Preached by Rev. Erik Kindem.
Scripture: Amos 7:7-17; Luke 10:25-37
Summary
The prophet Amos tells Israel that, according to God's plumbline, the nation is out of alignment. There is a disconnect between their faith and their economic practices, which rob the poor. His relevant critique is as prescient today as it was in his own time. The recent "BIG UGLY BILL" pass by Congress does some of the very things Amos warns Israel NOT to do. And in his parable, Jesus lifts up by the model of compassion the Samaritan shows to his enemy and the model of economic sharing that extends his commitment to the Jewish stranger he saved. How can we hold fast to the ethical and economic values affirmed by Jesus and Amos?