Psalm 146:5-9

“The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.” vs. 9

After his baptism, when Jesus was in the wilderness hammering out the terms of his call in the distracting presence of the devil, he didn’t get a new playbook from the Spirit. When he emerged from the desert, all of his preaching and teaching came directly from the words of the prophets and the psalmists. These were universal truths, and he quickly made them the core of his gospel message. Again and again he proclaimed justice for the oppressed, the feeding of the hungry, caring for the stranger, and upholding widows and orphans. Today those basic teachings continue to give believers a blueprint for ministry and can even give us a guideline for political involvement. It’s hypocrisy of the highest order to say that we love Jesus if we turn our backs on the poor and the needy, or refuse to help the millions of refugees fleeing famine and oppression. It’s so important to remember these basics in the growing politicalization of American churches. No matter which politicians we favor, believers will always look first to the clear agenda of Jesus as laid out in the gospels. If we read his words carefully, it’s not at all difficult to see the connection to Amos, Isaiah, and many of the psalms. And it’s in that connection that we’ll find our template for action.

Thought for the Day: How has politics affected my congregation?