” in our community and our city–taking action to expose walls and dismantle them in the power of the Spirit. More information is available on our church website.

Together, let’s “Break Down Walls,” and live into being God’s new liberated–and liberating–people.

Is Donald Trump Really Gone?

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I don’t own an American flag. I’ve never flown an American flag from my porch. But, for the first time in my adult life, I want one. On Saturday, November 7, 2020, I was proud to be a citizen of the United States, part of “We, the people.” I was proud that almost 80% of eligible voters participated in the democratic process. I was proud that state officials of both major political parties protected the integrity of the election (despite accusations of widespread fraud). For the first time in a long time, I was proud of America.

Full disclosure: I am not a big fan of Joe Biden, but I am relieved – no, I’m almost giddy – about the outcome of the 2020 Presidential Election. We, the people, removed Donald Trump from office! We voted for an end to bombast and vitriol. Today, I can breathe.

Let’s be honest. The last four years have been exhausting. Every day, we woke up in the morning hearing about Donald Trump’s overnight ALL CAP tweets. We watched him mock people with disabilities and listened to him disparage immigrants, destroy the reputations of honorable people and spout quackery and outright lies while tacitly endorsing violence against people of color. We were assaulted with his arrogant self-aggrandizement and shameless self-promotion. Every time Donald Trump opened his mouth, we worried about what would come out of it. Every time Donald Trump picked up his pen, we worried about which law or regulation he would roll back and which group of people (or what part of the environment) would suffer. But all that is coming to an end. Whew!

On Saturday, for the first time in four years, I was able to sit through a presidential speech without my heart rate increasing out of anxiety that it would devolve into a train wreck. Joe Biden’s victory speech was balm for my weary soul. His calm call for healing in itself was healing. I felt safer hearing his promises to reactivate DREAMers, rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and revive a science-driven COVID task force. His tone gave me hope that we will become a quieter, more thoughtful, more compassionate nation under a leader who isn’t a playground bully. Aaah!

Yet, for all the relief I felt on Saturday, I have an tightness in my spirit that I cannot shake. My uneasiness was identified in a statement by the Associated Press: “President Donald Trump lost. But Trumpism did not.”

You won’t find the word, “Trumpism,” in an official Webster’s Dictionary—at least, not yet. It came into our lexicon in 2015 when Donald Trump first announced his intention to run for President. Today, Wikapedia has a page dedicated to the word, and various online dictionaries have weighed in on its meaning.

Urban Dictionary offers this definition: “A social/political movement based on elements of (a) racism, (b) religious bigotry, (c) demeaning attitudes towards women, (d) attempts to intimidate the press, (e) economic uncertainty, (f) rejection of scientific findings and (g) general expressions of hatred that are reminiscent of German National Socialism of the Hitler era …” and “… often characterized by completely baseless false statements.” (submitted by Andrew Sarkas)

Dictionary defines it as “a political philosophy that is an anti-establishment blend of economic populism, reactionary nationalism, and strong militarism summed up in Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.” Due to bigoted statements Trump had made and the viewpoints of some of his base, Trumpism [has been] associated with white supremacy.”

This election, despite Joe Biden’s win for the presidency, we failed to see the much anticipated “Blue Wave” materialize in races down the ballot. The loss of seats in the House of Representatives and the anticipated retention of the Senate majority by Republicans reveal that voters by a slim majority may have rejected the personality of Donald Trump, but not his politics and policies. It is disturbing to me that Donald Trump actually received 6,000,000 more votes in this election than he did in 2016! That’s 6,000,000 more people who wanted him to be the president for another four years! Unlike 2016, they didn’t cast a ballot for him because they were against his opponent. This time, they voted for Donald Trump. They believed in his MAGA vision.

Honestly, that scares the hell out of me. It scares me because those 6,000,000 people will likely vote again in 2024. And they will be looking for a candidate that mirrors Donald Trump’s policies and practices, if not his personality. They may even look for “the Donald” himself to return.

We may have a reprieve from Trump’s bluster for the next four years, but the seeds of Trumpism have been planted in the soil of our democracy, enriched with mistrust in the electoral process and suspicion of those who work for the government. Those seeds will germinate and burst forth in greater strength than ever. Like the enemy who sows tares in the wheat fields of Jesus’ parable (see Matthew 13:24ff), Donald Trump has masterfully sown invasive and destructive weeds in the field of our nation’s democracy and it may be a long time before those weeds can be removed without destroying everything around them.

If it is true that Trumpism actually won in 2020, that means we all lost.

