Marginal Christianity

The Book of the Twelve for Lent 2016 Forgiveness – Micah (6) “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity     and passing over the transgression     of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever,     because he delights in showing clemency. He will again have compassion upon us;     he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins     into the depths of the sea.                                                                                ...

David Gray's "Let the Truth Sting" is a contemporary prophetic indictment of western culture. It will give you a feel for how Hosea, Amos, Micah, and friends might have sounded to their contemporaries.

The Book of the Twelve for Lent 2016 Seeing the World from Below – Micah (4)              As a part of his great vision of the day when God will set all things right Micah writes the following: “In that day, says the Lord ,     I will assemble the lame     and gather those who have been driven away,     and those whom I have afflicted. The lame I will make the remnant,     and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion     now and forevermore.” (4:6-7)           As Dietrich Bonhoeffer reflected on his experience of resistance to the Nazis in the 1930’s-40’s in Germany he writes: “There remains an experience of incomparable value. We have for once learnt to see the great events of world history from below, from the perspe...

The Book of the Twelve for Lent 2016 The Profile of Sin – Micah (3)             Micah is divided into three sections: chs.1-3; 4-5; 6-7. Much of this material we have met in previous prophets in the Book of the Twelve. Yet it is not remiss to revisit this material. Idolatry and judgment, indirect references to the “Day of the Lord” (“that day,” 2:4) and promises of return and restoration are by now familiar to us. Yet the profile of the people’s faithlessness in chs.2-3 is remarkable for its comprehensiveness. The people, the rulers, the priests, and the prophets are all indicted.           Micah begins with the people at large, in particular the economically rapacious who systematically impoverish the people: “ Alas for those who devise wickedness      and evil deeds on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it,      beca...