2013 Senior Youth/Young 2013 Senior Youth/Young Adult Adult

Week of PrayerWeek of Prayer

Title:

““ REVIVAL THAT REVIVAL THAT COUNTS ...COUNTS ...

A call to justice and MercyA call to justice and Mercy ””

Day 6Day 6

Thursday

“ “ Agents Agents of Justice of Justice

and Beauty and Beauty ””

The resurrection of The resurrection of JesusJesus changes everything. changes everything.It is the core fact — the It is the core fact — the

central event — of Christianity central event — of Christianity and, as such, sometimes and, as such, sometimes kind of merely assumed kind of merely assumed

rather than truly rather than truly rememberedremembered

and celebrated.and celebrated.

But we cannot overestimate the But we cannot overestimate the significance of what happened that significance of what happened that

Sunday morning after Jesus was Sunday morning after Jesus was crucified, and we should take every crucified, and we should take every opportunity to remind ourselves of opportunity to remind ourselves of

this astounding reality and its this astounding reality and its implications for everything — all our implications for everything — all our

lives, all our dreams, all our lives, all our dreams, all our hopes.hopes.

So much of what we take for So much of what we take for granted about life and death —granted about life and death —

what is important and meaningful — what is important and meaningful — comes to us from the culture in comes to us from the culture in

which we are born, educated, and which we are born, educated, and live. We simply breathe in so much live. We simply breathe in so much of our worldviews from what others of our worldviews from what others around us take for granted — which around us take for granted — which is another reason that remembering is another reason that remembering

the Resurrection is so valuable; ...the Resurrection is so valuable; ...

... It is a story powerful enough ... It is a story powerful enough to jolt our worldviews and to jolt our worldviews and

taken-for-granteds, opening us taken-for-granteds, opening us to not just a new way of to not just a new way of

looking at life but a new kind looking at life but a new kind of life, with different ways of of life, with different ways of

telling our stories, different telling our stories, different values, and different priorities.values, and different priorities.

Perhaps the Resurrection has its Perhaps the Resurrection has its most profound effect on how most profound effect on how we measure our lives and our we measure our lives and our attitude to winning and losing. attitude to winning and losing.

Christian writer Ron Sider puts it Christian writer Ron Sider puts it like this: “ like this: “ Those who Those who

understand the empty tomb can understand the empty tomb can affordafford

to lose now.”to lose now.”((I am Not a Social ActivistI am Not a Social Activist).).

Because of the sacrifice — the loss –Because of the sacrifice — the loss –of Jesus and His resurrection victory, of Jesus and His resurrection victory, faithfulness is always more important faithfulness is always more important

than success, no matter how we than success, no matter how we measure that success. Not only is measure that success. Not only is

what Jesus did the foundation for this what Jesus did the foundation for this reassessment of our lives, it is also the reassessment of our lives, it is also the model: “ model: “ For the joy set before Him He For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, endured the cross, scorning its shame,

and sat down at the right hand ofand sat down at the right hand ofthe throne of God the throne of God ” ” (Hebrews 12:2)(Hebrews 12:2)..

When “When “ we understand the we understand the empty tombempty tomb ” we can confront ” we can confront our inevitable disappointments our inevitable disappointments and losses in a different way. and losses in a different way. No longer do we have to win, No longer do we have to win, guard, and maintain our image guard, and maintain our image

or be a “or be a “ success ” to justifysuccess ” to justifyour place in the world orour place in the world or

our sense of worth.our sense of worth.

No longer does our opinion No longer does our opinion have to win every argument have to win every argument

or have the last word.or have the last word.

The last word — or the Word The last word — or the Word that will be the last word — that will be the last word —

has already been spoken.has already been spoken.

Of course, it is Of course, it is precisely this assurance precisely this assurance that means we do not that means we do not have to be so uptight have to be so uptight

about winning andabout winning andlosing today.losing today.

So often contrary to the So often contrary to the values assumed and imposed values assumed and imposed upon us in almost everything upon us in almost everything

we are told and taught,we are told and taught,the eternal realities of the the eternal realities of the

Resurrection-life free us from Resurrection-life free us from the need for immediate the need for immediate results and instant wins.results and instant wins.

““ Our response to the hope we Our response to the hope we have for eternity is to commit have for eternity is to commit ourselves to working for God in ourselves to working for God in

the here and now, knowing the here and now, knowingthat what we do has eternal that what we do has eternal

significancesignificance ””(Julie Clawson, (Julie Clawson, Everyday JusticeEveryday Justice).).

The Resurrection must change The Resurrection must change everything. In the Resurrection, everything. In the Resurrection, Jesus turned the tide of history.Jesus turned the tide of history.

