walking with God: an expository sermon on Micah 6.6-8

“With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6.6-8 NRSV)

Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly with God. These words are familiar to many of us, but what does it really mean to live this way? That is what I would like to explore with you—through the Holy Spirit—this afternoon. Although I grew up in a faith tradition that emphasizes social justice, when I came to Bluffton I encountered people whose lives were a more radical example of the justice, kindness, and humility that the prophet Micah is calling for. I met people who go on Christian Peacemaker Team delegations, literally putting their lives on the line to stand in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. I met people who not only articulate, but embody, Christ’s call to enemy love. These examples were both compelling and overwhelming to me; I felt called to live a life of justice, kindness, and humility…but I knew that it wouldn’t be easy. In fact, I was pretty sure I couldn’t do it.

As it turns out, the people that Micah addresses in this passage were equally compelled and equally overwhelmed. God makes it clear in the first few chapters of Micah that God’s people need to clean up their act; they have been unfaithful, worshiping idols, abusing their military power, and distorting justice. But in chapter six, God’s people encounter God’s call—much like I did when I encountered people whose radical lives stretched my understanding of God’s call to a life of justice and peace. Through the prophet Micah, God invites God’s people to come home—to repent and live in righteousness. But much like me, God’s people are pretty sure this call is an impossible—or at least completely unreasonable—one.

So in verse six, we find them questioning God through the prophet Micah—

LORD God, how can I even approach you?

How could I possibly make things right?

Would everything I own be enough to deserve your love?

If I sacrifice my child to you, would you forgive me?

Can you hear the desperation?

With each question, the voices of God’s people become progressively more dramatic—they are desperate to be reconciled to God. They know they want to live out God’s call, but they know how hard it will be. So they propose a list of acts of piety and ritual holiness that become ever more extreme….even to the point of child sacrifice.

But the good news is that the story doesn’t end there. In verse 8, we hear another voice, a fresh perspective—the prophet Micah gives God’s response to the people’s questions.

“Silly people, God has already told you what you need to do. Here’s the deal— God needs for your faith to be shown in your everyday actions and in the way you treat others. And one last thing—remember that every step you take, every single day of your life, is a step that you are taking alongside God. Living that kind of life means more to God than any amount of calves or rams or oil. God wants you, not your stuff.”

God has blessed me with several Micahs in my life—people who have encouraged me and walked alongside me on my faith journey toward justice and peace. I remember one particular conversation I had with a friend, when I told her that I wasn’t ready to be a pacifist. I asked the question, “But what if I am not ready to die for this?” Today I hear echoes of the questions of God’s people in my own question—“With what shall I come before the LORD?” And in my friend’s answer I can hear the prophet Micah—she simply said, “Peace is a journey. Today is the first step.”

“He has told you what is good….do, love, walk...take the first step.”

So, who is your Micah? I hope you can identify people in your life whose voices interrupt your feelings of insufficiency and desperation. But I also hope you will let me be a Micah for you today as we think together about what it means to live out God’s call to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.

First, what does it mean to do justice?

In short, this means that actions matter. The verb here is “do,” and it is here to remind us that God cares about everything we do. And it is no accident that the word “do” is paired here with the word “justice”—God wants our actions to be just, reflecting God’s own character. This teaches us that justice is not something we simply think about, pray for, or believe in—justice is something that must be lived out. This has been the case throughout the history of God’s people, with calls for justice echoing throughout the Torah, the prophets, and the new covenant. Today, doing justice can take on many forms—buying fair trade coffee, reducing energy use, withholding taxes that would be spent on war, or even taking part in acts of civil disobedience to stand in solidarity with our global neighbors. Remember—this is a journey and this is an invitation to take the next step for you, which will probably look different for every single one of us!

The next way we are called to live righteously in God’s sight is by loving kindness.

