Hearing the Hard Stuff

Preaching a brief series on Amos was both exhilarating and enlightening. I thought often of Steve Brown's comment that he nearly emptied the church preaching through Amos. It is a hard message. It pokes painfully at our culture of "turning our backs on the poor." Of course, we feel the pokes.

What amazed me, and encouraged me, was the near silence in the congregation as I preached those messages. Sometimes when I share a moving story or a heavy thought, movement and noise grind to a halt. During that series quiet seemed to be a steady mode. I was heartened. I was "proud" of our congregation. We were getting it.

What will come of it? Only time will tell. My hope is that we (individually and as a church) can truly turn around (repent)and set new agendas. I chatted briefly with the Chairman of our Mission Board recently. I suggested that we find ways for our affluent congregation to connect with the poor. He resonated with that. In America, what congregation is not affluent? Really now. We are so blessed. That blessing need not be the formula for guilt. Guilt only freezes us. But in our abundance we can choose to be generous.

So, let's utter those words first offered as a prayer by Bob pierce, founder of World Vision. He saw appalling suffering in South Korea in the early 50s. War loomed. And from his lips fell these simple words: "Break my heart with the things that break the heart of God."