Texts: Amos 5, Jonah 3.1-5, 10 and Mark 1.14-20
The first in a two part series inspired by Ava DuVernay’s film, Selma. Originally preached January 18, 2015.
Letting justice roll down like waters is how God calls his people to worship and follow Him. Not a dribble of justice here, not a drip of justice over here, not some trickle down effect. No let justice roll down like waters, let it roll in waves, let it roll in torrents, let it roll. Wherever moral and social deserts are to be found, a mighty stream of righteousness is part of the solution.
The civil rights movement overflowed into the streets of America through the doors of the church. If we desire to change our world for the better, we have to be in it for the long haul.
Jesus is calling whom will I send? He is asking, “who will stand up for those beaten down in this present age? Who will speak up for those who have no voice? Who is going to dare to love their neighbors as they love themselves? “Who is willing to chip away at the dams of injustice with a hammer, with a screwdriver, with their nails, with a spoon—whatever they happen to have, so that we might take one step closer to that day when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness like a might stream.”
God is calling us and our world needs us.
These are excerpts from “Back to the Bridge.” Hear the full sermon below.
In this sermon, Todd quotes Bryan Stevenson from the Equal Justice Initiative. More about his work and book, Just Mercy, here.