Here, the Hebrew word for “love” has a unique meaning. The prophet Micah is not calling us to a warm, fuzzy kind of love, but a deep, all-encompassing life of love. In English, this kind of love is best described as loyalty. So, loving kindness means being loyal to kindness above all else. This loyalty to kindness in turn reflects our loyalty to God. So, what does it look like to be loyal to kindness? How about being kind in spite of feelings, turning the other cheek, acting compassionately toward personal and national enemies because loving kindness is our highest loyalty? Loving kindness means seeking the well-being of the places we inhabit, even if it is not our home—just as God’s people were called to do in exile. You see, loving kindness is not a one-time event, it is a way of life that echoes throughout the history of God’s people. The prophet Micah spoke in a different time than our own, but the call is for us as well. Love kindness. Be good. Be God’s people and build up God’s Kingdom in this place and this time.

The third element of a righteous life is to walk humbly with God.

Here, we find out how we are to live with and relate to God. This command is filled with meaning, and the Hebrew words hint at what God is calling for. First, the word “walk” in Hebrew is the same word used to describe ethics; this means that the way we live out our faith should be a natural part of our everyday life, just like walking— and we are called to walk and live humbly with God. The Hebrew word translated “humbly” can also be translated as “carefully,” so the call to walk humbly is really a call to live an ethical, conscious life. Doesn’t that sound a lot like the call to do justice and love kindness? As it turns out, while Micah gives three commands, he is really painting a picture of one whole and holy life, a life lived with God.

That brings us to the last three words of the text…

With. Your. God.

Those three words are the most important words that I’ve spoken today. They not only encompass Micah 6.6-8, they encompass the broad scope of Scripture as a whole.

We are called to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God—but we are not called to do this alone. Not only do we have Micahs along the journey to speak God’s truth into our lives, we have the Creator and Sustainer journeying along with us.

So, go and do justice—take the first step on this journey. Go and love kindness—be a loyal witness to God’s radical love. Go and walk humbly—be conscious of every step you take. And above all else, go with God and go for the world.

Today is the first step on the journey.

May it be so. Amen.

Bibliography

Anderson, Francis I. and David Noel Freedman. Micah: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible. Garden City, NJ: Doubleday, 2000.

Limburg, James. Hosea-Micah. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1988.

March, W. Eugene. “Micah.” Pages 660-664 in HarperCollins Bible Commentary. Edited by James L. Mays. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2000.

Smith, Ralph L. Micah-Malachi. Word Biblical Commentary. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1984.

the collision of truth and life

“When revelation engages in dialogue with the seeking human being, it leaves him with all his—often contradictory—approaches; it does not compel him to follow a single path of thought that alone brings salvation. It also leaves him with his contradictory feelings; to their confused tangle it only offers its simple message: God loves the world; he loves you personally and has demonstrated it in Jesus Christ. In saying this, it has uttered what is decisive, even if these words have infinite implications that the hearer will realize at an appropriate time. Then, too, it will emerge that the plurality of tentative human endeavors and of real or supposed needs actually converge on the truth of this statement, without being able to anticipate it in the slightest.”

- Hans Urs von Balthasar, Truth is Symphonic, p 53

day seven: Yale Divinity School

Today I visited Yale Divinity School. To say that YDS is an incredible place would be an understatement—I so enjoyed my time there and look forward to returning for a visit during the academic year. Today I had an abbreviated, summer campus visit that included a meeting with Admissions, an overview of Financial Aid, and a campus tour. Based on my conversation with Admissions, it sounds like YDS would be a great fit for me; its identity is strongly rooted in both the church and the academy, which reflects my own identity and call. YDS is shaped both by faith and scholarship, and that is an exceptional combination! Further, YDS boasts a faculty in biblical studies that is unparalleled— all it takes is a walk into the bookstore to see the contributions of the YDS faculty to the field. And if that is not enough, the campus is gorgeous and the people I met were incredibly warm and welcoming. From what I can tell, Yale Divinity School is a place I would love to live, learn, and grow in knowledge and faith!

Glimpses into YDS:

Marquand ChapelThe front of Marquand ChapelIt has three organs—this is just one of them!On the Divinity Quadrangle

days three, four, and five: Lancaster Theological Seminary

They say time flies when you’re having fun, and that was certainly the case this weekend in Lancaster, PA! We arrived in Lancaster in time to have lunch with my wonderful roommate, Bethany, and her family. After lunch we visited for a while, and then we headed to my Aunt Marianne’s house where we stayed for the weekend. On Saturday night we went out to a great local place where we got to catch up with Bethany and laugh harder and louder than is appropriate in public. But we didn’t stay out too late, because we were up early on Sunday morning to join Bethany for worship at her home church. After that, Megan and I ate some good Amish food for lunch and headed to my cousin’s house to visit and catch up with their family. We ended our weekend with a delicious dinner out with my aunt at a great restaurant in downtown Lancaster called The Pressroom.

