Amos 7:7-14 Psalm 85:8-13 Ephesians 1:1-14 Mark 6:14-29
In a popularity contest between Amos and John the Baptist, who do you think would win? John’s diet and dress sense might appeal to a certain demographic and Amos has fig trees and heavenly visions going for him but they both have a lot that is against them and, in terms of popularity, they’re probably both relegated to near the bottom of the list.
Amos, the first Old Testament prophet to have a book named for him and John, often thought of as the last of the Old Testament prophets – these two men book-end history; and where does it get them? Amos, almost certainly killed by King Jeroboam and John, with his head on King Herod’s plate. They’re not the best advert for being a prophet, are they?
Amos preached a message of divine judgment, demanding justice from God’s people over ceremonial worship and rituals. His uncompromising message deeply unsettled the ruling classes. He spoke out against the way things were, and prophetically occupied a different time, a desired time, where justice would roll down like rivers and righteousness like a never-failing stream. Ill-equipped as he felt, as a simple farmer, he boldly spoke truth to power, even when his words were not well received. He knew his God. He knew the message he had heard and the visions he had seen and he shared it, even in palaces and temples.
And then we have John. Wilderness wandering, locust eating, John. John preached a prophetic message of judgment, repentance and justice too. Repent for the Kingdom of God has come near. He called out unrighteousness – even to King Herod. He called religious leaders a brood of vipers. He seemed unafraid to speak up and speak out. It got him thrown into prison and then, in a drunken scene of wild promises, false loyalty, fear and shame, his truth telling got him beheaded.
And that brings us to Jesus. His words of challenge and truth; his call to radical discipleship, unconditional welcome, care for the poor – before all others; his encouragement to outcasts and sinners (Come and follow me!), and his pursuit of justice over ritual and rules, made him a problem to the ruling classes too. It took him to the cross and got him killed.
Speaking truth to power is a dangerous game.
Challenging the status quo is costly.
Standing on the barricades will win you as many enemies as supporters – more, often.
In popularity contests, prophets rarely win.
But we are called to a different way of living.
Once we sign up to the Jesus movement, we are called to righteousness and justice, to outrageous love and incredible grace. When we have chosen to follow Christ to the end, we join the ranks of the Truth Speakers. We become those who call out injustice wherever we find it and we agree to pursue life in a new way, where money and possessions, rank and status, are not what define us; loving kindness is. And we chase after it with all we have and all we are and we won’t settle until we find it. And every time we see the old way, we go again. Over and over. It’s no wonder it’s unpopular.
…………
While I was away, I read something truly wonderful.
In her book, Sacred Rhythms, Ruth Haley Barton writes about praying for indifference. Praying for indifference sounds like the exact opposite of the example set by Amos, John the Baptist and Jesus. I felt myself react to her suggestion.
She went on to acknowledge that this might summon up thoughts of apathy and lack of care, and she says:
‘indifference is [also] a very positive term…meaning ‘I am indifferent to anything but God’s will’…a state of wide openness to God…where I want God and God’s will more than anything – more than ego gratification, more than looking good in the eyes of others, more than personal ownership or comfort or advantage. I want God’s will; nothing more, nothing less, nothing else’.
Hear that again… I am indifferent to anything but God’s will.
I want God’s will more than anything. More than ego. More than looking good. More than ownership or comfort. I want God’s will; nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. She goes on to say we must pray for wisdom and then chase after God’s will. Find it out, long for it, ask, pray and then take hold of it with both hands, regardless of what it costs. God’s will; nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.
That’s what Amos wanted. That’s what John the Baptist wanted – I must decrease so He can increase. That’s what Jesus wanted; yet not what I want, but what you want.
So consumed were they with truth and fulfilling their mission from God it got them exiled, imprisoned, beaten, beheaded and killed. And that was the simple bit. Before that they had to enter high places and call out injustice. They spoke up and spoke out and lost friends and followers. It didn’t just cost them their life, but it cost them every single day of their life leading up to it.
And it will cost us the same too.
The world doesn’t need good people, sitting in religious buildings, singing hymns and chanting liturgy. The world needs those who are indifferent to anything other than the will of God – nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.
The world might not realise that is what it needs, and it might not welcome that level of truth telling, that purity of love, that extension of grace, that demand for justice. Those of us who choose to walk this way might also come last in a popularity contest but if we are praying for indifference then maybe we won’t care. It’s a big call. It’s a big ask – for indifference to anything other than the will of God but I’m ready. Will you join me?
Let’s pray:
God, make us indifferent to anything other than your will – nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen.
Holy Adventures 