Aug 25 2008
summit: just us
One of the consistent reminders of the summit was the outrageous truth that God has chosen to work through the church to accomplish God’s purposes in the world. In fact one of the highlights for me was a great video piece that explored the the paradox we face when we realize that God’s response to the suffering and evil of the world it to call out a people who will be a conduit of grace and mercy.
Lot’s of people reminded us that we were God’s plan for the world. At least one of them went on to use some variation on one of my favorite lines, “the church is is plan A and there is no plan B.”
But nobody had as cool a way to remind us of this truth than Efrem Smith. You will need to read this quote aloud to realize how cool it is.
He said (something like) “When Jesus returns there will be justice, but until then its just us.”
I confess that I wallow sometimes in the state of the world. I get overwhelmed and I cry out to God in frustration. I ask where is justice. God’s answer is consistent, “That is why I have called you.” God has always used the same method for blessing the world. God has set apart a person of a family, or a race or a group of people, and told them to live differently and in their difference to be a conduit for the blessing of God the world. When I complain against God, “Why don’t you do something?” I sense God’s response, “I have millions of followers populating the most powerful nations in the world, why don’t you all quit using your resources to make your own lives better and to kill your enemies and start using your resources for justice and mercy. I already have done something, I have created the church and empowered the church, and blessed the church and called the church to do mercy in the world.”
I want God’s justice, but I trouble imagining that God’s plan for now is just us. But my limited imagination does not change the truth. As Ghandi almost said, “Be the change that God wants to see in the world.”
on the walk
-Ethan
