#God is social, economic and civil justice. Link in the bio.

Have you added an intro under your profile picture on Facebook? How about a summary on LinkedIn or a bio on Twitter and Instagram? These are the one-liners we use to let people know who we are and how we operate in the digital world.

The Judeo-Christian God’s one-line bio? You can find it within the Law of the Hebrew Bible: “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing.” (Deuteronomy 10:17-18)

Central to knowing God is knowing that God provides love and justice for marginalized people. And it’s not just clever or poetic; it’s practical.

God offers provision in the economic system with the third-year tithe (Deuteronomy 14:28-29) and a prohibition of a second harvest (Deuteronomy 24:19-22) to make certain that people on the fringes of society are cared for. It prevents those with plenty from having too much; it prevents those with little from going without.

God gives protection within the justice system. “You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice; you shall not take a widow’s garment in pledge. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.” (Deuteronomy 24:17-18) Speaks for itself.

God invites participation in social systems. Three major feasts marked the biblical calendar: the Festival of Unleavened Bread celebrating the deliverance from Egypt, the Festival of Weeks commemorating the giving of the Torah on Sinai, and the Festival of Booths honoring the time of wilderness wandering. Preparing for these festivals, the people of Israel are told to rejoice with their families, and to be sure to include “the strangers, the orphans, and the widows who are among you.” (Deuteronomy 16:14)

As persons of faith seeking to live in the light of God’s love, we have to ask ourselves the right questions. As individuals and communities, how are we providing for, protecting and including those on the edge of society who are at risk for hunger and homelessness, unjust incarceration, deportation, economic oppression, addiction and abuse? How do we “love the stranger”?

#Reflection #Neighbors #diversity