And in Justice and Lovingkindness and Mercy
James Alexander, MATheol, PhD
When it comes to nations and states, the United States has always felt a certain sense of American Exceptionalism. Rightly so?? Maybe. At least in some ways. Back in the old “Melting Pot” days, when the US was a haven for refugees, many certainly did come here and really do quite well. Now? I hardly think you could call the US immigrant friendly.
What does the Statue of Liberty say? Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Really doesn’t sound very respectful, you got to admit. But there is a measure of truth to it.
But Exceptionalism? Well, there was a group of people millennia ago who claimed to be Exceptional. Their God, it turns out, didn’t appear so pleased with them. Their God said the s/he would betroth them unto him/her FOREVER. S/he goes on to say that God is going to do it in Justice, and Lovingkindness, and Mercy (Hosea 2). And, their God adds that this betrothal would be in faithfulness.
But they never were much more than a second-rate power that only existed as a separate nation for a blink of an eye. What went wrong? Did their God not keep his/her promise? Remember God said the betrothal would be in faithfulness. Faithfulness to what? Seems to me to Justice, Lovingkindness, and Mercy…
Justice
What is it? There is more than one way to look at it. Some would say that shooting a crook was justice. Others that dividing everything half-half is the essence of justice. Is that what justice is all about?
Biblical references to the word “justice” mean “to make right.” Justice is, first and foremost, a relational term — people living in right relationship with God, one another, and the natural creation. From a scriptural point of view, justice means loving our neighbor as we love ourselves and is rooted in the character and nature of God. As God is just and loving, so we are called to do justice and live in love.
Could that be right? Those guys back then weren’t doing so hot at it.
This is what the LORD says: “The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They sell honorable people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals. They trample helpless people in the dust and shove the oppressed out of the way. (NLT Amos 2:6–7)
Just a question. Does that describe us? Our legislators are cutting money for social programs. My little city of 50,000 has hundreds of homeless. My church feeds a hundred people some weeks. We tried to incarcerate a doctor for preforming an abortion on a ten-year old child. (If you think you have my ideas about abortion figured out, you might be wrong!). When the SCOTUS legalizes discrimination against LGBTQ+ folks, and… well on and on.
They weren’t doing so well. How are we doing?
Lovingkindness
In a commentary on the Torah, we can read this definition of Chesed:
Today chesed is understood as an altruistic act of kindness. In the Bible, chesed and the parallel term noam refer to a covenantal arrangement between a powerful person or deity and their subject(s)…. Walther Eichrodt (1890–1978) defines chesed in the Bible as “the brotherly comradeship and loyalty which one party to a covenant must render to another.” It is, therefore, marked by mutuality, friendship, fraternity, loyalty, and love.
Then the commentary adds this: “Chesed is generally performed by only the stronger partner within the mutual relationship.”
How are we doing? Still with me? What do you make of it all?
1. Pharmaceutical companies charge so much for their products that many people can’t afford them. They all contribute millions to politicians.
2. Oil companies pollute our environment. They give millions to politicians.
3. Gun violence kills hundreds. Yet right wing politicians and the NRA are in bed together.
4. Churches (some) even want to kill gays. (Check it out!) And the religious right calls it righteous.
5. We pay for more and more bombs, while more and more folks go hungry.
6. This list could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Mercy
Here is a dictionary definition of mercy:
…compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.
So, the cops kill folks needlessly, and get away with it. Trump unleashes the fury of the Capital Riots on us. Legislators call the riot a peaceful demonstration. Streets filled with violence, and some of it toward the very folks of color blamed for the violence. And often, that violence by the folks charged with protecting us. White supremacists raise their hands and say “Heil Trump”. If a professor teaches about injustice to folks of color, it’s called wokeness or CRT. Indigenous Peoples and former slaves still wait for the country to make it right with them.
Faithfulness
That nation, so long ago, supposedly lost it all because they weren’t faithful to the covenant of justice, lovingkindness, and mercy. The Minor Prophets are clear. In my first seminary course over 40 years ago, we studied Amos. It’s all right there. And all over the place. I contend that lack of faithfulness to the very HUMAN (or is it DIVINE?) expectation was the downfall. At least that is how I read the book.
What could we do (and please note, I am not referring to a religious revival, just what the Universe calls us to)? What does the Universe, Humanity, and Morality call us to? What is needed from us? “Do justice. Love mercy. Live humbly” (Micah 6:8).
If this is all depressing, I’m sorry. I am worried. At least half of us claim we are Christians. Yet, all those good Christian folks are stuck in the minutia of silliness (who is in bed with who, prayer in school, book banning, clothes people wear, what bathroom someone uses, the pronouns folks prefer and so on.). Even Wikipedia nailed this one when it lists criticisms of Christianity:
…it is a faith of violence, corruption, superstition, polytheism, homophobia, bigotry, pontification, abuses of women’s rights and sectarianism.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Does it? Do we have to come apart at the seams? Guess I’m just not sure anymore. And we wonder why young folks are forsaking our values and religions. Is it really so hard to figure out?
Nothing lasts forever. All empires fall.
“All empires become arrogant. It is their nature. All empires fall, eventually.”
And I believe it. Is it our time? Justice. Lovingkindness. Mercy. Faithfulness. Maybe, in the end, it’s all up to us. Or maybe people like those in the old story of the Prophets can find a new way. I just don’t know. As the One running the show said to them, right in the midst of it all (from memory, I might miss a word) —
I know the plans I have for you; for good and not evil. Plans to give you a good end and a hope…
May it be so for us.
