Acts of Justice: Living the Resurrection
by Steven W. Manskar
The Lord of Life is risen indeed,
To death delivered in your stead;
His rise proclaims your sins forgiven,
And shows the living way to heaven.
Haste then, ye souls that first believe,
Who dare the gospel-word receive,
Your faith with joyful hearts confess,
Be bold, be Jesus’ witnesses.
Go tell the followers of your Lord
Their Jesus is the life restored;
He lives, that they his life may find;
He lives, to quicken humankind. * |
Christians are resurrection people. In Easter we celebrate his victory over the powers of sin and death. This season reminds us that the one who was crucified is now the risen Lord of life. He is very much alive and hard at work preparing this planet for the coming reign of God. The gospel writers tell us very clearly where and with whom we will encounter and experience his presence and power today: with the poor and oppressed, those who are marginalized, voiceless, and vulnerable (Matthew 11:2-6; 25:31-46; Luke 4:18-19; John 4:1-42).
Christ is alive! His life is the way of salvation, which is the way of healing, wholeness, compassion, and justice. Christ’s way is the way of shalom.** As Charles Wesley beautifully expresses in the stanzas above, those who seek this shalom will find it when they surrender their way and follow the way of Jesus.
This is why acts of justice are among the four ways disciples follow Jesus’ teachings included in the General Rule of Discipleship. Disciples of the crucified and risen Christ pursue justice because Jesus proclaimed and lived God’s justice. His good news is the reign of God that is here now in Christ and is coming (see Mark 1:15).
God’s shalom for the world informed and permeated everything Jesus did and said. Therefore, those who claim the name “Christian” and the vocation of “disciple” are obligated to be agents with Christ of God’s shalom for the world. Simply put, this means that disciples are under orders from their teacher and Lord to proclaim and to enact justice in with and for the world that God loves. Their participation in Christ’s justice/shalom work will give integrity to their Christian witness.
Acts of justice are always the most difficult for Covenant Discipleship groups to understand. They are often confused with acts of compassion. This makes sense because the two are so closely related. Acts of compassion often raise awareness of the need for and lead to acts of justice. Acts of compassion are what we do to address the material, social, emotional, or spiritual needs of individuals. For example when you encounter a person who is hungry, the act of compassion is to give them something to eat. Going one step further, a disciple could share a meal with the hungry person. In the course of the meal learn the other person’s name and learn his or her story.
The act of justice that could emerge from this experience would begin with asking why anyone is hungry in this community. The question leads to joining with others asking the same question. This may lead to acts of justice as varied as writing letters to elected representatives encouraging them to work to alleviate hunger among their constituents and across the state or nation; joining an organization that works to alleviate hunger, such as Bread for the World (www.bread.org); going to a city council meeting with others from you CD group or congregation to raise awareness about hunger and advocate for support and development of a community food shelf. These are examples of acts of justice that emerge from an act of compassion.
“He lives, that they his life may find.” Easter tells us that Jesus is alive and well. He is hard at work in this world preparing it for the coming reign of God. He calls his disciples to join him in this work of witnessing to and working for God’s shalom for the world. As you walk with Christ in acts of devotion and worship, he will open your eyes and heart in ways that will equip you to be his witness in the world through acts of justice.
Steven W. Manskar is the Director of Accountable Discipleship for the General Board of Discipleship.
* Charles Wesley from Hymns on Our Lord’s Resurrection -- 1746, #1.
** “The vision of wholeness, which is the supreme will of the biblical God, is the outgrowth of a covenant of shalom (see Ezekiel 34:25), in which persons are bound not only to God but to one another in a caring, sharing, rejoicing community with none to make them afraid” (Walter Brueggemann, Living Toward a Vision: Biblical Reflections on Shalom, page 16-17).
Recommended Reading
A Disciple’s Journal: Daily Bible Reading and Guidance for Reflection
This journal will help you connect the inner spiritual life with the actions of Christian discipleship and help you maintain balance between works of piety and works of mercy.
Available from Discipleship Resources at www.UpperRoom.org/bookstore or (800) 972-0433 for $12.00.
Blueprint for Discipleship: Wesley’s General Rules as a Guide for Christian Living
Methodist Christians sometimes exhibit the most unchristian attitudes and behavior. People notice. And it's reflecting badly on the church, but we can — individually and collectively — correct the problem.
Available from Discipleship Resources at www.UpperRoom.org/bookstore or (800) 972-0433 for $13.00.
Opening Ourselves to Grace
This four-video, six-week Bible study presents a clear and contemporary understanding of Wesleyan spiritual practices.
Available from Discipleship Resources at www.UpperRoom.org/bookstore or (800) 972-0433 for $24.00.
Upcoming Events
Wesleyan Institutes
April 23-25, 2009 at Faith Community United Methodist Church in Xenia, OH
October 22-24, 2009 at Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, CA
www.WesleyanInstitute.org
Wesley Pilgrimage in England
May 11-20, 2010
With Paul Chilcote, Steven Manskar and Anita Wood
gbod.org/WesleyPilgrimage/
Recommended Reading
The United Methodist Way
This 20-minute Flash presentation shows how following John Wesley's rules in both doctrine and practice leads to transformed lives and a transformed world.
Download for use in your church
Covenant Discipleship web site:
www.gbod.org/smallgroup/cd
Andrew Thompson’s blog:
www.genxrising.com
Kevin Watson's blog:
http://deeplycommitted.com/
Dan Dick's blog:
http://doroteos2.wordpress.com/
John Wesley’s Sermons
http://gbgm-umc.org/UMHISTORY/Wesley/sermons/
Duke Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition
www.divinity.duke.edu/
wesleyan/texts/
EmergingUMC
http://emergingumc.blogspot.com
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