On more than one occasion, pastors and laypersons from progressive congregations have confided in me, “We are a little weak in our theology; we know what we don’t believe but have trouble articulating our own faith to one another and to newcomers.” They recognize that a vital faith lives by its affirmations as well as its negations, especially in times of crisis and uncertainty.
The passage from
Micah raises some important theological questions related to God's revelation.
Micah is clear that focusing solely on our well-being and declaring war on the
poor will lead to a cessation of revelation and vision.
African-American mystic and spiritual leader Howard Thurman recalls being caught in a summer thunderstorm as a young boy. As he filled his bucket and mouth with delicious berries and plunged deeper into the forest, he neglected to notice the storm that was forming on the horizon. Then he heard crashes of thunder. Suddenly he realized that he was lost.
The words of
Proverbs 29:18--"where there is no vision, the people perish" (KJV)--seem
appropriate for reflections on Moses's vision of the promised land.
