Louisville Process Theology Network

Practicing Generostiy

We've heard Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25

many times. Most of us interpret the story to mean that that God is more impressed by good works than our rituals.

Jesus returns to this idea of good works many times, including Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42. In those two passages, he says that seeking justice for others is an even “weightier matter” than tithing.

So it appears that Jesus is carrying on the tradition of the Judaic prophets; Isaiah, Micah, Amos, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others.

Consider Isaiah 58:6. Here we are told that God wants us to stop oppressing workers, stop fighting, stop finger-pointer, and think more of others. We are to loosen the bonds of injustice, break every yoke of oppression, share our bread with the hungry, and invite the poor into home.

We’ve also heard Amos 5:21 to 24 many times. “I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

It’s said that there are at least 69 passages throughout the Bible about God’s love of the poor and oppressed and God’s desire that we serve the poor and oppressed. This message seems be a very important part of the Abrahamic religious tradition.

See the newsletter page of the Kentuckiana Interfaith Community. Here you’ll some short tracts about “How to Practice the Generosity of My Faith” and “Seven Ways We Can Make a Difference.” We believe you’ll find these posts pretty interesting.

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Kentuckiana Interfaith Community