A perspective of the Old Testament prophetic books and writings seen through the lens of a wannabe social worker with a Bapthodist (that is Baptist and Methodist) background. God is good.
We (my class) are starting with Isaiah. I love this book, it's definitely a favorite. The passion of Isaiah is inspiring as an aspiring social worker, phrases like "Seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow" resonate deeply with me. All those commands in the very first chapter! (vs. 27)
The proceeding verses in Isaiah's pleading to seek justice is a call to action. "Wash yourselves. Make yourselves clean." James' wording of pure and undefiled religion rings true and he must have known the prophet's work well.
There is clearly a link between pure religion and action. It seems to me Protestants in particular forget the call to action from fear of it becoming a religion of works ( a common accusation against Catholics).
Baptists in particular love phrases the prophet Isaiah speaks for the Lord such as Isaiah 1: 11"I have had enough of burnt offerings!" and 1:14 "Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates." Baptists are known to bristle at words like tradition and ritual.
However, the text seems to suggest a neglect of justice and matters of importance in favor of celebratory festivals that leave the poor and in need behind. It's not necessarily a condemnation of the festivals but forgetting needs of brothers and sisters while you go about your worship. It's empty. These two should go hand in hand. How can one truly worship without seeking justice or rescuing the oppressed? This is a part of worship that doesn't seem to fit in our Sunday morning agendas.
But there is a call to work, to serve, to love, to do, to act. These are all part and parcel of worship.
I think it is common in our (American) culture to compartmentalize. When in reality, things are much more connected than we may think. I think both Isaiah and James sense this.
Isaiah, like James, sees a lack of wholeness in the people. You are doing some things alright but it looks very hypocritical when you lack doing these other things that are just as much a part of worship.
You can hear the echo of James 1:27 saying "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
The proceeding verses in Isaiah's pleading to seek justice is a call to action. "Wash yourselves. Make yourselves clean." James' wording of pure and undefiled religion rings true and he must have known the prophet's work well.
There is clearly a link between pure religion and action. It seems to me Protestants in particular forget the call to action from fear of it becoming a religion of works ( a common accusation against Catholics).
Baptists in particular love phrases the prophet Isaiah speaks for the Lord such as Isaiah 1: 11"I have had enough of burnt offerings!" and 1:14 "Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates." Baptists are known to bristle at words like tradition and ritual.
However, the text seems to suggest a neglect of justice and matters of importance in favor of celebratory festivals that leave the poor and in need behind. It's not necessarily a condemnation of the festivals but forgetting needs of brothers and sisters while you go about your worship. It's empty. These two should go hand in hand. How can one truly worship without seeking justice or rescuing the oppressed? This is a part of worship that doesn't seem to fit in our Sunday morning agendas.
But there is a call to work, to serve, to love, to do, to act. These are all part and parcel of worship.
I think it is common in our (American) culture to compartmentalize. When in reality, things are much more connected than we may think. I think both Isaiah and James sense this.
CONFESSION is linked to
CLEANSING which is linked to learning to
DO GOOD which is
SEEKING JUSTICE and
RESCUING OPPRESSED which is linked to
PURE and UNDEFILED RELIGION.
Isaiah, like James, sees a lack of wholeness in the people. You are doing some things alright but it looks very hypocritical when you lack doing these other things that are just as much a part of worship.
Worship cannot be divorced from social justice.
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