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UrbanFaith editor Allen Reynolds talks with Marlene Harris and Myesha Watkins about their podcast “Living for We: Keep Ya Head Up” which features communities coming together to break the cycle of violence in urban neighborhoods.
Michael B. Jordan reflects on Black History and advice for aspiring artists
Faithful tips to help you move from your now to your next
Dr. Carl F. Ellis reflects on the origins and history of the Black Church in America as a place where a theology of suffering and overcoming in the midst of enslavement shaped the Black Church as we know it today.
UrbanFaith Editor Allen Reynolds shares a devotional for why God is faithful in His love and how we are called to be faithful as well.
UrbanFaith contributor Maina Mwaura interviews activist and author Tamika Mallory about her civil rights roots, memoir, and work today
UrbanFaith editor Allen Reynolds interviewed the director of Wicked and Wicked For Good Jon M. Chu about the themes of power and diversity in the blockbuster film
Final words from the Editor.
Lesson 1
By the end of the lesson, participants will acknowledge God as Creator of the universe; appreciate the created world; and admire the beauty of the heavens and the earth God created.
God Created the Heavens and the Earth
With rage running through his body, Allen listened to his biology professor explain how the world began. The aspiring med student couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t heard non-biblical theories before. His elementary and secondary science teachers always included such theories in the curriculum. However, the district in which Allen attended school also required that creationism be taught as a theory, too. Allen was taught and believed wholeheartedly in the Bible. He now had a great appreciation for the inclusion of creationism in a public school curriculum, even if the teachers were required to call it a theory. At least students were exposed to truth, unlike in his biology class where the position of the instructor was made abundantly clear.
When he couldn’t take anymore of his professor’s “this is the only theory that makes sense” argument, Allen raised his hand. “Professor Neely, I find it disturbing that only one account of how the world began is being presented, particularly because I strongly disagree with what has been said so far.”
“Oh, yeah?” A smirk crossed the professor’s face. “Let me guess. You think we should discuss Genesis, huh?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. Not because it’s what I believe to be true, but because I think it’s only fair to present all viewpoints and allow each of us to decide what we want to believe instead of trying to force one theory down our throats.”
The room fell silent as Professor Neely sighed. “Mr. Jackson, my objective is not to be fair, but accurate. There is scientific evidence supporting the Big Bang Theory, and none supporting the myth that a supreme being created this marvelous world in which we live.”
“I disagree,” Allen said. “There are a lot of flaws with your theory; with science in general. That’s why the supposed truth with science is always changing. When I was younger, Pluto was considered the solar system’s ninth planet. Now it’s not. If science is as accurate as you claim, why does it continue to change?”
Professor Neely’s face showed incredulity. “Pluto had been classified as a planet, and is now considered a dwarf planet. But this is a biology class, not astronomy.” Allen could feel the stares and hear the giggles of others in the class. “Let’s continue with the subject matter.”
Allen sighed, wondering if his outburst had been helpful or harmful to his witness.
Real Talk
1. Briefly share a personal experience of a science class or other setting where a description of the world’s origin that omitted the biblical account was discussed. How did this make you feel?
2. In your opinion, should Allen have spoken up? Why or why not? If so, was the way he spoke up appropriate? Please explain.
3. Whether or not you think Allen should have spoken up, evaluate the strength of his argument. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate it, and why?
4. It’s not unusual for college instructors to say things that challenge one’s deeply held convictions. Is it possible to have faith in God and accept scientific explanations of creation?
The Players
Creation. God’s act of creation is the process by which the universe and humanity came into being. (Genesis 1:1–2:3). Genesis tells of the sole, sovereign Master of the universe directing the work of creation by verbal command. God makes the world in six days and rests on the seventh. Bible scholars differ on whether the “days” were 24-hour days or more extended periods. God’s act of creation is unlike other ancient Near Eastern stories depicting gods fighting or the creation of man from the blood of a rebellious god.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1–2, NLT).
The Word (NLT)
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
4 And God saw that the light was good. Then He separated the light from the darkness.
5 God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.
6 Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.”
7 And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens.
8 God called the space “sky.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.
9 Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened.
10 God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good.
11 Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened.
12 The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
13 And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.
Backstage
Genesis is the first book in the Bible. Genesis sets the foundation for understanding the rest of the Scriptures. Genesis 1 records God calling creation into existence. He creates from nothing all creation. In addition, God exists apart from creation as God alone. God does not sleep and wake up. He is self-existent, all-powerful, and eternal. God establishes cycles and patterns that make up nature and assigns the functions of each aspect of creation from time to growth. Through creation, God shows that He is both orderly and creative. Each day, God creates and affirms that what He has created is good. God establishes relationships for the created order. The introduction of sin challenges the goodness and order of these relationships in the created world.
Is there a story of how something started or ended unexpectedly that has particularly interested or impacted you?