  • Truth lost.
  • Science lost.
  • The environment lost.
  • Immigrants and Refugees lost.
  • BIPOC lost.
  • LGBTQ folks lost.
  • The working poor lost.
  • The Church lost.

As a person of Christian faith and a pastor, that last one is especially disappointing and challenging for me. I grieve that once again, more than 80% of my evangelical sisters and brothers in the faith have selectively chosen one or two issues upon which to build their political houses while seemingly ignoring the full revelation of God’s values and inclusive global agenda. I grieve that many influential faith leaders who preach the sanctity of life have tacitly accepted (or even boldly embraced) policies that lead to death and destruction, seeing their compromise as a small price to pay for achieving their narrow goals. I grieve that a generation of young people now see the church as having so tethered itself to the Trumpist politics of misinformation, “law and order”, nationalism and “whiteness” that it has become hostile to the higher values of inclusive love and social justice that Jesus taught. I grieve because many members of the white evangelical church have, in their embrace of Trumpism, amputated some of the most essential limbs of the body of Christ—our African American sisters and brothers.

I believe Christ is still the head of the Church, and He who holds the seven spirits of God says to the Church: “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” (Revelation 3:2-3)

The sooner we wake up, the better. There is still time for the church to renounce its complicity in the spread false doctrines of Trumpism, but the window of opportunity is closing. The world needs a prophetic church now more than ever.

“Living By Fear or Faith”

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Part 1 – Pastor Ray’s sermon on November 8

In 1990, psychologist Dr. Paul MacLean wrote a popular book called “The Triune Brain in Evolution.” In it, he described his theory that the human brain functioned on three levels that had developed over evolutionary history. The deepest (oldest) part of the core brain he called the “R-Complex” or “Reptilian” brain. This part of the brain is completely focused on survival and propagation of the species, and regulates behavior around a bunch of F-words: food, fight or flight, freezing up, and fornication. According to MacLean, the most developed part of our brain – the neo-cortex that controls reasoning and creative thinking – usually can control the reptilian brain, but there are circumstances that can literally shut down the higher brain functions so that we react impulsively out of the core. While much of MacLean’s theory is no longer accepted by neuroscientists, it remains a popular concept. It feels true.

We have all experienced moments when we feel threatened and we react. This year, we’ve witnessed people with reptilian brains at work. Maybe you have experienced being controlled by your own inner lizard. I’ve witnessed it when I see the empty shelves in the toilet paper aisle of Target. We’ve seen it in the threats against peaceful protesters. We’ve seen it in the rise of conspiracy theories. We felt it as election results dragged on and on and on. And honestly, I feel it rising in me even now. Even though the election has been called in Joe Biden’s favor, and even though he has declared victory and delivered an inspiring message of reassurance that we have turned the corner, and even though I have the same sense of relief that so many others feel, I also feel a nagging dread about what might happen next. I know that wounded animals are extremely dangerous. Bad things can still happen. My mind and body are still on high alert. The lizard brain in me is strong.

Dr. MacLean had one thing right. Human beings behave – often irrationally – due to external triggers. And one of the biggest triggers is uncertainty. Our “survival instinct” kicks into over-drive. We begin to “live by fear.” Fear is a powerful, controlling emotion. Fear is a necessary emotion for our survival, but when it becomes the dominant force in our lives, it is counter-productive to the very survival we crave. Fear drives us toward the things that diminish fullness of life – the abundant life that Jesus came to give us.

For instance, fear drives us into protectionism. Fear motivates us to build walls around ourselves (or our nation). Fear motivates us to buy guns and ammo in record levels. In fact, I just learned that there is a shortage of ammunition! Fear motivates us to view those around us with suspicion and mistrust. They are our competition and we live convinced that they will take away what is rightfully ours.

Fear also drives us into selfishness and greed. The parable Jesus told of the farmer is a story of greed. The farmer has too much and decides that the only thing to do is to build bigger barns to hold it all. We think, “what a greedy farmer!”, but I also think that fear is beneath the surface. People hoard because they are afraid that they will not have enough for themselves. Hoarding is a reptilian response to uncertainty and vulnerability.

Finally, fear drives us into forgetfulness and despair. How quickly fear erases the memories of God’s faithfulness and the gospel story of God’s salvation and replaces it with reliance upon the self and upon the resources of security the world proposes.

In a popular phrase, when we live in fear, we do not “live into our best selves.” At the end of the day, fear drives us from the things that lead to life: community, empathy, compassion, and generosity.

I have never seen the movie “How To Train Your Dragon,” but the title seems like an appropriate phrase for how we should approach our reptilian brain.

