The Lazarus Lesson

We can find personal, spiritual peace through our faith in God which I have sought to affirm in these blogs. I do hope it is helpful in these troubled times. Yet how do we balance our personal peace with the world’s concerns and pains? Do we retreat into some form of bunker, away from the issues which need our attention?

Protesters in the United States, in our country and across the world have needed to decide whether to go out onto the streets or stay at home. Yet the police involved in the killing of George Floyd (who had contracted Covid-19) were definitely not practicing social distancing. How much better if they had. The crowds in London, as elsewhere, clearly feel that the issue of racism cannot be ignored. I agree. While I haven’t joined the crowds, we cannot let go of the things which really matter.

Religiously, it seems clear that President Trump does not read my blog. I don’t read his tweets either, it’s no way to communicate important issues. But his Bible-waving has now progressed to informing us what heaven is like. He has suggested that George Floyd is now likely to be looking down from the heights, smiling in approval of all that Donald Trump is doing, especially in relation to the economy and providing jobs for African-American people. If so, George must have a short memory. The brutality meted out to him, and to many others, the poverty and health issues, cannot be ignored or forgotten. Sadly, tragically, the President is ignoring the pain and violence and seeking to make political capital out of a spiritual concept which he clearly doesn’t understand. I have always thought of heaven as being in the closest presence of God.

Jesus speaks of a rich man who lived in splendour while a poor man, Lazarus, sits begging at his gate. They both die, and their roles are reversed. The rich man cries out in pain and horror, calling for water. He is told that there is no moving between the two locations. Then he asks that Lazarus be sent to warn his family – even in the afterlife he actually expects Lazarus to serve him when he did nothing for Lazarus. But the decision is not up to Lazarus – they already have their warning through the prophets and the scriptures.  Attitudes can be deeply entrenched in people’s minds and hearts, and the rich and powerful – and all people - should heed the warning that ignoring others’ plight is not the way of Christ and his followers.

Do Justice, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly with God.     Micah 6:8

 

God and Father of all, in your love you made all the nations of the world to be a family, and your Son taught us to love one another.
Yet our world is riven apart with prejudice, arrogance, and pride.
Help the different races to love and understand one another better.
Increase among us sympathy, tolerance, and goodwill,
that we may learn to appreciate the gifts that other races bring to us,
and to see in all people our brothers and sisters for whom Christ died.
Save us from jealousy, hatred, and fear, and help us to live together
as members of one family at home in the world, sons and daughters of one Father
who live in the liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland (Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press, 1994)