Combing Through
1. God is Creator (Genesis 1:1–2)
God is eternal, limitless, and creates all that exists. (Isaiah 57:15). The book of Genesis begins with the account of God’s creation. The beginning here is humanity’s history, as eternity does not have a beginning or end. God is Spirit and is the source of everything. God created the world and goes through the process of bringing order to formless chaos. The earth was undifferentiated nothingness, as the Scripture says, “without form, and void” (from v. 2, KJV). God is also revealed here as Spirit. God is not a created being but the Creator of the universe by His Spirit. The Spirit of God moved over darkness before speaking light into manifestation in verse 3.
How does knowing about God’s creativity impact your understanding of creativity?
2. God Creates Light (vv. 3–5)
God speaks Creation into existence. The power of God’s Word is that whatever God commands must be. God speaks, and creation obeys. The first thing God speaks into the visible world is light. We know from science that nothing is visible to human eyes without light. God creates light and says it is good; God is pleased with His creation. Then God separates light from darkness and calls the light day and the darkness night. God creates the night and day cycle to define how time will be viewed on earth. Therefore, God gives purpose to the night and day cycle.
What roles have light and darkness played in your life?
3. God Creates Heaven (vv. 6–8)
God speaks heaven into existence as a firmament or barrier. The word for heaven here refers to the space between the ground and the upper atmosphere, typically called the sky, but it could also mean more than that. The sky separates the earth and its waters from waters in the earth’s upper atmosphere and the vast expanse of space beyond it. This continues God’s pattern of separating and establishing order, creating boundaries between things in the created world so that the world can exist in established relationships instead of chaos.
How can natural boundaries be seen as good on the earth?
4. God Creates Earth (vv. 9–13)
In earth-shaking fashion, God calls the waters on the earth together—and the land up from the waters. God gives them a purpose by naming them seas and earth and calling them good. God’s creative intentionality is on full display. Then, God creates plant life; He calls it to grow from the earth and allows each plant to reproduce using its seed. Each plant is produced according to its kind; that is to say, a peach tree produces peaches instead of oranges. There is intentional diversity in God’s creation. Not every plant is the same, but they all reproduce according to their kind. God again calls these creations and their relationships with the rest of the earth good.
How does knowing that God created diversity influence what we consider differences in life?
Diving Deeper Quiz
1.What did God create on the first day?
2.Describe the earth prior to the creation of the sky.
3.What did God create on the third day, and what command did He give with that creation?
4.If someone asked you to explain how the Earth and people were created, what would you say to that person?
Next Steps
Take the time to admire God’s handiwork. It doesn’t take a nature-loving person to appreciate the beauty all around us. Take a five-minute walk outside with God each day and observe His art-
Say Word?
Vegetation: ve-ji-tey-shun
work. Be it grass, the animals, or other people, meditate on how awesome each of His creations is.
SWAG
(Spiritual Wisdom and Guidance)
“People see God every day, they just don’t recognize Him.”—Pearl Bailey
Lesson 2
After this lesson, participants will know that the Ten Commandments are God’s instructions to believers, desire to follow them, and develop a lifestyle of obedience.
Commitment Issues
Brenda felt guilty and conflicted about breaking up with her boyfriend after two years. But she knew it was the right thing to do. They had talked about marriage a few times, and Brenda was excited about it, but there were too many things that didn’t add up in her mind. Her mother called her to talk about it.
After listening to Brenda for a while, her mother said, “I know this is hard on you, Brenda.”
“I had to do it, Mom,” Brenda said, convincing herself.
Her mother knew most of the history between Brenda and Chad. He was the son of a teacher and a writer. He studied foreign languages and wanted to travel after finishing college in another year. He didn’t like art, which Brenda loved, and he had been learning to spend time in nature, which Brenda also enjoyed. “That doesn’t make it easier, though.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Brenda said. “I still think he was too important, and not in a good way. Our relationship wasn’t going anywhere. He wanted more of my attention and time.”
“You think you two were going in different directions?”
“I’m not sure we were going anywhere at all, mom. Did you ever go through something like this?”
“You’re putting me on the spot!”
“No. I don’t mean to.” Brenda’s mother had always been single. Though she spoke openly with Brenda about dating, Brenda had hardly asked her mother as direct a question as this.
“I suppose I do,” her mom said. “After I had you—you were probably three then—I met a young man who had everything I thought I wanted. I suppose we’d be different from you and Chad since you pointed to the things Chad didn’t have. But this young man seemed to have all the qualities I was looking for.”
“Who was this?” Brenda asked.
“You don’t know him.”
“What happened?”
“He wanted me to do things that were obviously sinful. And I wouldn’t. So I stopped seeing him.”
“Really?”
“There are some things that aren’t worth breaking God’s commands.”
Real Talk
1.What was Brenda perplexed about in the story?
2.How does her mother’s experience or Brenda’s experience relate to your own?
3.How can we make sure we are committing to God instead of distractions in our lives?
The Players
Mount Sinai. This mountain was a very important landmark for the Israelites. Mount Sinai is both the site of Moses receiving his call from God (Exodus 3:1) and the Children of Israel receiving God’s Law and covenant (Exodus 19–20). After the Israelites were rescued from Egypt, they crossed the Red Sea into the wilderness; there they camped at the foot of Mount Sinai while Moses climbed the mountain to enter God’s presence. God revealed Himself to Moses and gave to him His law and covenant affirming Israel as His holy nation: they would be one nation under one God, who would be their leader (Exodus 19:3–6).