It’s unclear if we can retrain our lizard self, but we can restrain it. It is said that #16, President Abraham Lincoln, had a nasty temper, but it rarely was seen. When he wanted to tell someone off, he would write a letter to the person, pouring out all of his anger through his pen. He called them his “hot letters.” He would then put the unsigned letter in a drawer in his desk. Lincoln would return to the letter several days later and read it to decide if it should be sent. Most of the letters were never sent. He burned them instead. We could all learn something from Lincoln. How much harm we could avoid, if we stopped tweeting or posting our first reaction to everything that triggered us. How much more civil we would be if we filtered our words and thoughts through the filter of our faith. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “we take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.” When the reptilian brain reacts, we need to take those thoughts captive and hold them so they cannot destroy relationships and community.

A second way that we can restrain the lizard is to do the exact opposite of what it tells us to do. This is the Jesus way. Jesus taught us to not return evil for evil, and to bless those who curse us. So Instead of saying “Screw You!” we say, “God Bless You!” So, when your lizard brain says “don’t trust people that are different from you,” you can choose to listen to their story and learn about them. When your lizard brain says, “build a wall,” you can choose to break one down. When your lizard brain says, “Hoard,” you can choose to give some of our resources to others. When your lizard brain says, “I won, sucker!” you can choose silence. When your lizard brain says, “Hold that grudge,” you can choose to remember your own need for grace. When your lizard brains says, “protect yourself,” you can choose trust in God’s protection and love.

We can restrain the reptilian reactions triggered by fear with acts of love that come from faith. When we do this, we show that we have passed from death to life and that we are led by the Spirit of God. It is counter-intuitive, but every act of empathy, compassion and generosity will actually create the community that will sustain us and lead us into the fullness of life. What is dominating you? Fear or faith.

Is A Progressive Income Tax Biblical?

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

On September 30, 2020, I was asked to make a brief statement before a group of Christians about why I support the Illinois ‘Fair Tax’ Amendment. This is what I shared (adapted for print). Illinois currently has a “flat tax” income tax rate of 4.95% for all earners. The McDonald’s worker making minimum wage pays the same rate as the McDonald’s CEO who makes almost 400 times the average employee. The Illinois Fair Tax Amendment would increase the percentage for those who earn more than $250,000 annually, and decrease it for lower-income working individuals and families.

I am a person of faith, and because of my faith, I support the Fair Tax Amendment.  

I support the amendment because our current “flat rate” tax structure is unjust and is oppressive to low-income working families. I support the amendment because I serve a God that defends the poor and upholds the cause of the oppressed. I support the amendment because I believe God is pleased when we recognize economic disparities and treat those who have less with policies of compassion and justice…because that’s what God does. 

You heard me right. That’s what God does. God distinguishes between those who have more and those who have less. It is fair to say that God divides people into “the haves” and “the have-nots,” and God has different expectations for the haves.  It’s biblical.

It’s in the book of Leviticus.  Now I know that nobody reads Leviticus. The entire book is devoted to describing the different sacrifices that are required for various infractions of the law. We don’t make sacrifices, and as Christians, we often say, “we’re not under the law – we’re under grace.” So we don’t read it. That’s unfortunate, since Leviticus shows us a principle that has a direct bearing on the issue before us.

According to Leviticus 5:6, everyone is required to offer a female lamb or goat as a guilt offering.  But in the very next verse, God gave people without economic means options that fit with their economic status. Those who could not afford a lamb or goat were allowed to offer 2 doves or 2 pigeons instead.  And if even 2 pigeons were beyond one’s ability to pay, they could bring a “tenth of an ephah of flour. That’s about 9 cups.  God doesn’t have a “flat rate” sacrificial system.  For those who have more, more is required.  For those who have less, less is expected. This is not equal, but it is fair.

God makes a distinction between those who have the resources and those who don’t. Our current tax structure makes no distinctions. And because it does not, it is unfair.

If God is just and fair to the poor, then we, as the people of God, have an obligation to seek justice and equity for the poor. So I will vote “Yes” for the Amendment on my ballot this November 3. I will vote yes, because a progressive tax structure is faithful to the heart and justice of God. I encourage you vote “Yes” too.

The Nation God Will Bless – Part 9

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God will not bless those who destroy God’s good creation.

Last week, I was catching up with a friend I hadn’t seen for over a year. Of course, our conversation quickly veered toward the pandemic, the plagues and the pestilence. We both agreed that it has been an unusual and difficult year. My friend predicted that the year 2020 would be used in the future as an adjective that will mean “horrific, dreadful, the worst imaginable. “

Q. “So how was your day?” A. “Work was a 2020 of a day.”

Q. “You don’t look so good. Are you OK?” A. “I feel like 2020.”

Actually, anywhere the word “Hell” could be used, we can now appropriately substitute “2020”.