It is a guarantee of new life andIt is a guarantee of new life anda new world to come but also the a new world to come but also the beginning of a new kind of life that beginning of a new kind of life that

has now broken into our world. has now broken into our world.

The kingdom of God is already with The kingdom of God is already with us, even if not yet complete. us, even if not yet complete.

With this realization, we begin With this realization, we begin to see this as a reality in which to see this as a reality in which

we can participate and even we can participate and even contribute to today, perhaps contribute to today, perhaps

particularly as agents of justice particularly as agents of justice and beauty in a world that and beauty in a world that

desperately needs moredesperately needs moreof both.of both.

JusticeJustice

We believe God is going to judge We believe God is going to judge the world and to return to set the world and to return to set

right the wrongs that are done in right the wrongs that are done in the world, so we should embrace the world, so we should embrace

the Bible’s call for justice and the Bible’s call for justice and begin to live in ways that are begin to live in ways that are

consistent with how theconsistent with how theworld will be.world will be.

In working and serving, we partner In working and serving, we partner with God in how He serves the with God in how He serves the

world today and in building toward world today and in building toward His coming kingdom. As Creator His coming kingdom. As Creator but also as Someone who hears but also as Someone who hears

the cries of the poor, God is the cries of the poor, God is working to serve and care forworking to serve and care forus all, even those we might us all, even those we might

sometimes overlook: ...sometimes overlook: ...

… “… “ He upholds the cause of the He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the free, the Lord gives sight to the

blind, the Lord lifts up those who blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustainsover the foreigner and sustainsthe fatherless and the widow.”the fatherless and the widow.”

(Psalm 146:7–9)(Psalm 146:7–9)..

While we might feel While we might feel overwhelmed by the needs we overwhelmed by the needs we

see around us and, at times,see around us and, at times,in our own lives, it’s God who in our own lives, it’s God who

does it — He gives, frees, does it — He gives, frees, upholds, watches over, and upholds, watches over, and

serves. Remarkably, one of the serves. Remarkably, one of the ways He does that is through ways He does that is through

His people — us.His people — us.

Again, we are invited to join in His Again, we are invited to join in His mission to our world with what He is mission to our world with what He is already doing — continuing what Jesus already doing — continuing what Jesus did and serving Him by serving others.did and serving Him by serving others.While we appreciate acts of kindness While we appreciate acts of kindness

and goodness, acts of service and and goodness, acts of service and justice have a broader impact, justice have a broader impact, announcing that the hurt and announcing that the hurt and brokenness we are seeking tobrokenness we are seeking toaddress are not the way Godaddress are not the way God

desires them to be.desires them to be.

When people ask how God When people ask how God could allow suffering, we could allow suffering, we

seek to work with God to seek to work with God to change it. We might not be change it. We might not be

able to fix lives in our able to fix lives in our communities but, working communities but, working with God in this way, wewith God in this way, we

can change them.can change them.

In the power of the In the power of the Resurrection and the humilityResurrection and the humilityof Jesus, serving others and of Jesus, serving others and

seeking their good is one seeking their good is one way we can show what God way we can show what God is really like, when He can is really like, when He can be obscured by the wrong be obscured by the wrong

we see around us: ...we see around us: ...

... “... “ Search heaven and earth, Search heaven and earth, and there is no truth revealed and there is no truth revealed more powerful than that which more powerful than that which is made manifest in works of is made manifest in works of mercy to those who need our mercy to those who need our sympathy and aid. This is the sympathy and aid. This is the

truth as it is in Jesustruth as it is in Jesus ””(Ellen White, (Ellen White, Thoughts from the Thoughts from the

Mount of BlessingMount of Blessing))..

BeautyBeautyWe believe God created and is We believe God created and is going to recreate our world in going to recreate our world in perfection and beauty, so we perfection and beauty, so we

should practice our God-given role should practice our God-given role as stewards of creation and co-as stewards of creation and co-

creators of beauty, and again begin creators of beauty, and again begin to live in ways that are consistent to live in ways that are consistent

with how the world will be.with how the world will be.

In In BreathBreath, a story by Australian , a story by Australian writer Tim Winton, one of his writer Tim Winton, one of his

characters describes his first characters describes his first glimpse of surfing: “glimpse of surfing: “ I couldn’t I couldn’t

have put words to it as a boy, have put words to it as a boy, but later I understood what but later I understood what

seized my imagination that day.seized my imagination that day. How strange it was to see men How strange it was to see men

do something beautiful. ... do something beautiful. ...

Something pointless and elegant,Something pointless and elegant,as though nobody saw or cared ... as though nobody saw or cared ...

We never spoke about theWe never spoke about thebusiness of beauty ...business of beauty ...