Moses. Moses’ parents were Amram and Jochebed, who were of the tribe of Levi. In order to save him from death at Pharaoh’s order, Moses’ mother made a basket, placed him in it, and set it in the Nile River (Exodus 2:1–10). Years later, God called Moses to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 3–4), and his older brother Aaron was made his spokesperson. After Pharaoh’s refusal to listen to Moses, God sent ten plagues upon Egypt. Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt and across the parted Red Sea, but the Egyptians who chased them drowned (12:37–15:20). God provided the Hebrews’ daily needs as they traveled through the wilderness. Moses and the people arrived at Mount Sinai, where God gave the Ten Commandments to them, as well as instructions on building a tabernacle as a center of worship.
“But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands” (Exodus 20:6, NLT).
The Word (NLT)
Exodus 20:1 Then God gave the people all these instructions:
2 “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
3 “You must not have any other god but me.
4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.
6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
7 “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you.
11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.”
12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 “You must not murder.
14 “You must not commit adultery.
15 “You must not steal.
16 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
17 “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear.
19 And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”
20 “Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”
21 As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was.
Backstage
The Ten Commandments are God’s first commandments given for the Children of Israel to obey in their covenant relationship with God after they had been delivered from slavery in Egypt. These commandments serve as the foundation for most of the other commandments in the Laws of God. They were inscribed on stone tablets and placed in the Ark of God’s Covenant to show how they were the foundation of God’s instructions for relating to God and to other people as God’s covenant people.
Combing Through
1. Remember God (Exodus 20:1–2)
God had delivered the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, and now they were in the wilderness of Sinai to meet God at the mountain where he had met Moses in a burning bush. In chapter 19, we read that the Lord had told Moses to be ready because He would come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of the people. Moses and the people prepared by consecrating and setting themselves apart and washing their clothes. They only came to the foot of the mountain, because God set boundaries that the people could not cross making the mountain holy for God’s presence. Here we see God speaking to the people after Moses went down from the mountain to the people. God ties the promise of deliverance of His people from Egypt with His name. The Lord is now proclaiming His holy name again, now that the deliverance is reality for the Children of Israel. God reminds the Israelites of past blessings, of His deliverance of them from slavery in Egypt. We must continue to remember what God has done in our lives and associate His marvelous works with His name.
Why does God command us to remember what He has done in the past?
2. How to Love God (vv. 3–11)
God’s first commandment is that the Lord is God, and to have no other gods before Him. Having no other gods before Him is best translated as “You shall not prefer other gods to me.” The meaning is that God is the only God the Israelites should worship and obey. Ultimately, the Lord is the Most High God, and He who expects faithfulness to the covenant made with His people. If something takes us away from honoring and obeying the God of heaven who created us, that is considered a false “god” or idol in our lives. Therefore, we must be careful not to elevate anything else above our God.
The second commandment is not to make any images of our God or other gods to worship. God is not a creature and cannot be worshipped through created statues the way other gods can. We should worship God the Creator and never the things created, including our family, education, work, and material possessions. The third commandment is to not take God’s name in vain, which means not to take it lightly or treat it casually. God is holy, and we should only say God said something, did something, supports something, or doesn’t support something with the most respect, seriousness, and fear we can. We certainly shouldn’t use curses or swears and involve God as people do in popular culture.
The fourth commandment in verse 8 is for God’s people to have time set aside to worship God, totally dedicate themselves to Him, and rest. The word “Sabbath” is derived from the Hebrew verb shabbat, which means “to rest or cease from work.” The command was to set aside each seventh day as belonging to the Lord. The Sabbath, in essence, was another sign of honoring the covenant which God had with His people.
How can we prioritize God first in our daily lives?
3. How to Love People (vv. 12–21)
The fifth commandment is a fascinating hinge commandment to honor your father and mother. It is accompanied with a promise for long and abundant life in the land God promised to the Children of Israel. The meaning is that as children care for their elders and obey the commands they pass down from the Lord, God will allow them to prosper in the Promised Land. The sixth commandment is you shall not kill, meaning murder, which directs you not to take another person’s life. The seventh commandment, you shall not commit adultery, is particularly directed at married people. They are to honor their exclusive marriage covenant as part of their exclusive covenant with God. You cannot take someone else’s spouse. The eighth commandment, you shall not steal, is you cannot take someone else’s possessions.
The ninth commandment, not to bear false witness, is a legal commandment not to lie so that another person is punished for something they did not do. You cannot take another
person’s innocence. The tenth commandment, not to covet, means we should not lust after anything that belongs to someone else. If you avoid wanting what is someone else’s, then you won’t take it and will keep the other commandments. The overall principle of these last five commandments is that you cannot take what is not yours. God will give you what you need; you should respect God’s and your neighbor’s boundaries.
Diving Deeper Quiz
1.What role did God play in Israel’s history?
2.Is it acceptable, according to Scripture, to have multiple gods?