He also suggested it should be an expletive, like what you might say when you smash your finger. “2020!” or “What the 2020?”

Yes. 2020 has been dreadful and horrific – worthy of an expletive. It feels like the earth is rejecting us. As you probably know, we ran out of names for tropical storms for the first time in 15 years. And the Hurricane season doesn’t end until November. If you’ve watched the news, you are aware that there have been more wildfires this year than ever before. We have watched the fires in California and Oregon destroy whole communities. But this year, there were wildfires in unusual places. Fires burned above the arctic circle in Siberia, Alaska and Greenland. In Siberia, the fires were fed by record setting temperatures. On June 20, it was more than 100 degrees in a small Russian town located on the Arctic Circle. Back in the US, it was 130 degrees in Death Valley on August 16, making it very likely the hottest temperature ever recorded anywhere on planet earth. Despite the shutdown of factories and the quarantine of COVID, the levels of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere have actually continued to rise—a major factor in global warming. In May, it measured 417 parts per million (ppm), the highest levels ever recorded.

As temperatures rise, so do the earth’s oceans, impacting human and animal habitats. As temperatures rise, so does water temperature, causing more extreme weather conditions and the death of ocean wildlife. As temperatures rise, the ecological balance shifts, resulting in disruption of growing seasons, leading to famine. The earth is suffering. And when the earth suffers, we all suffer. And those who are poor suffer most.

There is no question that human activity has contributed to and accelerated climate change as we burn through fossil fuels – oil, gas, and coal. Five years ago, leaders of 200 nations recognized the human factor and signed the Paris climate accord—a collective effort to address climate change through a reduction of greenhouse gases. The US signed the accord, but in 2017 our current president announced his intention to pull the US out of the accord. On November 4, 2019, he followed through on that promise. Since then, he has consistently acted to roll back environmental regulations to benefit fossil fuel industries. Clean air, clean water and even National Parks and National Forests are at risk. On November 4, 2020 – the day after the election – the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord will be complete. You think it’s bad now? Get ready, it may get a lot worse.

Scripture says, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” But what happens when nations act as if the earth and everything in it belongs to them and they fail to protect it and care for it as God commanded? What happens when we fail to acknowledge God’s claim as creator of heaven and earth, and we steal the earth of its resources and pollute the air, and muddy the waters without any concern for the damage we do for future generations? When the earth thrives, we all thrive; but when we destroy the earth, we are destroyed. In the words of Hosea the prophet, when there is no acknowledgement of God in the land, “the earth itself becomes sick, and all who live on it grow weak; together with the wild animals and the birds in the sky, even the fish of the sea are dying.” (Hosea 4:3 CEB)

The earth is sick, and time is running out.

I just realized that this sermon has been nothing but bad news! Is there any good news to be found? Only one place. God, the maker of heaven and earth, is in the words of theologian N. T. Wright, “A loving God who wants to redeem a broken world, and has called us to make things new.” God loved the cosmos so much that God sent the Word, through whom all things were made, to announce the beginning of God’s new day. God defeated the powers of death and decay at the empty tomb, raising Christ from the dead, and seating him high above all rule and authority and reconciling ALL things in all of creation to God. And God has redeemed us to be the body of Christ, raised up in resurrected life to continue what Christ began. We are the children of God raised up in these days to make things new through advocacy for just environmental policy, through our votes, by changing our lifestyles and priorities.

God told the people of Israel, “See, I set before you life and death; blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your children may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV). Today, life and death are set before us again. Will we be a nation of stewards that care for God’s good earth and everything in it or a nation of tyrants that plunder it for our own interests? Will we be a people who protect the planet and preserve the beauty and bounty of the earth for our children’s children’s children?

Our choices will lead to life or death. Choose life. Choose stewardship. Be the children of God, working by the Spirit of God to create and make all things new. Amen.

The Nation God Will Bless – Part 8

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What happens when leaders listen to the wrong voices?

Every year for a century, Kimball Avenue church held an annual Thanksgiving dinner and fund raiser called “Harvest Home.” An offering was received at the meal in a wooden box with a hole in the top. It was referred to as the “Joash Box.” Some of you remember it. It still exists, stored in the parsonage basement, but it is falling apart.

It is called the “Joash Box” because according to 2 Kings 12:9ff, Joash, the King of Judah, set up a box with a hole in the top at the temple entrance to collect funds for the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem that had been neglected for decades. Joash took the funds that were placed in the box to pay for the materials and labor to repair the building.

