Protest Becomes Church

I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me.
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
- Amos 5:21-24

Amos probably was not very popular with the religious our political leaders of his time. He caused a ruckus. He disrupted the status quo, like we read about with Paul yesterday. But as Laura Lacombe preached on Sunday, so often this is where church actually happens - in the streets, with the protests. According to Amos, church certainly isn’t happening in the churches!

When you have about 5 minutes, take time to read the following powerful article by Andre Henry. He was a pastor and worship leader in the evangelical world before he got pushed out because, like Amos, he protested injustice. Let this piece, with its sadness and its hopefulness, speak to you today. Ask yourself if you can find church in it. Ask yourself if the Spirit might be speaking to you through it.

When Christians Won’t Acknowledge Racism, Protest Becomes Church by Andre Henry.