Friday, 23 September, 2004

This week's devotions are written by Redeemer member John Caron.



This series of devotions will reflect on the rich material contained in the Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW). Some of the texts will be familiar to those in the Lutheran tradition while others will be from infrequently used liturgies.



Holy and righteous God, you created us in your image. Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression. Help us to use our freedom to bring justice among people and nations, to the glory of your name; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer for Renewers of Society

LBW, p. 37

This is a challenging prayer. People with completely opposite points of view can, in good faith, pray this prayer. For instance, those who defend the administration's action in Iraq can pray these words while sitting next to another who prays, with equal fervor, in the context of opposing the war. If we are not careful, such prayers run the risk of justifying any action on our part and enabling one of the oldest sins: idolatry (making God into our own image). Is there a guaranteed solution to this problem? No. There are, however, at least two ways to lessen the risk of slipping into this trap. One is to take seriously the first line's reference to imago Dei (the image of God). We must remember that everyone we meet is created in God's image and borne of the same breath of God as we are. Secondly, we can remind ourselves that, as Christians, we see the image of God, most completely in the life of Jesus. By looking at the whole of Jesus ministry as recorded in the Gospels, we can begin to see a way of being in the world that is justice-making without being co-opted by our own personal agendas.



Connection: Let the Word of God speak to us, not the other way around. Whenever we see Scripture of faith justifying our own viewpoints or agendas, raise a red flag and ask whether we are making God into our own image. Conversely, when we contemplate an action that seems to move us out of our comfort zone, ask if this might be the voice of God calling us "to bring justice among people and nations".



Prayer: Lord, challenge our assumptions and help us all to grow past our own agendas, preferences, and viewpoints. Lead us to see the whole of your message, not just those parts that are comfortable to us.