But for me there was still the But for me there was still the outlaw feeling of doing something outlaw feeling of doing something

graceful, as if dancing on water graceful, as if dancing on water was the best and bravest thingwas the best and bravest thing

a man could do.”a man could do.”

But in describing surfing asBut in describing surfing as““ pointless and beautiful,” pointless and beautiful,”

perhaps Winton misses the perhaps Winton misses the point of beauty — that in a point of beauty — that in a

world created and lovedworld created and lovedby God, beauty isby God, beauty is

never pointless.never pointless.

Beginning with a creation that was Beginning with a creation that was ““very goodvery good” ” (Genesis 1:31) (Genesis 1:31) to the Old to the Old Testament poetry that exults in the Testament poetry that exults in the

wonders of the Creator to Jesus’ wonders of the Creator to Jesus’ pointing to the flowers on the hillside pointing to the flowers on the hillside (see Matthew 6:28–30)(see Matthew 6:28–30), beauty is always , beauty is always

a glimpse of the power, goodness, a glimpse of the power, goodness,and love of God, and an awakened and love of God, and an awakened

appreciation of beauty is a stepappreciation of beauty is a steptoward connecting with that reality.toward connecting with that reality.

The pointedness of beauty is The pointedness of beauty is why theologian N T Wright why theologian N T Wright insists on beauty as a key insists on beauty as a key

component of what the church component of what the church should be pursuing in the world should be pursuing in the world

today: “ today: “ The church should The church should reawaken its hunger for beauty reawaken its hunger for beauty at every level. This is essential at every level. This is essential

and urgent. ...and urgent. ...

““... It is essential to Christian ... It is essential to Christian living that we should celebrate living that we should celebrate

the goodness of creation, the goodness of creation, ponder its present brokenness, ponder its present brokenness,

and, insofar as we can, and, insofar as we can, celebrate in advance the healing celebrate in advance the healing of the world, the new creation of the world, the new creation

itself.” itself.” ((Simply ChristianSimply Christian))..

As a first step, we need to find ways As a first step, we need to find ways to encourage art in its many forms in to encourage art in its many forms in

our churches and communities.our churches and communities.Our church foyers or halls can be Our church foyers or halls can be

exhibition spaces; our worship can be exhibition spaces; our worship can be more than just singing and speaking. more than just singing and speaking.

Our artists need our prayers and Our artists need our prayers and practical support; our engagement with practical support; our engagement with

the community can include shared the community can include shared projects of creativity and beautification.projects of creativity and beautification.

We need to make space for our We need to make space for our painters and photographers, painters and photographers,

sculptors and poets, writers and sculptors and poets, writers and filmmakers, musicians and filmmakers, musicians and

storytellers, dancers and actors, storytellers, dancers and actors, scrap-bookers and knitters, scrap-bookers and knitters,

designers and animators.designers and animators.In turn, our artists must beIn turn, our artists must be

serious and joyous, honest but serious and joyous, honest but redemptive and hopeful.redemptive and hopeful.

But our understanding of beauty But our understanding of beauty also needs to expand beyond the also needs to expand beyond the arts to encompass so many others arts to encompass so many others things we easily take for granted. things we easily take for granted.

Beauty is also created by our Beauty is also created by our gardeners and cooks, our builders gardeners and cooks, our builders

and homemakers, our tree-planters and homemakers, our tree-planters and professionals, our carers and and professionals, our carers and

counsellors, our surfers and counsellors, our surfers and explorers, our mothers and friends.explorers, our mothers and friends.

And we are all part of it: there And we are all part of it: there is engagement with beauty — is engagement with beauty — and a contribution to it — inand a contribution to it — in

any moment of recognizing and any moment of recognizing and appreciating something beautiful. appreciating something beautiful. Then, in pointing out or sharing Then, in pointing out or sharing beauty with another, we become beauty with another, we become evangelists of beauty and thus evangelists of beauty and thus agents of the kingdom of God.agents of the kingdom of God.

As human beings, we As human beings, we create in these and so create in these and so

many other ways because many other ways because God created, continues God created, continues

to create, and will to create, and will recreate a world in which recreate a world in which beauty is never pointless: beauty is never pointless:

... ...

““ He has surrounded you with He has surrounded you with beauty to teach you that you are beauty to teach you that you are

not placed on earth merely to not placed on earth merely to delve for self, to dig and build, to delve for self, to dig and build, to

toil and spin, but to make life toil and spin, but to make life bright and joyous and beautiful bright and joyous and beautiful

with the love of Christ — like the with the love of Christ — like the flowers, to gladden other lives by flowers, to gladden other lives by the ministry of lovethe ministry of love.” .” (Ellen White, (Ellen White, Thoughts from the Mount of BlessingThoughts from the Mount of Blessing))..