When I hear about King Joash, I always think about the Joash Box and his commitment to the temple—not only to the building, but also to reviving the temple worship of YHWH. For years, God blessed the nation of Judah with peace and prosperity under the leadership of Joash. But what started out so well ended in the disaster we read about today in 2 Chronicles 24, when Joash ordered the murder of Zechariah by stoning. Zechariah was killed inside the Temple that Joash dedicated to the worship of God.

How did Joash go from a God-worshiper to state-protected murderer? It’s a story about leadership and who leaders listen to. Proverbs 11:14 says, “A nation falls where there is no wise leading, but it is safe where there are many wise men who know what to do.”

Joash became King of Judah at age 7. I don’t know any 7-year-old who is ready to lead a nation, but Joash was fortunate to have a wise advisor and mentor, Jehoiada, the high priest. With Jehoiada’s counsel and help, Joash was a good king and the nation was blessed. But after Jehoiada died, everything changed. A group of local leaders offered to advise Joash, and they counseled him to abandon the Temple and pursue idolatry. Idolatry always leads to injustice and oppression—acts God rejects. Despite warnings from God’s prophets, Joash refused to renounce the policy. The nation suffered. Finally Zechariah—the son of Joash’s childhood advisor, Jehoiada—was led by the Spirit to confront Joash and his advisors for abandoning God’s heart and God’s law. He announced God’s judgement on Joash and the nation. Zechariah spoke truth to power.

Because Zechariah spoke a truth that Joash had no interest in hearing, Joash took steps to silence God’s messenger. The leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and Joash gave the kill order.

That’s not the end of the story. Sadly, after Zechariah was killed, the nation of Judah declined. The peace and prosperity it had enjoyed disappeared. The nation was plunged into costly wars, economic collapse and political ruin. God abandoned Joash and the nation was thrown into chaos. And in the end Joash was assassinated.

What does God want us to hear from the story of Joash and Zechariah? The Apostle Paul wrote that the things that were written in the past, were written for our instruction (Romans 15:4). This story is a warning. When leaders listen to the voices of justice and righteousness, there is peace. Everyone thrives. However, when they listen to wrong voices, all hell breaks loose. When leaders surround themselves with people who tell them what they want to hear and use their power to silence opposing voices—especially those voices that call the leader to account and to doing what is just and right, the wicked are empowered to strut about. When leaders harden their hearts and close their ears and their eyes, the people suffer.

There are consequences to political arrogance and spiritual obstinance. Refusal to listen to the calls for justice and righteousness leads to destruction. God will not prosper the leaders that ignore the commands of God. God will abandon the leaders that refuse to seek God’s justice. God will bring judgment on the leaders whose hearts are hardened and who refuse to open their eyes and ears to the truth of God’s heart for the oppressed and afflicted. And ultimately, God will rise up and will depose the wicked and the proud and the arrogant who do whatever they please. It happened to Egypt and Pharaoh. It happened to Israel and Judah. It can happen now.

Like Judah, nations regularly come to a fork in the road – a moment of decision about what kind of nation we will be. Our nation is in a moment like that. There are voices that are advocating radically different futures for our nation. There are voices that advocate the revival of a glorious past that was built upon genocide, enslavement, oppression, militarism, racism, and unbridled greed. And there are prophetic voices calling for the establishment of a society built upon justice, equity, love of neighbor and morality. We can choose which voices we will listen to. We can also choose which future we will speak for.

The story of King Joash has a hero. His name is Zechariah – a man who boldly and publicly rebuked King Joash for abandoning his spiritual and moral responsibilities and leading his nation down a path of destruction. Though he lost his life for his boldness, his name is held up in honor. Jesus honored Zechariah as a hero and defender of God’s truth.

Our time has heroes too. Some names are familiar to us like Martin Luther King, Jr, who – like Zechariah – was silenced through murder, and John Lewis who survived attacks and refused to be silent. In the midst of a pandemic, we have heroes like Dr. Anthony Fouci who speak the truth while leaders lie and distort and deceive. In the midst of state-sponsored police violence, we have heroes like Bryan Stevenson and Black Lives Matter who speak justice while leaders use “law and order” rhetoric to maintain the status quo. In the midst of environmental destruction, we have heroes like LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, protecting the water. In the midst of economic greed, we have heroes like Rev. Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir dancing on Wall Street. In the midst of political corruption, we have heroes like George Blakemore in City Hall, daily speaking truth to power.

Our nation is going to hell. But God is sending the prophets. God is calling the church to stand up, speak up and get in good trouble. Maybe yet, God will have mercy and deliver us from evil. If we will only listen.

Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear what the spirit is saying to the churches.