There is a phrase in the Hebrew Bible that says, “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God” (Lev 19:34). I was at lunch with Rabbi Alicia Harris of Congregation Shir Tikvah and I asked her how many times this phrase was used in the Torah. Her answer was quick and authoritative. She knew the answer before I finished the question: 35 times.
I am reading a book by Obery M. Hendrics Jr where he explains that the Hebrew word "tzedekah", usually translated as "righteousness", does not indicate personal behavior that is pious. Rather, it is more accurately translated as “doing right by others” or “acting with justice.” He states that, “That means that the true yardstick of righteousness is the degree of one’s active dedication to the well-being of one’s neighbors and the common good,” (Source, page 38) When Jesus is asked who one’s neighbor was (because the young man wanted to know which people he should love has himself), Jesus tells the story of a Good Samaritan. In that parable, a man gets beat up and left for dead by thieves. Two upstanding citizens pass by the man but a Samaritan (the foreigner, outsider, and enemy) helps the man. Jesus then asks, who was the neighbor in that story? The young man replies, “The one who showed him mercy,” (Luke 10:25-37). On Sunday, I discussed what Salvation looks like for Jesus and Paul. For Paul, salvation was putting one’s soul in order so that a person can escape this life to the afterlife. In contrast, Jesus presents a very this-worldly idea of salvation. Salvation is being saved from poverty and exploitation. Salvation is holding people in power accountable and protecting the people who are vulnerable. Salvation is building up a society of mutual well-being and common-good. This morning, I was texting one of my dear friends. She is a social worker that helps families with children in hospice navigate the medical system and financial aid. Overnight, her job shifted. Instead of helping coordinate treatments and contacting charities to help pay for associated costs, she is now helping to navigate the legal world to prevent parents of dying children from being deported now that their visas are in jeopardy. As I scrolled the internet trying to find a prayer written by someone who has a greater clarity of what words to say, I stumbled upon a screenshot of someone warning about, “the sin of empathy” in reply to a sermon where the preacher entreated the listeners to be merciful. I am increasingly dumbfounded by those who claim to follow my God and who read my same scripture. As discouraging as it may seem, Jesus knew that even this would come to pass: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23) Friends, if you have ever doubted it, there is a need for the Good News of the Gospel to be proclaimed boldly. We are called to challenge messages of hate and discrimination with a message of love, hope and belonging. And that calling is now. Blessings, Pastor Chris |
AuthorPastor Chris Hallam earned her degree at Princeton Theological Seminary and moved to Michigan to become a pastor. Also trained as a studio artist and graphic designer, with an interest in pop culture and social science, her passion is thinking creatively about the future of the church. Archives
February 2025
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