3.How do you honor the Sabbath and keep it holy?
Next Steps
Take some time and consider the Ten Commandments. Which commandments do you feel like are most often broken by believers?
The Children of Israel hear these commandments, see God’s displays of power, and are afraid. Moses reminds them that we should also remember that fear of God should not drive us away from God but help us stay near to God and not break His commandments. How does understanding boundaries help us keep God’s commandments?
Which ones do you struggle with if any? Write about why some are harder to keep than others.
SWAG
(Spiritual Wisdom and Guidance)
“One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons.”— Dietrich Bonhoeffer
From the STREETS Interview with Marlene Harris-Taylor and
Marlene Harris Taylor and Myesha Watkins are co-hosts of the Living for We: Keep Ya Head Up podcast which highlights conversations between community members and organizations breaking the cycle of gun violence across Ohio. More information is available at https://evergreenpodcasts.com/living-for-we and you can stream the season anywhere you get podcasts. Episode 4 of this season dealt with how Chrisitan organizations are making a difference in Community Violence Intervention (CVI) work. The following are excerpts from that interview. The full interview is available at urbanfaith.com
Allen
You all talked a lot and gave us what this season is all about focusing on gun violence. Why is it important for us to still be talking about this with so many other things going on in our world?
Myesha
Prevention saves lives. Like when you think about gun violence, one of the things me and Marlene spent a lot of time talking about is like the underlying issues. What are the root causes of violence? Lorenzo, who’s [a] guest on our show, he said he lost his best friend, Caden Coleman, who was 10 years old, to gun violence. And he said, “sometimes we just need a hot meal.” When you think about communities where food insecurity is high, and you’ll have [someone] who is like, “We get food stamps. My mom had to sell her food stamps in exchange for cash because we don’t have cash. So, I go to the corner store, and I steal peanut butter and jelly. And from that instance, now I’m being impacted by the system because I did a theft. But the root cause was that I was hungry.” So, when we think about the overall crises that are impacting all our communities, this is all interconnected. And when people put CVI (Community Violence Interventions) to the side to act like it’s not a response to lack of resources, lack of accessibility to stable housing or healthcare or food, then they’re crazy. What we’re trying to do is show them how all of this is connected from several lenses. And I think Marlene can talk about the different lenses that
Marlene Harris-Taylor
to the STEEPLES
Myesha Watkins
we brought to the couch. Like it was more than just community.
Marlene
Yeah. And I also want to say that there [are] sometimes there’s people who say, well, you know, gun violence is down, you know, we look at the overall stats nationally and in our large urban centers, gun violence is down. But that all depends on where you live. Yeah. For people in certain communities and certain zip codes, gun violence is not down in their world. They’re still hearing shootings every night. They’re still losing friends and family to gun violence. And for the people who live in those communities that are not directly impacted, and they think, well, that’s not my problem, because I don’t live in those areas. Gun violence doesn’t care, you know, a bullet doesn’t care who you are. So many times, the violence, the gun violence that is impacting these communities comes to other parts of the city. None of us are safe unless all of us are safe.
Allen
Myesha, any words of wisdom for you on how you saw faith play a role in this work of doing violence prevention?
Myesha
I would say too, and all that Marlene has shared, we have had church on the couch several times, praise God! There’s a national organization called Live Free USA whose main job is to bring faith leaders and violence prevention [organizations] together and not for it to be viewed as separate. And I think churches, especially in black communities, are on every single corner. And we are calling on pastors or calling on people to save not only from the pulpit, but also from the blocks. How do you come out and show that you have a safe space? You have a brave space, and your only goal is not to just preach to eulogy. But how do you speak life as a young people in an accepting way by calling them in to say there are other options and faith is one of them. I just went to Cincinnati. I’m here,
Myesha Watkins
the national underground railroad freedom center. And even on the posters, at the hardest times as a black person, you see that faith was at the center. When things get hard as they are right now in these moments, especially around gun violence and this administration, black people tend to just cling a little bit closer to God. So hopefully faith leaders are saying, “I know exactly where I need to be.” And even if that’s doing community walks and praying around the radius of my church, that’s enough to show the presence of God. It’s just not in church, but it’s wherever believers are. And so, I’m excited about the work that Live Free USA is doing, the conversations that are happening on this podcast, because it’s going to be some, “amen and thank you Jesus,” but thoughts and prayers by themselves are not enough. But collectively with lived experience and other organizations, thoughts and prayers can go a long way.
Allen
What advice would you give to young people who want to make a difference in their communities, especially around issues like breaking that cycle of violence or even making the impact so they can create safe and brave spaces?
Marlene
Well, I’ll start by saying you can begin at whatever age that you are in whatever space that you are in doing the work. Our episode that just dropped today featured young Lorenzo that Myesha brought up earlier, 10 years old. This young man lost his best friend to gun violence, and he decided he wanted to go talk to the mayor. He asked his mentor to go buy him a suit. So, he dressed up in his best suit, went to a community meeting with the mayor, and many other city leaders were and challenged them to say, what are you doing to save people like me? He’s like, will I die? Will I be like my best friend? And I got to tell you, Allen, he riveted the entire room. He ended up with a standing ovation from that speech. And he has been on several media outlets since then. He is already making a difference at 10 years old. So, no matter what age you are, no matter what your circumstances, by speaking out, by getting involved in this work, you can make a difference in your community.
