I'm a Priest, You're a Priest...

all God's children are Priests. "When God invites us to be priests, it's an invitation to show the world who this God is and what this God is like."

This is a good read. And if the Holy Spirit lays it on your heart to read it, then listen. It is "Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile" by Rob Bell. It is an easy read...only takes a couple of days. But, it is not an easy read as it brings to surface many things that we as happy American Christians like to ignore.

God hears our cries. And when He hears, He is moved to action. He doesn't just hear the sound we scream when we are wounded, He does something about that oppressive cry. It is His nature.

As His priests, do we listen to the cries of the oppressed? Are we moved to action? Do we show the world who this God is and what this God is like? Is our nature consistent with His nature?

This is a difficult thing for me. I don't seem to struggle with hearing the cries of the oppressed. But doing something about it presents a challenge. I get so overwhelmed with where to begin. Who to help. Knowing I can't help everyone.

Perhaps showing just one person what my God is like is better than showing no one.

"It's as if God is saying, 'The thing that has happened to you--go make it happen for others. The freedom from oppression that you are now experiencing--help others experience that same freedom. The grace that has been extended to you when you were at your lowest--extend it to others. In the same ways that I heard your cry, go and hear the cry of others and act on their behalf."

The book describes America as an empire that has more resources than any group of people anywhere at any time. Ever. Since Biblical times, empires tend to run the same course: accumulate, gain a false sense of entitlement, and run around trying to preserve their blessing. This inevitably leads to forgetting God and forsaking the oppressed. Empires forget that it is the Lord that has given the ability to produce wealth. Therefore, luxuries become necessities and all perspective goes out the door.

Yes, it is easy to become indifferent to the cries of the oppressed. Still, the question lies in whether or not we will be broken and poured out like Jesus. After all, we are His body.

(Jenny, if you are reading this, then this book matches your heart exactly.)