pat loughery

David spoke earlier as a “keynote”. Here are Radical Congruency’s notes

Following are my notes from David’s workshop..

James 2:1-13

“Be aware of moving the poor out of your community so that they become an outreach.”

Could I be so free to give to the poor and expect nothing back? (DO NOT SEE THE POOR AS A SEED TO BRING YOU GOD’S FAVOR!)

Mercy triumphs over judgment -> not eternal mercy, but over judgment of those less fortunate.

Look at Micah 6, for example, or Amos 5… the people may be technically correct, but they’re so frustrated with God that they scream to God: “do we need to become like other pagan cultures and slit our children’s throats so that you’re happy with us?”
No, Micah says, dial down.s
Be humble, love mercy, and do justice. “I think we get it wrong when we try to DO mercy. LOVE mercy. The hard part is it’s extended to someone who doesn’t deserve it, or it’s not mercy. That’s the whole point.”

So our prayers and posture need to adjust. To love mercy. We can give away food, but do it out of a poor attitude, better-than-you. Love mercy.

There’s a celebration of diversity and hope and community and creativity in worship, and it’s the doorway of mercy takes us there. I truly don’t think that we can go through that door into celebration of worship without mercifully loving the poor.

Remember Matthew. Look at Matthew 9. Matthew was a traitor to his own nation. Think about the guy – John ? who went to fight for the Afghans, and was brought back as a traitor (have we killed him yet?)

The sick were not allowed in the court of the gentiles… the Romans also had theology that sickness was indicative of being cursed of the gods.

Is it no wonder that Jesus prayed for the sick? NO! It’s all about JUSTICE.

Matt 9: “GO and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”. Isaiah 55, ways and thoughts.

We’re in danger of not reflecting the true Kingdom correctly if we don’t get this right. What do the poor show you about yourself?