Of course, while the weekend was great fun, the real purpose of our trip to Lancaster was to visit Lancaster Theological Seminary (LTS). My campus visit was today, and it could not have been a better experience! My morning started with an interview with the Director of Admissions, followed by a meeting with one of the Hebrew Bible professors and a campus tour. From the moment I walked on campus, I was warmly welcomed into the LTS community and engaged in great conversation about my journey so far and how LTS could be the next step in that journey. I liked the campus and LOVED its location in a great part of downtown Lancaster. Another big plus is that LTS has affordable housing available on campus. I am planning to visit again during the school year so I can sit in on classes, but as of right now LTS seems like a good possibility for me! Across the board, as I spent time in conversations and on campus, it felt like a place I could call home.

Some glimpses into our time in Lancaster:

Megan and I with Bethany at her house!The Brasserie in LancasterThe three amigas together at last!

Out to dinner at The Pressroom downtown

Megan and I with my awesome aunt!
LTS!

Chapel/academic building

Library

Fantastic reading room we found!

Gorgeous chapel!

day two: Eastern Mennonite Seminary

Today’s visit began bright and early with 8:30am breakfast with the Director of Admissions here at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS). We had a great breakfast at A Bowl of Good, the fantastic organic/local restaurant here. After breakfast, we had a tour of the seminary building and I met with one of the homiletics professors at EMS. Then I met with the Assistant Dean to talk about the degree programs here; it was especially interesting to hear about the different tracks available in the MDiv program. After that meeting, we headed to Subway for lunch with one of the current United Methodist MDiv students here. Finally, I met with the admissions counselor from EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP), where I could pursue a MA in Conflict Transformation along with my MDiv at the seminary. Overall, it was an enjoyable visit. While I had a great deal of information before I visited, nothing replaces the experience of visiting campus and getting a “feel” for the environment of the school. Tomorrow morning we head to Lancaster, PA to spend the weekend with my family and my wonderful roommate before heading to Lancaster Theological Seminary for a visit on Monday!

seminary road trip: day one!

Hello from Harrisonburg, VA! Today we made it from Ohio to Virginia, and tomorrow I’ll be visiting Eastern Mennonite Seminary. We made good time and got to Harrisonburg in time to explore campus a bit this afternoon and have dinner tonight at a restaurant that serves organic, locally-grown food. So—day one has been a great success! I am looking forward to my visit at EMS tomorrow. I am especially curious about EMS, as they offer a dual degree MDiv/MA in Conflict Transformation four-year program. So— the seminary road trip is underway! I can hardly believe that I am really on this journey—both in terms of the road trip and my journey of faith and call that is leading me to explore seminaries all over the country! But I could not be more humbled and content and hopeful—God is good!

A few glimpses into the journey so far:

Tunnel in PA

Lost on a (beautiful) mountain in WVA—the first of two mountains we didn’t mean to climb today!

Oh hey, Virginia!

Virginia mountains!

Our view for several hours.

We got peaches!

Eastern Mennonite Seminary

Campus near EMS

Views from the top of the mountain we accidentally climbed on campus at EMU while we were searching for the prayer labyrinth…We found the labyrinth!!The most delicious organic and locally grown spaghetti in the world (well, at least in Harrisonburg)!

Day one—check! Looking forward to the next eight days as I journey with friends—new and old—and the God who weaves these many adventures together into the (surprisingly) beautiful tapestry called life!

Job 37.18

Spent the evening at a local migrant camp for a mobile health clinic. It was a beautiful night—it’s amazing the things you see in the middle of nowhere, in the fields of Ohio. To think…I get to take God in, point God out, and call it work!

Social Holiness in Action: “Many Might Know” Hispanic Ministry

“Go therefore and make disciples…” On Tuesday nights in July and early August, members of Church of the Cross United Methodist do exactly what Jesus commands here in Matthew 28—they go into the world, meeting needs and making disciples. The Many Might Know Hispanic Ministry is a partnership between Church of the Cross and the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC).

