THE VILLAGE ILWIDIOT
Walt Wiltschek
“And what does the Lord require of you?” —Micah 6:8b, NRSVUE
“What does the Lord require of you?” These well-known words from Micah 6:8 echo across the ages. The author quickly answers his rhetorical question, with more words that many of us can likely recite from heart: “To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Some versions have variations, such as “act justly” or “love mercy,” in the text, but the general thrust is clear. The Message translation, as it often does, puts a somewhat more poetic spin on the phrases: “It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.”
The prophet’s question-and-answer comes in response to an exploration of what sort of offering God desires from people who have too often wandered off the path of righteousness. The conclusion seems to be that our actions and attitudes are ultimately paramount, not the motions we go through or the “stuff” that we contribute.
In an ironic twist, we often fall into the same sort of potholes as Micah’s audience all these centuries later: We know the words well, we go through all the calisthenics of church, and still we, too, frequently pull up short of committing to what God requires of us. Doing justice is hard and unending work. Expressing true kindness can be difficult, especially when others treat us less than kindly. And walking humbly with God can lead to unknown and unanticipated places.
Yet while serving as staff for the recent Church of the Brethren National Older Adult Conference (NOAC), I was reminded again of all the “elders” of the church who have tried to be faithful to this call of God over the years. I was amazed, for example, by Burt and Helen Wolf of Southern Ohio, who have been selflessly responding to disaster needs for at least a decade and brought a large van stuffed with relief kit supplies to NOAC. I continue to be inspired by Ken Medema, a musician and sage who has been blind since birth but brings powerful light to audiences across the country through his words and witness. I appreciate the biblical wisdom of Christina Bucher and Bob Neff, who turn over scriptural stones in gentle but provocative ways that challenge our assumptions and open us to new perspectives. The list could continue.
Many of these seasoned saints will tell you that they didn’t always get it right, but they have kept listening for what God might say next and doing their best to follow. Others who have gone before us have left a similar legacy, doing their part to create a more just and kinder world that nudges us more closely to where God calls and leads.
Individually, congregationally, and as a district and larger church, we do well to keep asking ourselves that same question: What does the Lord require of us?
“And what does the Lord require of you?” —Micah 6:8b, NRSVUE
“What does the Lord require of you?” These well-known words from Micah 6:8 echo across the ages. The author quickly answers his rhetorical question, with more words that many of us can likely recite from heart: “To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Some versions have variations, such as “act justly” or “love mercy,” in the text, but the general thrust is clear. The Message translation, as it often does, puts a somewhat more poetic spin on the phrases: “It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.”
The prophet’s question-and-answer comes in response to an exploration of what sort of offering God desires from people who have too often wandered off the path of righteousness. The conclusion seems to be that our actions and attitudes are ultimately paramount, not the motions we go through or the “stuff” that we contribute.
In an ironic twist, we often fall into the same sort of potholes as Micah’s audience all these centuries later: We know the words well, we go through all the calisthenics of church, and still we, too, frequently pull up short of committing to what God requires of us. Doing justice is hard and unending work. Expressing true kindness can be difficult, especially when others treat us less than kindly. And walking humbly with God can lead to unknown and unanticipated places.
Yet while serving as staff for the recent Church of the Brethren National Older Adult Conference (NOAC), I was reminded again of all the “elders” of the church who have tried to be faithful to this call of God over the years. I was amazed, for example, by Burt and Helen Wolf of Southern Ohio, who have been selflessly responding to disaster needs for at least a decade and brought a large van stuffed with relief kit supplies to NOAC. I continue to be inspired by Ken Medema, a musician and sage who has been blind since birth but brings powerful light to audiences across the country through his words and witness. I appreciate the biblical wisdom of Christina Bucher and Bob Neff, who turn over scriptural stones in gentle but provocative ways that challenge our assumptions and open us to new perspectives. The list could continue.
Many of these seasoned saints will tell you that they didn’t always get it right, but they have kept listening for what God might say next and doing their best to follow. Others who have gone before us have left a similar legacy, doing their part to create a more just and kinder world that nudges us more closely to where God calls and leads.
Individually, congregationally, and as a district and larger church, we do well to keep asking ourselves that same question: What does the Lord require of us?
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