Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Welcome to another episode of "A Word from the Vine." Today, we embark on a journey that will shake the foundations of our understanding and challenge us to examine our own hearts. We are going to talk about loyalty. But not the loyalty that comes from power and privilege. No, today we will explore the loyalty of those who have been made small and kept that way their entire lives.
You see, my friends, there are people among us who have never been treated well, never been thought of well, and never been taken care of. They have endured being looked down upon, made fun of, and disallowed from the very circles they long to be a part of. And yet, they continue to wear the colors of the people who persecute them. They continue to support those who have made them small and kept them in their place.
It's a fascinating fact, isn't it? These individuals, they don't care. They know their place, and they can stay in it and even thrive in it. But let me ask you this: when times get hard, when the privileged among us face challenges, what do they do? They always seem to want even more. They turn a blind eye to the suffering of those who have supported them faithfully, day in and day out.
My dear friends, it is time to confront this injustice. It is time to shine a light on the unseen and unheard heroes in our midst. How does the Bible feel about having been made small and kept that way by one's masters? How does a Christian deal with vile people who seem to run every system around them? It is time to grapple with these questions, to search our souls, and to take action.
When we see these people being repressed, left out, and unattended, how should we respond? These are the individuals who bear the burden of half or more of the work in our communities. They are the ones playing in school sports and entertaining the wealthy people who "pay the darn taxes" to support them. They serve us in local restaurants and gas stations, washing the dishes of those who look at them like they are merely the help.
But let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, they are so much more than that. They are the heart and soul of our communities. They are the ones who serve in our churches, often looked past and forgotten about because they aren't the major donors who contribute to the flashy projects. They are the ones who quietly keep the faith alive.
Have you ever noticed some of these families on Facebook? You've seen their faces, but you can't remember where. These people are among those ranks. How many people have you forgotten about in your own life? How many have you dismissed or judged without even knowing their story?
It's time for a wake-up call, my dear brothers and sisters. Have you ever had the occasion to look at someone and say something like, "Well, he's always in the tavern," while you sit at home every night, anesthetizing yourself to the struggles of others? It's time to face the truth about the people who fill the ranks of the privileged.
Let us remember what Jesus said about walking past the suffering. Let us contemplate His teachings about using people as if they don't matter, or to pleasure ourselves. It is time for Christians to rise up, to stand against the tide of indifference and injustice. We must be the voice for those who have been silenced for far too long.
Join me next time as we continue to explore this urgent topic, diving deeper into the greed of the privileged and the Christian response to the suffering of the unseen and unheard. Together, we can make a difference. This is Pastor Loren of Danish Countryside Chapel signing off until next time. May God bless you and open your eyes to the truth.
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