It has become increasingly evident that the people in the United States are living in fear of the direction that our political systems is heading. I hear it all the time. And the saddest part is that even once close families are perilously divided by who voted for who. Pointing fingers of hate and anger in both direction.
One of the readings in the yearly church lectionary for Sunday, September 10, was Ezekiel 33:7-11 where God is talking to Ezekiel about helping the despondent Israelites, who had been exiled into Babylon (a place were bulling and meanness win), about their temptation to live as the wicked Babylonians. The Israelites had been taken from their lives as the “Chosen” people of God in Jerusalem. The center of their religious life of faith. Their home, where they found a solid foundation, and constant support, from temptation to wander away from God. And now they live with very little community support. In a culture that begs them to compromise their belief systems and the ingrained values of the Jewish Religion.
Many in today’s American culture feel the pull of temptation away from God’s way of living. Because, it seems, that the natural instinct of humanity is geared toward the power to win over others. We are competitive creatures who want to find success at all cost, and in the most direct possible ways. And the sad truth is, the ways of God — humility, kindness, mercy, justice and love don’t win!
That is clearly what the exiles saw in Babylon. The wick and mean get the prize! They got all they wanted, and more, by walking all over the "losers"; and climbing on the backs of others. They seem to have it all -- money, power, glamor! So, "if it works, don’t fix it!” Why not join them????
7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
8 If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand.
9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
10 Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?"
11 Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?(Eek. 33:7-11)
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