A Liberating Faith
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27)
If you are part of the same church, you assume theological commonality. We affirm our religion as Christian. Many of us stood before God and said “I do” to the questions binding us to the Presbyterian Church USA denomination. Those same questions also bound us, the body of Christ at Westminster Presbyterian Church of Des Moines. With all the religious, denominational, and congregational unanimity, one would assume we would all agree on issues and live peaceably. The one thing we all agree on is that Christianity does not create uniformity.
Uniformity is not a sacrament or even something that always pleases God. Often, God uses differences to challenge us and guide us to new wisdom and understanding. When I started seminary, the Liberation Theologians challenged my faith. Including Gustavo Gutierrez. Gutierrez and others challenged me with a new spiritual paradigm to seek “a new balance between faith and politics, the sacred and the profane, without reducing politics to faith or faith to politics.” Liberation theologians helped me understand the limitations of charity and the divine justice that requires the political sphere.
Charity does not address the perpetuation of poverty. God calls us to a systemic issue that requires more than the occasional handout. Charity does not address educational opportunities, the inequality of housing, or the unequal distribution of resources. Unless we work alongside the Holy Spirit to address the issues of the poor and marginalized, inequality will keep God from bringing the “new heaven and new earth.”
Today, take a few minutes to reflect on where injustice resides in your locale and throughout the world. What does it mean to be the hands and heart of Christ in the world? Think about the ways you can make a difference beyond momentary charity. None of us can make lasting changes by ourselves. Think of how your church addresses liberating change in its mission. How can you assist so that you can be part of lasting change in Christ’s name? The answer to that question can provide lasting joy to others and eternal fulfillment starting now.