Kingdom Perspectives

Kingdom Perspectives Responding to Power and Violence 24th October 2013 What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

Power & Violence • 2 Samuel 13 • King David’s family • Ammon falls in love with Tamar (half sister) • Tamar was Absalom’s sister • Ammon’s close friend: Jonadab (son of Shimeah - brother of David) • Ammon seeks Jonadab’s advice – a plan of deception is hatched • Ammon wants to sleep with Tamar and she refuses – so he rapes her. • He turns violent and throws her out • Absalom sees her state, questions her and then silences her and tells her to live with it • David heard about it and was furious What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

Those involved What was the role of each man and how did they contribute to the situation? What could each man have done and how would it have transformed the situation? What prevented each man from taking action? What could have motivated each man to intervene or change? What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

Overview What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

Reflections • Where were the women in this story? • What ways could this have been prevented? • How was power used? What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

Power • The Bully • Glares • Shouts • Breaks things • Sulks • The Sexual Controller • Rapes you • Wont accept no for an answer • Keeps you pregnant • The Jailor • Stops you from work or seeing friends / family • Tells you what to wear • Keeps you in the house • Seduces your friends / family • King of the Castle • Treats you as a slave • Says women are for sex / cooking • Controls money • Expects sex on demand • The Bad Father • Says you are a bad mother • Turns children against you • Threatens to take kids away • Wants you to have his kids so as to control you – does not care for kids • The HeadWorker • Puts you down • Undermines you • Tells you: you are ugly, thin / fat, stupid. useless • The Persuader • Threatens to hunt you down • Cries – says he loves you • Threatens suicide • Threatens to tell the authorities • The Liar • Denies any abuse • Says it was only a slap • Blames drink, drugs, unemployment What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

Its starts with each of Us What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

Prejudices • A pre‐conceivedopinion likely to be harmful to another person or his/her rights • Generalises • Judges • Condemns • Philippians 2:3 – consider others better than yourself What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

ViolenceWe cannot “fix” the world by using power! • Example of Jesus • Had all the power • Chose love and sacrifice • We are called to imitate Jesus (Eph 5:1-2) • To respond in love (1 Cor 16:14) • Eye for an eye – leaves us all blind • Be reconcilers • Be peacemakers • Care for the vulnerable What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

Approach for the Church • An essential role of the local church is to help frame and inform every area of our lives with the Gospel • Equipping believers with a thorough understanding of Poverty, Justice and creation care (core characteristics of God) • Facilitation of dialogue around current issues of injustice within their own community, nation and globally • Encouraging engagement in social action the local church plays an essential role in the work of justice. • Volunteer approach • Pros and cons • Practice • Example • Partnership • Cooperation • Understanding roles of actors in relief & development • Dealing with the tough questions What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

Family • Why does family matter? • Building block of the community • Source of our sense of identity in relationships • God places us in families as a means of support, love, care, protection, well being, identity, belonging, fellowship, etc. • How does one’s faith impact and shape family? • Relationship commitments and responsibilities • How do we honour God in our role as parent, spouse, sibling, relative? • In what way does it shape / challenge our cultural traditions and models of family? • How do we cultivate our faith in our family context? • How do we enable our family to develop deeper relationships with Jesus? • How do we practice the presence of Jesus in our family

Called out to take Responsibility What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

The Gospel is not a call to social quietism Its goal is not to take us out of the world but to put us in the world If Jesus is Lord than people must be confronted with his authority over the totality of life Evangelism is not a mere offer of benefits – its priestly and kingly What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

What does Transformation Look Like? • Restoration of families & relationships • Healing & lives changes • Release from bondages • Freedom from oppression • Safety & security • Repentance from sin • Decrease in crime • Opportunities for work • Moralities increases • Ministries multiple • Hunger for truth - for God • Life in all its fullness What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8

Kingdom Perspectives