Myesha
There are so many Lorenzo’s in our communities. Like, how do we see those skills and build them up? I think about young people who are able to organize a group of people to do anything that may not be the safest. How do we utilize those same skills as an organizer to do those things well? So young people have skills that they may not be utilizing in the right way as of now, but are skills of amazing leadership. How do we speak to say, “you have these great skills. I see you doing something
“No matter what age you are, no matter what your circumstances, by speaking out, by getting involved in this work, you can make a difference in your community.”
else with them. But what would it look like to give you resources to do something well with them to keep your community safe?” So, I guess my message to young people is you are not the problem. This is a systemic and generational issue. This is caused [by] underinvestment and divestment. This is [caused by] generational trauma that is in our bodies. But what we can control is how we respond to interpersonal conflict. Interpersonal conflict and the urgency to respond to disrespect is at the all-time high. If I tell you I don’t like your glasses, you can be so offended that you may want to handle this conflict with a firearm. How do we say it’s not worth it? Your comments aren’t worth it. Your attacks are not worth it. Nothing is worth losing my life. So, to young people who are listening, disrespect should not be the reason that you lose your life or take someone else’s life. There are other options, so many amazing options. And we actually need you. It is necessary for you to live. It’s necessary for you to be here. And it’s very unnecessary for you to risk your life or someone else’s because of a conflict. It’s very preventable. And I know it sounds simple because when I was your age, I probably wouldn’t let nobody talk to me crazy. But I lived a little bit more and I want you to live. We’re here for you. I hope our podcast serves as a listening ear and a space of dialogue. But yeah, just live a little bit more so you can see that some of the decisions and choices that you are making is not worth it because baby, listen, if Instagram was around when I was younger, I probably would be in trouble. I’m glad that I’m here to tell the story. So, stay safe. We want you to be alive and free.
Marlene
Myesha, I’m so glad you mentioned Instagram because one of the things that we’ve learned. I’ve learned is so many times people get into beef on Instagram that then comes out into life. And then, something that started as this small beef on Instagram becomes somebody losing their life as a result of it. Social media is driving a lot of this, but she’s right. The systemic things behind it are really what’s driving the gun violence in our communities. And we need to know that it’s not our fault that our communities have been under this strain of underinvestment, that is there’s been this prison from school to prison pipeline that has taken so many men out of our communities. We heard over and over again from the young men who are guests on the show, that they didn’t have a father, that they were raised by their mother. And they felt this real pressure at a young age like 10, 11, 12, to help their family to survive. And many times that’s why they picked up the gun. They were just trying to survive and help their family survive. And that’s a theme we hear over and over on the program. People need to know it’s not their fault that they’re in that situation.
By the end of this lesson, participants will understand what it means to love one’s neighbor, reflect on ways to be compassionate and just, and pray to live lives of justice and compassion.
A Reconciling Gospel
Two students approached Debra after the Racial Reconciliation Workshop. They wore sweatshirts from their university and stood out from everyone else at the church that night. Their faces had fallen into frowns. They looked like twins, but one was Black, and one was white. Debra greeted them. “We have a few questions after your presentation,” said the white woman. “Tell me your names,” said Debra, trying to see the tags taped to their arms. “I’m Kylene,” said the Black woman.
After elbowing her friend, she said, “This is Jessica.”
“What can I help you with?” Debra asked them. Jessica said, “Well, we’ve been friends for years, and after hearing you talk about reconciliation and justice, we’re both really convicted.”
“I’m glad to hear it!” said Debra.
“But we don’t know what to do,” said Jessica with a shrug.
“What exactly are you convicted about?”
“Our families,” Kylene said. “They don’t understand our relationship. They’re not the most supportive of two 20-year-olds from different backgrounds being friends. My people are Southern. Hers . . . well, they are too.” Jessica laughed and Debra smiled.
“We want to act,” Kylene said. “We love Jesus. We want our families to know that the cross is what’s between us and keeps us sane.”
“We plan to do some of the things you mentioned when we go home,” Jessica said. “Kylene’s coming to my home for the summer when the quarter ends.”
Debra nodded and kept listening.
“We really just want to ask that you pray for us,” Kylene said, with Jessica agreeing.
Debra took Kylene and Jessica’s hands, formed a small circle with them, and prayed for the girls. She asked that God give them grace, patience, and compassion for their families and for each other.
Real Talk
1. How do Jessica and Kylene embody their faith?
2. What hardships face these two friends?
3. Has the Gospel been the reason and the sustainer for any of your friendships?
The Players
A Holy People. God’s people have always had a special relationship with Him, one that is based on God’s nature and character. When Israel agreed to be God’s people and to obey His covenant—following His miraculous deliverance of them from the Egyptians—they bound themselves to ethical and religious responsibilities. These were delivered to them through legal codes (i.e., the Covenant and the Holiness Code), which included both positive and negative requirements. The vertical relationship of God’s people was fairly simple and straightforward—they were to have no other gods, they were not to use the Lord’s name in vain, and they were to honor the Sabbath. The horizontal relationship was more complicated and came in the form of numerous specific commands, all provided as guiding examples and principles for how they governed themselves both at home and in the world.
