11-02-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
November 2, 2025
There is a florist on Louetta Road that has a sign outside that reads:

God Bless America
Help Wanted

I’m pretty sure we are to read those as two separate statements, but since I’ve understood the phrase, “God Bless America” as a sort of prayerful request that recognizes that such blessings emerge from people who live as those who are blessed, it sort of makes sense to read it as a single statement. The Biblical Prophets were unequivocal in their belief that God’s blessings were intrinsically linked to how a nation, particularly Israel, treated its most vulnerable citizens, including the poor, sick, orphaned, widowed, and foreigner. Whenever calamities befell the nation, the Prophets would point to its failure to demonstrate compassion, justice, and kindness. While it may appear that the nation’s misfortunes were a form of punishment, I believe the Prophets were suggesting that a nation’s moral character is the framework on which everything else is built. Ignoring the suffering of the marginalized creates a house of cards. At first glance, Israel (and other nations, states, cities, etc.) might appear strong and healthy, but in fact, they are fragile because their structure is based on the values of false gods.

Continue to teach us your way, Holy God, so that those of us who have experienced your blessings might help bring blessings to the world around us. Amen.