What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

I had never read this short passage, or maybe my eyes skipped past it. Maybe I didn’t want to read it. But recently, for perhaps the first time, I read it.

There’s a harried tone in Paul’s writing. The status quo is gone. The kingdom of Christ is breaking in. Christ’s return is soon, relatively speaking. This verse is a call away from becoming “engrossed” in this old world. In, but not of. This verse challenges the American “virtue” (or curse?) of ownership — if I worked for it, it’s mine. In the “already but not yet” kingdom of Christ, this world is not our home and our home (and car, and books, and money, and clothes…) is not ours.

Is there a more pertinent message for North American Christians today? Haven’t many of us truly been trying to serve “both God and mammon (stuff)”? What would Christ tell some of us if we asked him what else we could do to “get in good” with him? Would we like his response, or would we walk away dejected, like the young ruler, because we are very wealthy?

– Steve

Did you know that there are still 27 million slaves in the world – TODAY?

Recently, someone expressed their fear that if we “focus too much on social justice, we’ll lose the proclamation of the gospel.” This person’s concern was authentic and heart-felt, and I tried my best to communicate why I believe justice for the oppressed is at the very heart of our Heavenly Father, using verses like Deuteronomy 15, the book of Amos, etc. Back in March, many of us were convicted of exactly why the Christian is obligated to serve those who are broken and marginalized, genuinely working for their “freedom from bondage.” Retired Gordon-Conwell professor Dr. Steven Mott spoke at a BFJN event on “Jesus and Justice.” Mott worked from Jesus’ reading from the scroll in the temple in Luke 4:18-19, revealing what that reading would have meant to the Jews to whom he was speaking.

Jesus’ mission statement at the outset of his ministry (which was read from Isaiah 61:1-2) — much like the book of Isaiah — was dripping with “social justice” language. Mott said Christians have often translated Jesus’ words as being metaphorical for spiritual blindness or oppression, which Mott acknowledges is a part of it. But the undeniable translation of the passage, Mott proposes, is that Christ’s mission of restoring humanity to God included not only spiritual salvation and eternal life, but physical redemption and release from oppressive chains. (in fact, here’s an interesting fact: Jesus doesn’t quote in Luke 4 the one part of Isaiah 61 that is completely spiritual/emotional — “bind up the brokenhearted”) We, the people of God, are to follow Christ into the world, fighting for those in oppression and serving those in need. This is Christ’s heart.