Backstage
The Holiness Code of Leviticus 18:1–24:9 was given to the Israelites as a set of ethical and religious responsibilities, including positive and negative commands. John Rogerson and Philip Davies write, “The basis of the regulations in 19:11–18 about fair dealing with one’s neighbors [sic] is not so much social solidarity as mutual religious responsibility” (145). A large part of Leviticus deals with priestly matters, while chapters 18 and 20 address sexual relations. Chapter 19, the focus of today’s lesson, deals primarily with Israel’s horizontal relationships with others, particularly addressing justice and fairness as examples of holiness.
“But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:34, NLT).
The Word (NLT)
Leviticus 19:9 “When you harvest your crops, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop.
10 It is the same with your grape crop— do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners who live among you, for I, the LORD, am your God.
11 “Do not steal. “Do not cheat one another. “Do not lie.
12 “Do not use my name to swear a falsehood and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
13 “Do not cheat or rob anyone. “Always pay your hired workers promptly.
14 “Show your fear of God by treating the deaf with respect and by not taking advantage of the blind. I am the LORD.
15 “Always judge your neighbors fairly, neither favoring the poor nor showing deference to the rich.
16 “Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. “Do not try to get ahead at the cost of your neighbor’s life, for I am the LORD.
17 “Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. “Confront your neighbors directly so you will not be held guilty for their crimes.
18 “Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
19:33 “Do not exploit the foreigners who live in your land.
34 They should be treated like everyone else, and you must love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. I, the LORD, am your God.
35 “Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or volume.
36 Your scales and weights must be accurate. Your containers for measuring dry goods or liquids must be accurate. I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
37 You must be careful to obey all of my laws and regulations, for I am the LORD.”
Combing Through
1.Social Justice: Treating Others Right (Leviticus 19:9–16)
Jesus summarized the horizontal part of a proper relationship with God as “love thy neighbour as thyself” (see Matthew 22:38–39; Luke 10:27). Inherent in every aspect of God’s holy nature and His laws regarding holiness is His heart of love. Every law in the Sinai Tradition reflects God’s love heart. Treating others right, or loving one’s neighbor, is the ultimate expression of social justice. Contained within this overriding principle are the following details:
Proper handling of the land (vv. 9–10). Inherent in treating others right is the matter of strangers (e.g., travelers), but also includes the ubiquitous poor and those who perhaps once were better off but have fallen on hard times. The Israelites demonstrated a godly attitude toward others by generously leaving the corners of one’s fields or vines for those less fortunate. Today, one’s surplus can be shared with others in many ways.
Honesty with everyone (vv. 11–13). It might seem apparent initially, but the laws against committing perjury, stealing, and lying (which parallel the third, eighth, and ninth commandments) are sometimes harder to obey when the boundaries are unclear. The choices between right and wrong are evident when the cases are obvious. However, deception, deceit, and fraud often take subtle and more easily justified forms. The godly person avoids all such acts, however minor, that dishonor God and harm others.
Not taking advantage of others (vv. 14–16). Much like the previous laws, these specify taking advantage of the disadvantaged. Mistreating vulnerable people, such as those with disabilities or someone in a desperate situation, is injustice defined. The opposite type of person is also included—God’s holy people are not to act dishonorably toward the privileged. An easy example would be filing unjust lawsuits against rich people. In all cases, embodying social justice excludes all forms of gossip, backstabbing, and slander, as these are harmful to others and dishonoring to God.
How do these laws reflect or challenge our society today?
2.Social Justice: Starts in the Heart (vv. 17–18)
Don’t hate, and don’t seek revenge. Jesus was clear when He commanded to love even one’s enemies in Matthew 5:43–44, which would more than encompass these verses speaking primarily about “neighbors.” Jesus knew that murder started with hate and frequently originated with a grudge that morphed into vengeance. A law against this evil root would avoid much trouble, grief, and heartache, not to mention it would spare lives. God is fully capable of exercising vengeance. Judgment belongs to God and God alone.
Love your neighbor as yourself. The second greatest commandment is reiterated in both Testaments and reinforced by Jesus and others. This is presented as one of several positive laws, but it captures the heart of the Holiness Code—all the law codes. Nothing better defines the child of God or social justice than loving one’s neighbor as one’s self.
How does having the right heart intentions to keep God’s laws help us to keep them?
3.Social Justice: Cares for Strangers (vv. 33–34)
Strangers are sojourners (travelers). Strangers may also be immigrants or foreigners, and God’s children are to treat them as they would be—again invoking the second greatest commandment. This clarifies beyond question the New Testament rhetorical question, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). The answer is abundantly clear—everyone! None are excluded from the law, as the various specific examples clarified. Whether they are visitors just passing through, settlers from another culture, or foreign outsiders, all are to be treated like blood relatives and loved as one’s self.
