28 August Revd Andy Chislett-McDonald

Spoiler alert. Religion and 'politics' mixing.

Justice, integrity and asylum. Scripture, reflection and prayer.
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Exodus 23:1-19 "You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with the wicked to act as a malicious witness. You shall not follow a majority in wrongdoing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice; nor shall you be partial to the poor in a lawsuit.

When you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back.

When you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden and you would hold back from setting it free, you must help to set it free. 

You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in their lawsuits. Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and those in the right, for I will not acquit the guilty. You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the officials, and subverts the cause of those who are in the right. 

You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt."
Reflection. Every now and then we are strongly reminded that God has a massive bias towards the poor, the oppressed, the powerless and those needing asylum in our midst.  

There are laws being passed in the UK that seem to fly in the face of these verses. It gets harder for the poor to attain justice; politicians seem to have a light touch with honesty and those seeking asylum...Well, I hardly know what to write. 

So, what is the call on the church when we see families in inflatable craft seeking solace and safety? What is the call on the church when we see families in abject poverty? What is the call on the church when...?

Micha 6:8 "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy."
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Prayer. How long, O Lord, how long. In Jesus's name. Amen.