Justice, Kindness and Humility

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With all of the truly heartbreaking things that we hear about in our newsfeed everyday, I was overjoyed this past week to see that my good friends at Micah 6, were able to open Sprout and Micah Sips.  I'll include a link to the Oakland Press article about the grand opening at the bottom of this post.  Sprout is a fresh fruit and vegetable store that is located in place where fresh fruits and vegetables are not easily accessible in Pontiac, Michigan.  Many of the markets and grocery stores in Pontiac have closed which leaves only gas stations and liquor stores within walking distance for many residents.  The food available at a gas station or liquor store is not sufficient to nourish and grow young bodies and minds.  As the Sprout Fresh Food Store opened, Micah 6 was also able to open Micah Sips, a coffee shop that will offer a place for people to come out of the cold and have real conversation as they taste a variety of drink options from around the world.  Micah Sips is set to host its first recovery meeting as well.  The people at Micah 6 saw the needs that Sprout and Micah Sips could meet the moment they moved into the neighborhood.  Micah 6 has been an integral part of their neighborhood in Pontiac since they purchased their first property there.  They have planted gardens, created safe spaces for children to gather, played soccer, given rides, visited friends in hospitals, answered midnight door knocks and just have been truly friendly and present to every person they meet.  I think The Message translation of John 1:14 gets it right: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”.  That is what I think of when I see the people and work at Micah 6 Community. As I have shared before, I have been moving through the lectionary at our church in Hastings for just over a year now.  Last week, one of our texts was from Micah 6.  In a time where the church is debating its involvement with the political process, I reflected on the work that my friends are engaged in at Micah 6 and the verse that they have named their non-profit after.

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;     and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness,     and to walk humbly with your God?

I have truly felt helpless the last few weeks.  I wake up and I see decisions that are being made that put many people at risk.  I see decisions being made that silence minority groups, strip people of their land and close the doors on hospitality.  It is all a bit more than I can take.  I know that protest is an option and I am a big supporter of peaceful protest,  but I think we should be doing more.  The churches response over the past few decades has been to try and grab as much political influence as it can to help guide the laws of this land.  Millions of dollars are spent lobbying local and national leaders to put "Christian values" in our government and our schools.  While all of this money is being spent we have seen the treatment of mental illness erode, homeless veterans, abortion rates higher (under conservative leadership), the scapegoating of Muslims, starving children, declining education, and the list goes on and on.  We have forgotten what the scriptures tell us of what God is really requiring of us.  What is good, what does the Lord require?

Justice

The politics of Jesus require Justice.  Justice for the poor, justice for the forgotten, justice for the people who's voice is being choked by regulations and executive orders.  So when the government who rules has forgotten the last and the least, we who have been called to justice, take on flesh and blood and move into the neighborhood.  DO, justice!  Remember the call to do justice when your government has failed you.  You are always free to offer justice to those it has been stolen from.  this is the ultimate political statement.  We need to hold Nero accountable, to prophetically shout down those who make laws that hold people groups in poverty and despair but at the same time we need to DO something about it.  If the government takes away food stamps, feed your neighbor.  If the government cripples the economy and it results in local grocery stores closing their doors, plant a garden and give away the produce.  If the cost of gas continues to rise, carpool and give people rides to doctor's appointments.  We don't have to wait on Nero for our justice, we have the power to do justice, now.

Love Kindness

Notice the difference between asking a person to be kind and the call to love kindness.  With all of the challenges that my friends at Micah 6 experience every day, I can tell you that they love what they do.  Kindness radiates from their very beings.  To see the smiles on young people's faces as they gather in a safe space and the way that it infects every person in the room.  I remember one time when I was riding with Coleman, the founder of Micah 6, through his neighborhood.  We had just left from dropping someone off at their house and we passed another neighbor who was staring up at the sky.  We slowed down to ask what she was looking at.  "I'm looking at the space ship", she said.  Coleman and I looked at one another, not sure how to react.  When we asked for further clarification, she explained how a space shuttle was in orbit and you could see it making a pass directly above us.  We parked the car and stood there for a while with big smiles on our faces.  We had missed it until the kindness of a neighbor broke through our initial judgement and created a moment of wonder.  Kindness takes the time to slow down and look.  Kindness doesn't rush to judgment, it's to busy loving for that.

Walk Humbly

The kind of work that Micah 6 is engaged is real on the ground training.  It isn't just training for those who are new to the community, it is training from the top down.  Mistakes are made, feelings are hurt, road blocks are put up and torn down and it all is a daily challenge.  Humility and really Kingdom work go hand in hand.  If you decide to take part in the politics of Jesus, the kind of politics that don't wait on a politician do what is right, just and merciful, you must take part with a humble heart.  When I first got involved with work in Pontiac, I thought I knew more than I did.  I was pretty sure that I knew what people needed, when they needed it and the best way to offer it.  If you don't humbly listen to the voices of people you are called to serve, you will quickly find that you are serving no person but yourself.  Humility also says that you don't have to recreate the wheel.  If you aren't sure what to do or how to do it, support those who already have boots on the ground.  Micah 6 Community's "Support" page can be found here.  Monthly partnerships and one time donors are greatly needed and appreciated.

http://www.micah6community.com/support

So then, don't be overwhelmed by all of the evil and injustice in this world.  Meet those who are in opposition to the Kingdom of God with a resolve to act.  The call for justice doesn't begin or end in a voting booth.  Love doesn't rise and fall with the political party who holds power for the next four years. The incarnation begins in forgotten communities,  it continues through faithful presence and is made manifest in the lives of all of those who have been touched by its love.

DO justice,

Love Kindness,

Walk Humbly,

To God be the Glory,

Amen

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20170123/sprout-fresh-food-store-to-open-in-pontiac