Devotion - Monday, January 21

As I prepare for my day of service, as a participant in Clemson's ML King Day of Service, I realized my tendency to separate the devotional aspects of my ministry from the activist parts.  Notice that I am admitting doing this in my ministry, not in my life.  It would be impossible to do this in the case of the latter.

I do consider myself to be politically active.  I vote.  I write my Congressional representatives.  I contribute to political action committees.  I read and I discuss issues - with those whose opinions differ greatly from my own as well as with those who agree.

If there is any legitimacy to the suggestion that as a campus pastor I am in the role of mentor for a group of young adult disciples, then I need to make sure this part of my spiritual quest is also open for critique and/or possible imitation.

ML King, Jr knew that it is impossible to separate what we believe from how we act.  The actions we take reveal what is at the core of our existence.  "Why We Can't Wait" is a call to the religious community to stand up for the Word of God and stand with those who are suffering from modern day Pharaohs. 

We see the same kind of conviction and linking of faith in Barack Obama.  His is not a religious identity formed by a moral code, but a following of Christ to do the right thing.  Most of you are too young to remember the contrast between the Christianity of Jimmy Carter and that of Ronald Regan.  The Moral Majority chose to support Regan and that group of Christians have (until this most recent election cycle) continued to select that type. 

Our faith in Christ does lift us to a higher moral code.  But being a Christian ought to mean something more than forcing moral codes on those around us.  There are religious zealots who seek to do that.  And, for the most part, we have chosen to oppose them.

Our faith in Christ moves us to "bring good news to the poor.... to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free."  The  piety which rests in my heart is one which binds up the brokenhearted, regardless of whether they might pass some religious litmus test.

I will be joined by some of you today, doing the behind-the-scenes work which makes it possible for families to live in a good, decent house.  The work I do this day is every bit as much of my devotion to God as was the work I did yesterday (Sunday).  And this work grows out of my dedication to studying scripture and out of the conversations I have with God.  I am doing what it is that God has instructed me to do.  If He had not, then I would not be doing it.