Justice

Amos is one of my favorite Old Testament prophets. He was a multi-talented man. By trade a shepherd and a keeper of a vineyard. A fantastic poet. I know his words were Holy Spirit inspired, but God uses the gifts He has given us when He calls us to the ministry He has planned for us to do. And Amos had a poet's heart. Amos was also a man with a tender-heart. (I don't think it's a coincidence that his name means "burden.") On one occasion He keeps begging God not to send the judgment. And he was a fearless man.. After all, he was from Judah, and God sent him to Israel. It would be like going into the church on the corner opposite from yours and announcing, "Step aside, Pastor. I have a message of judgment from God for your church. What? Oh, I'm from the church right across the street. Pastor? No, I'm just a farmer who goes there." Get a real warm welcome, you suppose?
And his message! "You say you can't wait for the day of the Lord's judgment on the evil nations? Did you forget that God's judgment always begins with His people? And when He's finished judging His people--only ten will be left; ten found faithful. Do you want to be one of the ten?--then, hate the evil that is at work in the actions of God's people. And love the good that is being done among God's people. What is the good? Promoting and practicing social justice. Yep, making the second commandment a vital part of your ministry." And then he really gets personal--a regular toe-stamper. "Because you are not doing that, your worship turns God's stomach, and your worship music is just a cacophony in the ears of God. Unbearable noise."

The question is rather obvious, don't you think? Will you--will I--be one of the ten?

Who is that guy that smells like sheep that just walked into the back of our church spouting poetry?

Don't you just love those prophets and their message--for God's people today?.