Trickle Down Systemic Sin

Ezekiel 22:23-31 NLT

Again a message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: In the day of my indignation, you will be like a polluted land, a land without rain. Your princes plot conspiracies just as lions stalk their prey. They devour innocent people, seizing treasures and extorting wealth. They make many widows in the land. Your priests have violated my instructions and defiled my holy things. They make no distinction between what is holy and what is not. And they do not teach my people the difference between what is ceremonially clean and unclean. They disregard my Sabbath days so that I am dishonored among them. Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money! And your prophets cover up for them by announcing false visions and making lying predictions. They say, ‘My message is from the Sovereign Lord,’ when the Lord hasn’t spoken a single word to them. Even common people oppress the poor, rob the needy, and deprive foreigners of justice. “

I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

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One of the economic policies of the past 30 years was termed "trickle down" but it's not new. And the policy falls over in the same way that communism did. Both systems assume people are good. The conservatives think the rich will be kind and benevolent and the liberals think people will be honest and fair.
But just like this indictment from God through Ezekiel to God's people nearly three thousand years ago shows people haven't changed. Enlightened, educated, informed people at all levels of society take advantage of those under them.
What does seem to trickle down is corruption. So the result is oppression and suffering at every level. And everyone is in on it. The aristocracy harms the weak and their good position is not used for justice. The religious elite fail to fulfil their duty and don't set an upright example. The leaders of the people abuse their position and so destroy others for their own financial gain. The Prophets collude with the leaders. And the common person is abusive to the vulnerable too.

The result is the wrath of God!

Even with all the evil corruption God sought out people who would help rebuild a society of protection. God looked for individuals that would be a voice for the poor, the weak and the oppressed. But no one took seriously God's word. None were willing to 'stand in the gap.'

Although we should aspire to be better and although we should want leaders without corruption, men are never going to be truly trustworthy.

We must trust God who is the only one not corrupt. We must trust God who stands in the gap. We must trust Jesus who was a voice for the poor and oppressed. Our only hope is to hide behind the very one who can judge us. The only safe place is by the judge.

If you want a society that is right don't look to men, look to God.

(written while playing with my nearly three year old grandson .)

The Son with power

John 19:7-11

7 The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”

8 When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. 9 He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. 10 “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?”

11 Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

http://bible.us/116/jhn.19.7-11.nlt

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Jesus claimed to be the son of God! That's what made the Jewish leaders so mad that they wanted to kill him. Lots of people today want to make out that Jesus is just a good guy with good teaching. They just want a 'nice' Jesus. These people miss the real Jesus. They miss the point. Jesus made a big deal about his identity. Jesus raised the issue often. He took opinion polls and survived his constituents. Jesus wanted to make sure that the message was delivered by the right people. (I'm quite tempted to 'proof text all these statements but will leave it to you to read the Bible for yourself!) Some people he hushed up and others he sent out with a message. But by the time to we get to Jesus death he was very open about who he was. And it was the reality of his claim that scared the Pharisees into wanting him dead and Pilate into taking a step back and considering what he was about to do. Claims to be some kind of king or leader were as rife as ever in Jesus and Pilate's day. So it was not the claim alone that stirred so much consternation.  Surely, Pilate as shaken by the claim. Pilate as not a  Jew. He didn't have a Jewish religious perspective. He did understand the implications of usurping Caesar.  But as he said, Jesus was the king of the Jews and the Jews wanted their king dead. Many in ancient Palestine would have wanted Pilate and Caesar and most of the other leaders dead (things have not changed much in that area), but Pilate understood power, both authority (as in his own) and power en-massing (as in the crowds during a holiday). I think that day Pilate learned to respect a much greater power. The power that gave legitimacy to both the people and the rulers. The power of God (and God's Son). Jesus establishes the 'divine right' of rulers as emanating from God. And yet the whole situation and even Jesus' complacence with the situation was a respect of the power of his Father's plan and authority. Nothing that was happening that day was out of hand. Nothing was random coincidence. Nothing happens unless God allows it.

Do you see the power of God at work? Do you realize that you have no rights or authority that do not flow from God? Do you threaten God with your unwillingness? Do you bargain as if you have something of value? Do you act as if you are in control of this world, your workplace, your family, your partner, your children, or even yourself?

Really? Do you have any thing that isn't given to you or allowed you by God?

But with power comes responsibility. This you have! You do have ownership of your own choices and the outcomes of those choices. You may crucify/deny/ignore/mock the Son of God but you still will have to answer to him. Are you ready? Who really has the power of life and death? The Son of God does.