Amy Lauger, Describing the Christian Life in Twenty Words or Less

If you were asked to summarize in twenty words or less how to live the Christian life faithfully, how would you do so? What would you emphasize? What would you leave out because it does not seem essential to the Christian life? Does your life reflect what your description would say? Some time ago, when I compared my thoughts with a couple particular verses in the Bible, the differences were shocking.

Mo Leverett, an adjunct professor of my seminary and the founder of Desire Street Ministries of New Orleans, emphasized two such descriptions in a class I took from him a while ago. The first is from the Old Testament. Micah 6:8 says, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (NIV). Fourteen English words sums it up. In the New Testament, James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (NIV). Nineteen English words.

These verses greatly convicted me while I was sitting in Reverend Leverett’s class. My understanding of the essentials of the Christian life only covered part of the exhortation in these verses. I tended to focus only on walking humbly with my God or keeping myself from being polluted by the world. Yet, two of the three exhortations in Micah are about acting justly and loving mercy. The context of Micah reveals that the prophet is not speaking merely of interpersonal relationships with our family and friends. In fact, he has in mind a much more encompassing idea. The verse from James was just as surprising to me if not more. To look after orphans and widows? Of course, orphans and widows in Scripture represent any of the oppressed. Nevertheless, to include caring for the oppressed in such a short statement about what true religion consists of? This was astounding to me.

My former attitude was that caring for the downtrodden and seeking justice and mercy for the oppressed were tasks on a long list of activities I should do as a Christian. Then when I studied these verses and others, I came to realize that in God’s economy these are central to the gospel itself. God cares about these things as much as he cares about our personal walk with him.

My concept of Christian morality used to focus almost solely on my personal piety. I’m learning that this is only part of what God desires from his children. I have shared often the guilt of the Pharisees and teachers of the law by having a limited view of God’s law for us. Jesus tells them in Matthew 23:23, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-- mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-- justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former” (NIV).

Honestly, I have not yet become faithful to Scripture’s emphasis on justice and mercy for the oppressed. I know now that this is not a particular calling that God only gives to some of us. Our desire for justice, mercy, and righteousness to prevail in a world broken by the fall of humanity should be a defining mark of who we are, simply because we claim the name of Christ.

 

© 2005, Amy Lauger.

Comments

[Becky Wood]

Amy, Great article! May the Lord strengthen you on every hand to do His bidding!
PS. I am Kelly's mother by marriage, John's mom.

[keely]

I just wanted to add my thoughts to this. I love the way you put it, Amy, and was really challenged by this message.

Of course with my predilection for international adoption, I might emphasize Scripture's emphasis on orphans as being a literal (as well as representative). With over 40 million orphans worldwide, there are plenty for us to care for literally.

Still, the figurative message is one I really needed to hear today. Thanks for your thoughts, Amy!

keely
http://leimabean.wordpress.com

[Amy Lauger]

Keely,

Yes, you're right about not making the widows and orphans statements only figurative. I did not intend to exclude the literal by saying widows and orphans represent the oppressed in general. I intended to broaden the application.

There are many, many literal orphans and widows out there in need. As you say, there are over 40 million orphans worldwide. I'm encouraged and inspired by people, like you, who have a heart for adoption, even as a first option. What a remarkable picture of following Scripture's mandate to care for the needy.

Thanks for your comments. I can't wait to meet your daughter in a few months.