Each summer FLOC sponsors mobile health clinics in migrant camps throughout Northwest Ohio. For more than ten years, Church of the Cross has been partnering with FLOC to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the families in local migrant camps. While FLOC provides health services, Church of the Cross provides a meal for the families and Vacation Bible School activities for the children. They also distribute clothing and hygiene items, meeting some of the material needs of the families.

Most importantly, Church of the Cross adds a spiritual component to FLOC’s mobile health clinics as they teach Bible stories to the children and pass out Spanish Bibles to all in attendance. While meeting physical needs is critical, this strong spiritual component of Many Might Know is what truly makes this a ministry, not simply a social service. Church of the Cross is an example to us all of what Wesleyan social holiness looks like— a collision of love of God and neighbor, overflowing into the world as a witness to God’s grace.

Puente de Esperanza: Fiesta!

On July 17, nearly 400 people attended Fiesta, an outreach event of the Puente de Esperanza (Bridge of Hope) Hispanic ministry partnership. Puente de Esperanza is a partnership of Fremont Hayes Memorial, Gibsonburg Faith, Gibsonburg Trinity, and Fremont Trinity, Lindsey Trinity, and Woodville United Methodist churches. Based at Hayes Memorial and with a satellite site at Gibsonburg Faith, Puente de Esperanza serves the Hispanic community of greater Sandusky County.

Lay Missioner Alamar Arriaga has been organizing Fiesta for the past six years, and this year the event was greatly expanded. New additions in 2011 included a bilingual worship experience and collaboration with various agencies for Farmworkers’ Appreciation Day. Pastor Guadalupe Rios of the Torre Fuerte faith community at Unity UMC in East Toledo preached the sermon at the bilingual worship service, with his son Jose Rios providing translation.

In keeping with past years, Fiesta also featured a homemade meal, bouncy houses and games for children, a live band and DJ, many booths to visit, and prizes for attendees of all ages. In addition to providing a day of entertainment for the migrant workers of greater Sandusky County, the incorporation of a worship service this year provided a spiritual foundation for the event. Puente de Esperanza is also launching a weekly bilingual Bible study and worship experience beginning on July 30 at 6pm, which will be held at the YMCA in Fremont. With worship as the foundation of the ministry, the churches of Puente de Esperanza are eager to follow the Spirit and build bridges of hope in Sandusky County and beyond!

New Hope UMC: A New Partner in Hispanic Ministry

New Hope United Methodist Church in Toledo, OH is a small church with a big heart for missions. New to Hispanic ministry, they began a mission project called “Mission Mexico.” As part of this mission project, they collected clothes to be distributed at migrant camps as part of the Many Might Know Hispanic Ministry and mobile health clinic. The congregation collected several large boxes of clothing to be distributed. New Hope will also partner with Church of the Cross and Maumee United Methodist churches to provide VBS programs in the migrant camps after the mobile health clinics.

On June 12, New Hope celebrated their new commitment to Hispanic ministry with a fiesta event including worship, a potluck, and a Hispanic ministry workshop. Rev. Lupina Stewart, Hispanic Ministry Coordinator of West Ohio Conference, preached the sermon and invited members of the congregation to be commissioned for the mission of Hispanic ministry. All those in attendance chose to commit to this mission, and Lupina had the honor of commissioning the entire congregation for the work of Hispanic ministry.

During the service, New Hope also presented Lupina with a $300 check for Maumee Watershed District’s scholarship program in partnership with the Oriental Conference in Mexico. These funds will provide a semester of schooling for a Mexican pastor’s kid. Following worship, New Hope provided a taco bar and potluck for those in attendance as well as community members. This time of fellowship included a piñata contest featuring piñatas made by members of New Hope’s youth group. Following the potluck, Rev. Lupina Stewart led a short workshop on Hispanic ministry.

New Hope UMC is proof that small congregations can come together to make a big difference. Although the congregation is new to Hispanic ministry, they are an example of what is possible if we are willing to be in partnership—with God, with other churches, and with one another. God calls us to work together and be in ministry with all our neighbors; New Hope has answered that call—will you?