Day 2 Lect. 5 - Cleaning the Bigger Lens: Structures and "isms"

Structures and "isms"

In this session we discussed government, organizational, and social sin. Even as Jesus was suffering at the hands of his persecutors, so was Peter "keeping warm by the fire" of his denial. How often do WE "kept warm" while we we know that others were suffering?

We may not be able to fix everything, "there will be poor always" sang Ted Neely in Jesus Christ Superstar, but we need to be aware of what is happening around us.

How do we respond to the call of the cold, the hungry, the thirsty and the oppressed? How do we serve as the hands and feet of Christ in the world?

What can we do? What can *I* do?

It is not easy to think of these things. It is hard to get our minds out of our comfort zone. But we really do need to look at it, but it can be hard to see>

What are we afraid of? WHO are we afraid of?
Who do we have a difficult time seeing?
How do I become more compassionate towards those less fortunate than I?

Think about the was in which we generalize people. By groups, race, gender, religion, social strata.

We have to start by really looking at these things under a microscope and being honest with ourselves about them. This is probably the hardest part of these seminars so far for me. I like to think of myself as not being prejudiced, as being compassionate towards all, but I know that I am not. I have more prejudices than I care to admit.
It is only then that we can truly clean the bigger lens, see more clearly, more broadly, more deeply, so that we may love more completely.

Notes from the Scriptures:
Isiah 58- The misguided fasting of the self-righteous and God's instruction on the proper fast.
Sounds like big government and politics.

John 8:1-11- Jesus, the Stoning of an Adulteress, and the Pharisees
Let us not judge, for we are imperfect ourselves. People who live in glass houses...

Micah 6:1-8 What does God want of us?
Not our sacrifices, not our works He wants us to Love and be Loved and walk humbly with Him.

James 2:1-5 Favouring the Rich Man over the Poor Man
Do we not do this every day? Do we not gravitate towards those people who we think are more like us, or can do more for us? Sometimes (often) we see only what material benefit a person has to offer without ever being aware of the spiritual gifts that one might have to offer.

Luke 7:36-50 A Sinner Forgiven (Tears and Hair)
Even with greater sin, so is there greater forgiveness. The self-righteous do not see their own sins.