While very interested in many points made in the recent news about the recent Occupy Wall Street movement, I want to make a point I am not hearing from most Christians. My point is this: regardless of one's political party (and I, as a Christian, am Independent), regardless how you feel about the OWS movement as a whole, it is VITAL that the Christian Church, whether Catholic or Protestant---acknowledge that within this protest one can hear the voice of our Heavenly Father crying out against the oppression of the poor, on the side of the marginalized in our society. One need only read the Prophets to know that EVERY CRY FOR JUSTICE AND EQUITY IS THE SOUND OF OUR FATHER'S VOICE!!! If we continue to refuse to acknowledge the concerns of this movement; many of which ARE INDEED LEGITIMATE (out of fear of being misunderstood, or our comments being taken out of context or exploited in some way)--- and continue to call what is good within it, evil--we will lose those in the mix who are genuinely seeking an honest and just solution to a complex problem. We will shut their ears and their hearts to the call of the Kingdom of God--because we will force them to equate the Church with being on the side of injustice. That, my friends will be the biggest loss of all. The Church of Jesus Christ has a tremendous opportunity, and indeed a RESPONSIBILITY to bring the cry of the Gospel to bear upon this movement---to cry out for equity and justice along WITH the movement--but then to point them in the only direction that will actually take them nonviolently TO that place of Justice and Equity. The Kingdom of God--which is the Kingdom of God's Justice and Righteousness. When John the Baptist came preaching in Israel in preparation for the advent of the ministry of Jesus the Messiah---he did so not merely by calling for repentance; he told them some very specific ways in which they were to go about that repentance. He said, "If YOU have 2 coats, give one to him who has none." (Luke 3:10-14) He did not say--if Herod has 2 coats give one to him who has none. He put the responsibility for change squarely on the shoulders of each of his hearers. He did not say Herod was not responsible for oppressing the people or that Herod need not change (In fact He himself called for Herod to repent of some specific scandalous sins to his face, risking death to do so)--but he put it to the people that great change is the result of everyone making the little changes THEY are capable and responsible to God to make for themselves. Society as a whole will only change when you and I are willing to change. John the Baptist didn't go about calling others to repent until he himself had become willing to live at subsistance level himself, with faith in God for his provision. Only then did God use him as His mouthpiece to call others to surrender to the call of the Kingdom of God. That my friends is the roll of the Church, as God's prophets. If we continue to refuse to perform our role in this society--refusing to call the wealthy to remember the poor, to do justly and righteously with the wealth they have been entrusted with, God will indeed raise up a rabble if He must to bring His message to them and to the masses. This movement has risen up because the Church has failed in it's God-given-role as His mouthpiece. Plain and simple. WE are the ones who need to repent of our apathy, to repent for failing to act in the Lord's name for the cause of justice in the name of the oppressed. Perhaps if we take this call seriously there may still be time for the Lord to forgive and bless us, and the country we so love. If we refuse to repent, and acknowledge what IS right within this movement, you can be guaranteed we will lose this generation to the enemies who have already infiltrated it, and who will turn these sincere seekers against Jesus Christ-- as they will no longer believe He stands for Justice. God forbid that we continue to profane His Holy and Just Name, and grant us all true repentance, for the glory of His name and the advancement of his Kingdom 'on earth, as it is in Heaven'.
