by Al Staggs

Worship, theology, lifestyle,

politics, economics

are all connected,

they are joined together

in relation to faith.

For what is said and prayed

inside the church building

must be, at some point

connected to the outside of those walls

or else church becomes museum,

a fraternity of like-minded persons

who desire to remain removed

from real life, from the crying issues

of the day.

What does the Lord require of you after all?

To do justice and to walk humbly with God.

Yet justice and freedom are being

daily threatened by

well-funded forces that seek

to place God clearly

on the side of oppression.

Vast numbers who claim allegiance to Jesus

now cheer for the most egregious

laws and policies and support

the vilest of politicians.

The Church has become powerful

yet it clearly is in the wilderness.

Christianity appears to be enslaved

and the credibility of its profession

stands in disrepute and disfavor.

Faith requires yelling for justice

for the oppressed

or there is nothing left to faith.