Justice and Mercy, Not Fasting

"Should we plan for a day of

mourning and abstinence

next August, the seventieth anniversary of

Jerusalem's fall, as we have been

doing all these years?“

Zech 7:3

"When you held days of "When you held days of fasting every fifth and fasting every fifth and seventh month all seventh month all these seventy years, these seventy years, were you doing it for were you doing it for me? And when you me? And when you held feasts, was that held feasts, was that for me? Hardly. You're for me? Hardly. You're interested in interested in religionreligion, , I'm interested in I'm interested in peoplepeople.” .”

Zech 7:5-6Zech 7:5-6

"Treat one another "Treat one another justly. Love your justly. Love your neighbors. Be neighbors. Be compassionate with compassionate with each other. Don't each other. Don't take advantage of take advantage of widows, orphans, widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor. visitors, and the poor. Don't plot and Don't plot and scheme against one scheme against one another—that's evil.” another—that's evil.”

Zech 7:9-10Zech 7:9-10

A fast should be an outward sign of an inner disposition of

humility and of a heart turned toward

GODGOD

Ralph L. Smith, Word Biblical Commentary #32 (224)

• Micah 6:8  ”But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.”

SedaqahSedaqah == ( ( God) God) ++ ( ( people) people)• It isn’t individual piety expressed in fasting that keeps

the fabric of society secure, but honesty, integrity, compassion, and faithfulness expressed in one’s conduct and attitude toward others, especially the powerless, the voiceless, and the overlooked.

An An outwardoutward sign of an sign of an innerinner disposition of humility and of a disposition of humility and of a

heart turned toward GODheart turned toward GOD

Motive & Attitude• Isaiah 58:3-12

– Caring for the ignored and the despised are the evidence and fruit of a genuine and deep commitment to the LORD

• Without social justice, spiritual disciplines just end up being ways we try to impress God, ourselves, and others. But God isn’t impressed.

• Yet without a deep inner life with God, our best efforts to fight injustice, bring healing and embody hope will eventually run out of steam. We’ll be depressed.

• If our MOTIVE for fasting is to be humbly If our MOTIVE for fasting is to be humbly transformed into God’s champions for the ignored transformed into God’s champions for the ignored and despised, then our fasting is for God and the and despised, then our fasting is for God and the people on God’s heart, not for behaving religiously.people on God’s heart, not for behaving religiously.

Which Comes First?

It sort of depends.

No Small Matter

• Zech 7:11-14Zech 7:11-14 Jewish people refused to care Jewish people refused to care about what really mattered to Yahweh >> about what really mattered to Yahweh >> Yahweh was furious!Yahweh was furious!– Ignored their prayersIgnored their prayers– Would make them homeless strangersWould make them homeless strangers– Sucked the life out of their landSucked the life out of their land

• Most American Christians today must think a) Most American Christians today must think a) God doesn’t know, b) God doesn’t care, or c) God doesn’t know, b) God doesn’t care, or c) God is thrilled with narcissistic religions. God is thrilled with narcissistic religions.

Our Growing Conviction & Commitment

• EvergreenLA A Faith Village is a spirit-empowered community being formed to engage in biblical reconciliation and missional living– Not either/or but both/and

• “An outward sign of an inner disposition of HUMILITY and of a HEART turned toward God”– “LORD, I can’t transform myself into Your

agent of healing, Your champion of the unseen and Your friend to the detested. Only You can do this miracle in me. Make me more like You, Jesus. Make me like You.”