Sermon - "The Pain of Ignorance" (Amos)

On Sunday, Rev. Joshua Patty preached on the prophet Amos, who was often quoted by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "Let justice flow down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."  Amos, like the preceding book of Joel, focused on the coming "Day of the Lord."  Unlike Joel, Amos was much more pessimistic about the "Day of the Lord," which for him would be a time of awful vengeance by God.

Amos viewed history as a time of perpetual decline, at least from the eyes of God.  People had been given a chance to live well, but at every turn they turned more and more away from God.  Now, the only solution to this decline would be the "Day of the Lord," when God would powerfully intervene in human history, punishing humanity -- especially the chosen people, who should have known better -- and setting things right.  This would be followed by God establishing a new order of peace for those faithful to God.

As Christians, we believe that God has already intervened in history, through the incarnation of Jesus Christ.  By following Jesus' example, we may limit the need for such a dramatic "Day of the Lord," especially one where almost everyone will be punished.

Click here to listen to the sermon.

You can also listen to the related Communion meditation.