Israel once was a stranger in Egypt. Considering that the great Exodus from Egypt had not happened very long before the time of these laws, the reminder should have been a very familiar example. Nothing drives a point home better than a personal example, especially a recent one. For Christians, the parallel is with their deliverance from the bondage of sin, which, more often than not, is remembered with great fondness, no matter how many years pass. Occasionally, however, some need to be reminded that they once had been delivered from oppression and bondage, and they should not even consider mistreating others or inflicting them with any injustice.
4.Social Justice: Being Fair in Business and Law (vv. 35–37)
Just scales, righteous dealings, and fairness toward all. Some Old Testament laws occasionally translate perfectly into modern society without needing any cultural filter. The law about unjust scales is preceded by a general command of not doing any unrighteousness in “judgment” or weighing any matter. Still, specifically, when scales determine values, deception is difficult to
detect. This could find countless modern applications, such as gas stations not setting their pumps accurately, taxi drivers “running up the meter,” expense accounts or invoices being “padded,” and accountants doing “creative” bookkeeping.
Obeying God’s just ordinances is evidence of righteousness. Even where there is an unbridgeable cultural distance between the
Diving Deeper Quiz
1.In this passage, is the Bible partial to the poor or the wealthy?
2.What does Scripture say about oppressing others?
3.How would this passage help you define love for God and others?
4.What does “pursuing justice in relationships” mean?
Next Steps
God’s people are to be in the world but not of it. Theirs is a higher calling to the kingdom of God and to holy living as defined by Scripture, which translates to a timeless command to treat others as we
Say Word?
Leviticus. Lih-VI-tih-kuhs.
laws of the “Sinai Tradition” and today, God’s people are still called to a standard of holiness measured against God’s. Nothing demonstrates personal righteousness more than being faithful to living in a way that honors God. Nothing more explicitly defines such a life as one committed to loving others through practical expressions of social justice.
would be treated, to love others as we would be loved, and a determination to be just and fair in all one’s human relationships. Surely, there are enough challenges in this one paragraph to last a lifetime.
SWAG
(Spiritual Wisdom and Guidance)
“Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.”—Reinhold Niebuhr
Understand what it means to trust God in the midst of adversity. Trust God’s promises rather than negative reports.
Can’t Cope
Randall pulled his blue Buick up to the curb of the hotel and heaved a sigh of relief. It was 10:00 p.m. Thoughts of the conversation he had two hours earlier with his wife, Cindy, flooded his mind.
“I just need some space, Cindy,” he had told his wife. “With the baby’s crying and all, I haven’t been able to get any sleep. It seems that you cater so much to him, and you neglect me. How do you think that makes me feel?”
“You can’t be serious, Randall,” Cindy retorted. “He’s just a baby. I’m doing what any loving and caring mother would do.”
“Well, maybe so, but I still think you’ve indulged him far too much. Even to let him sleep in our bedroom is a bit much.”
“Randall, this is absurd. You know that the baby’s bedroom is too far away for me to hear him when he cries, and it’s just much easier having Jordan sleep in our bedroom since I’m the one who gets up to feed him anyway.”
“Oh, and you think that I should be the one to roll out of bed every two hours when I have to go to work in the morning? Well, I tell you what. Since we can’t come to some agreement, I think I will stay at a hotel the rest of this week. At least there I can get some rest.”
He threw clothes into a suitcase, jumped into the car, and sped out of the driveway. He hung his head as he remembered the tears in his wife’s eyes as she held their six-month-old baby.
“Where are you going, Randall? This just isn’t right!” she cried out. “I need you! Our baby needs you! How can you just leave us like this?”
“Cindy, I just can’t take it anymore. I’ll call you when I get to a hotel.”
Randall had not been completely honest with his wife. The baby’s crying was only a part of the problem. The real issue was that little Jordan had a birth defect. He was born blind. All of Randall’s dreams of what he would do with his son were shattered. He couldn’t take him fishing or play sports with him. Randall and Cindy would deplete their savings paying innumerable medical bills. A knot formed in Randall’s throat every time he held his new baby boy. He was devastated that Jordan was disabled. In order to ease his pain, Randall wanted to blame God, but he knew that would be futile. Instead, he took his frustration out on his wife. At the moment, running away from the problem felt much better than facing it. Grabbing his suitcase from the back seat, Randall walked into the hotel.
Real Talk
1. What do you think was going through Randall’s mind when he grabbed his suitcase and left for a hotel?
2. After Randall left, how do you think Cindy was feeling?
3. What would have been a better ending to this day?
4. How should Randall have handled his frustration?
The Players
Promised Land. The land of Canaan is a hill country east of the Mediterranean Sea and west of the Jordan River. God promised Abraham that this land would be given to his descendants (Genesis 13:14–17). The Israelites occupied the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua, fighting such people as the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. The land was described as “flowing with milk and honey,” indicating that it would provide the Israelites with an abundant lifestyle.