This includes the creation or This includes the creation or appreciation of beauty that we appreciation of beauty that we might otherwise be tempted to might otherwise be tempted to

consider pointless. Amid the pain, consider pointless. Amid the pain, fears, and sorrows of life, perhaps fears, and sorrows of life, perhaps dancing on water — or whatever is dancing on water — or whatever is your creative gift or passion — your creative gift or passion — isis

among the best and bravestamong the best and bravestthings a Christian can do.things a Christian can do.

Sharing the Sharing the invitationinvitation

And it is in the context of serving God and serving

others by seeking justice and beauty that our mission

becomes something different.

N T Wright puts it like this: “ If we are engaging in the work of new creation, in seeking to bring advance signs of God’s eventual new world into being in the present, in justice and beauty

and a million other ways, then atthe centre of the picture stands the personal call of the gospel of Jesusto every child, woman and man.”

(Surprised by Hope).

It is a different way of It is a different way of understanding our mission.understanding our mission.

What if we understood evangelism What if we understood evangelism as a gracious invitation to join in as a gracious invitation to join in

with the kind of life Jesus hadwith the kind of life Jesus hadand that focuses on working for, and that focuses on working for, creating, and celebrating justice creating, and celebrating justice and beauty in our world todayand beauty in our world today

and in the world God has and in the world God has promised to recreate ?promised to recreate ?

Of course, resurrection and the Of course, resurrection and the ultimate redemption of creation is ultimate redemption of creation is the work of God, but the mission the work of God, but the mission

of the church is about participation of the church is about participation in that life now, between in that life now, between

ourselves as a community of faith ourselves as a community of faith and as the family of God, and in and as the family of God, and in the various roles we play in ourthe various roles we play in our

church community.church community.

And from this community this kindAnd from this community this kindof life and hope should spill intoof life and hope should spill intoour wider communities, families, our wider communities, families,

workplaces, and all our relationships workplaces, and all our relationships and interactions.and interactions. It is not necessarily It is not necessarily

easy, but Paul assures us that easy, but Paul assures us that somehow acts of goodness, justice, somehow acts of goodness, justice,

beauty, and evangelism done in this beauty, and evangelism done in this life matter and even somehow life matter and even somehow

contribute to building God’s kingdom in contribute to building God’s kingdom in our world now and in God’s future. our world now and in God’s future.

Almost paradoxically, our Almost paradoxically, our understanding of the understanding of the

Resurrection — meaning we can Resurrection — meaning we can afford to lose — also means we afford to lose — also means we can’t lose. 1 Corinthians 15 is can’t lose. 1 Corinthians 15 is

one of the most profound New one of the most profound New Testament chapters on the Testament chapters on the

meaning of the Resurrection meaning of the Resurrection and the hope it offers us.and the hope it offers us.

It is a grand and sometimes lofty It is a grand and sometimes lofty philosophical discourse, but Paul philosophical discourse, but Paul ends on a remarkably practical ends on a remarkably practical

note: “note: “ Therefore, my dear brothers Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves move you. Always give yourselves

fully to the work of the Lord, fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor because you know that your labor

in the Lord is not in vainin the Lord is not in vain..””(1 Corinthians 15:58)(1 Corinthians 15:58)..

Living as part of the kingdom Living as part of the kingdom of God puts us out of step of God puts us out of step

with the world around —with the world around —in good ways.in good ways.

But it can also be difficult. But it can also be difficult. When we serve others, we risk When we serve others, we risk

ourselves and we risk being ourselves and we risk being disappointed.disappointed.

We can be frustrated in We can be frustrated in working for justice. Our working for justice. Our

attempts at creativity and attempts at creativity and beauty might not seem to beauty might not seem to

amount to much, but whenamount to much, but whenwe work in harmony with the we work in harmony with the kingdom of God, in the power kingdom of God, in the power

of the Resurrection, nothingof the Resurrection, nothingwe do is in vain.we do is in vain.

Discussion Questions:Discussion Questions:1. Why do you think that Christians have sometimes 1. Why do you think that Christians have sometimes

overlooked the Bible’s calls to seek and createoverlooked the Bible’s calls to seek and createjustice and beauty in the world ?justice and beauty in the world ?

2. What activities, projects, or ministries are you 2. What activities, projects, or ministries are you already involved with that contribute to justicealready involved with that contribute to justice

and/or beauty in large or small ways, even if you and/or beauty in large or small ways, even if you have not thought of the in that way before ?have not thought of the in that way before ?

3. What more could you do to create justice and 3. What more could you do to create justice and beauty in your church and your community ?beauty in your church and your community ?