My last post was about my readings in Esther. This time, I want to reflect on what I'm reading in the Christian Scriptures. In the sixth chapter of the book of Acts, the apostle Stephen is arrested for preaching about Jesus in Jerusalem. Then in the seventh chapter, when he is called on to give a defense of his actions, he launches into a detailed history of the Jewish tradition, with what amount to direct citations from the Hebrew scriptures. Abraham and his descendants, Joseph in Egypt, the saga of Moses, and the prophets all figure in Stephen's lengthy historical justification for his public ministry in Jesus' name.
Stephen illustrates a mode of belief in action that I believe is critical for Christians today. We know from chapter six that he was chosen with six others to be a servant to widows, orphans and others in the Christian community who were in need. He is named first, as "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit." His calling and his activity is service to others, to the wider community. But in his service, he evidently leaves time to learn and study what he knows of Hebrew Scripture, to the point where he can quote the words of Moses or Abraham by heart. He has memorized the stories of faith, and they come to his aid when he is hard-pressed about his beliefs.
In the progressive Christian circles where I often find myself, my peers and I are trying to find the right balance between action and reflection, service and study. We admire the strong liberal tradition of resisting the status quo oppression, lifting up the broken-hearted and serving those in need. Dorothy Day, Mother Theresa, William Sloane Coffin, and Martin Luther King, Jr. are a few of our most prominent heroes. Nevertheless, we are learning from our forebears in faith that such committed social action must be rooted in deep spiritual practice and faithful study of Scripture. Here, we are learning from our evangelical neighbors in faith, Christians who place a high priority on knowing the Bible and its relevance for today's world. Whatever differences we might have about our understandings of the Bible's counsel for current social issues, progressive Christians nevertheless would do well to pay attention to how evangelicals study the Bible.
Stephen gives us an excellent model of how we might benefit from greater knowledge of the Bible. He shows progressive Christians the wisdom of knowing by heart the words we recognize as God's revelation. All social action against war, decrying racism, or in favor of a minimum wage increase will be challenged, and Christian activists will have to state their beliefs. The more we know of our holy traditions, the more we can speak from them with confidence and knowledge, even in the face of strong opposition. When we are called on to defend the way we are using Jesus in support of the poor, marginalized and overlooked, we had better be well-studied and able to give a sound defense. Anything less and we do dishonor to the God who gives and grounds our every action.
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