Commentary by Rev. Michael VandenBerg
“Get rid of the chains you use to hold others down. Stop pointing your finger at others as if they had done something wrong. Stop saying harmful things about them. 10 Work hard to feed hungry people. Satisfy the needs of those who are crushed. Then my blessing will light up your darkness. And the night of your suffering will become as bright as the noonday sun.” Isaiah 58:9-10
7 Also work for the success of the city I have sent you to. Pray to the Lord for that city. If it succeeds, you too will enjoy success.” Jeremiah 29:7
This week, I want to speak to my fellow Christians. Let me ask you, what kind of city do you want to live in?
Do you look around and see the ills of the city and long for a better place? How should you as a Christian respond to the problems that plague the cities of America? Isolation, retaliation, intervention?
According to Isaiah, Jeremiah and yes, even Jesus (Luke 4:17), Christians are to be the arbiters of hope for the city. They are to work tirelessly for the poor, the fringes of society, the homeless, the broken of our cities. They are to set free those in bondage, those crushed by the pressures of our society.
Unfortunately, in a time when our cities seem all too broken, I hear more and more of us as Christians wanting to distance ourselves from the problems of our cities and to isolate ourselves from their needs. We see those streaming into America and instead of being grateful that they see America as a haven of hope, we ostracize them as outsiders.
Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers, yet we continue to disrespect our men and women who protect us for the failings of a few. We call for better leaders, then savagely attack even the tiniest bit of their human failings. We are called to care for the poor, the widows, the orphans, but then only care for those who are like us.
We need to be about praying for the success of the city, the welfare of the city, the people of the city and bind ourselves to them. If we did this as followers of Jesus, then we might work harder to solve our city’s ills. I want to encourage all my fellow believers this resurrection season to pray, work and bless our city with a huge outpouring of love to all who live here.