Caleb. This spy was from the tribe of Judah, which was associated with royalty, as it produced King David and Jesus. Only he and Joshua stood as a voice of courage when the twelve spies returned from the Promised Land (v. 24), saying they could take the land. God promised to allow him to enter the Promised Land for his faithfulness. Therefore, when it came time to take the land a generation later, Caleb led his clan to conquer the portion of land allotted to him. He defeated some of the most formidable opponents of Canaan, the giant sons of Anak (Joshua 15:13–15).
“And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey” (Numbers 14:8, NLT).
The Word (NLT)
Numbers 13:1 The LORD now said to Moses,
2 “Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.”
17 Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: “Go north through the Negev into the hill country.”
25 After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned.
26 to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land.
27 This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces.
28 But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak!”
14:1 Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night.
2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel.
6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing.
7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land!
8 And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.
9 Do not rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle.
Backstage
Numbers 13 and 14 record the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. While in the wilderness, God commands Moses to send one man, the leader of their ancestral tribe, to spy on the Canaan land (Numbers 13). Shammua goes from the tribe of Reuben, Shaphat from Simeon, Caleb from Judah, Igal from Issachar, Joshua (Moses changed his name from Hoshea) from Ephraim, Palti from Benjamin, Gaddiel from Zebulun, Gaddi from Manasseh, Ammiel from Dan, Sethur from Asher, Nahbi from Naphtali, and Geuel from Gad. The men were to determine the land’s quality and the people’s strength.
After the men return from spying on the land, they declare that Canaan is full of good things, but the people seem too strong to overcome. As they listed their objections to entering the land, only Caleb (13:30) and Joshua (14:6-9) disagreed with their report. Caleb and Joshua believed they could prevail over the enemies in the land of Canaan. However, the negative report persuaded the Israelites, and they lamented that they had not remained in Egypt. The Israelites decided to choose another leader who could help them return to Egypt and stone their current leaders. But the glory of the Lord appeared and interrupted their plans.The Israelites are tired of wandering and can now enter the land God had given them.
Why are they reluctant to claim what God has promised them?
Combing Through
1.The People Speak Out in Rebellion (Numbers 14:1–4)
After the 12 spies gave their reports about Canaan, the Israelites did not want to enter the promised land. The Israelites responded with mutiny and rebellion against God. Ten spies said they should not enter, while two spies encouraged them to receive God’s blessings for their nation. The people listened to the ten spies, who justified their desire to return to Egypt. Their response was a rebellion against God’s instructions. The people complained and murmured against God and Moses. They “wept all night” (Numbers 14:1).
As they imagined their desperate condition, the people fretted, which gave credit to the negative report of the ten spies instead of God’s promises. Because they feared they would be dying soon, they wished they were already dead. The previous months of good living, due to God’s protection, were dismissed as the Israelites wished they had died in Egypt.
The Israelites looked forward with despair, without realizing that God did not save them from Pharaoh to die at the hands of the Canaanites. The Israelites responded to God’s good plans with an audacity that God led them into a snare of death and destruction.
Why do people complain through criticizing and grumbling?
2.Joshua & Caleb Speak (vv. 5–10)
Through the loud cries of the Israelites, Moses and Aaron humbly prayed to God. As the people’s complaints continued to incite clamor and rebellion, Moses prayed that the people would not ruin themselves.
In response to the sins of the people and in dread of the wrath of God, which was ready to befall them, Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes (v. 6). They assured the angry Israelites of the blessings in the land they surveyed. As the majority had reported, the land would not engulf them because Israel had God on their side. But, the Israelites did not confront their fear of entering the land that awaited them. If the Israelites had confronted their fears, they would have realized that their disbelief was a sin, and they had provoked God to leave them (v.12). The Israelites needed faith to enter the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb saw the abundance of the land. It was a “good land” (v. 8) and worth entering. However, due to the Israelite’s lack of trust in God, they couldn’t receive the fullness of God’s promises.
Joshua and Caleb were distressed by the Israelite’s lack of faith and desire to return to Egypt. The Israelites were not in danger from the Canaanites, but they were in danger from their God because they rebelled against Him. Joshua and Caleb encouraged the Israelites to trust that God would bring them into the Promised Land. The Israelites responded in anger and distrust of God’s leaders, who desired to give them good counsel. The complaints led to an enraged multitude who desired to stone God’s servants. The Israelites were not reasonable, and their anger was out of control.
Consider your relationship with God. Do you complain when something terrible happens or blame someone else? Do you pray to God in response to challenges?
Diving Deeper Quiz
1.Why does it displease God when Christians succumb to negative circumstances in their lives?
2.How can Christians maintain their faith in God regardless of adversity?
3.What is God’s purpose for allowing adversity into our lives?
4.What did you do in the past when you realized you should have handled a complicated situation better?
Next Steps
Take some time this week to assess your own areas of weakness. Have you allowed God to strengthen those places? Are you aware of the areas in which you show weakness? Have you offered those areas
Say Word?
Shammua: sha-mu’-a
to the Lord asking for strength in those areas? Take some time to journal about those weaknesses and offer them to God.
SWAG
(Spiritual Wisdom and Guidance)
“Christian, remember the goodness of God in the frost of adversity.” — Charles Spurgeon
