Scripture:
New Testament referral to Genesis 21:1-3; 22:1-14 and
God's Mercy in the Light of Abraham's Willingness to Sacrifice
Paul's Letter to the Romans 4:13-25
A controversial photography project/exhibit is the work of American David Ravelo and Brazilian photographer Daniel Ferreira.
The photo concepts show both direct and indirect violence against children, via religion, military occupation, healthcare, school shootings, nuclear disasters, sexual tourism (trafficking), and corporate food.
Pastor Lisa Bates-Froiland wove a beautiful telling of the story of the sacrificial offering of Abraham's son Isaac. She entertains the idea that the story can be seen as focused on Abraham's faith. It was the conventional wisdom in the time of Abraham to be willing to "make sacrifices to Elohim (the gods)". But, in the telling of Isaac's sacrifice:
The one, true God is the one who STOPS THE KILLING!
The message is not (so much) Abraham's willingness to raise the knife over his son Isaac, but the voice of God that says "Drop the knife!"
There are at least two mindsets we have regarding children in the modern world. We put them on a pedestal so often. But, if we're honest, we also "place them as sacrifices upon an altar".
http://www.buzzfeed.com/copyranter/disturbing-photo-series-depicts-children-crucified-to-adults
On the altar of The Second Amendment, we place the bodies of hundreds of children sacrificed in the name of the "right to bear arms".
On the altar of our unwillingness to pay for the taxes to guarantee our neighbor's child's RIGHT to see a doctor, we place the health and well-being of untold 100's of thousands of children sacrificed in the name of lower taxes, rugged individualism, and the health care behemoth.
On the altar of Corporate Food, we place the bodies of millions of children sacrificed in the name of the processed foods and big agriculture.
On the altar of interventionism, we place the bodies of untold numbers of children sacrificed in the name of military occupation for political ends.
Akin to Rob Bell's controversial new book Love Wins, God is portrayed in the scripture as a merciful God.
Maurice Boyd once delivered a great sermon entitled Trivial Pursuit(s) in which he warned:
"If you believe in justice and not in mercy, you'd better not make any mistakes"
In Luke's Gospel, he emphasizes mercy as the determining factor vs. the purity code or some other external agent as the determinant of proper behavior. It's not about The Law; it's about mercy.God says "Drop the knife".
God says "Drop the Big Mac and fries"
God says "Drop the gun"
God says "Drop the insurance policy"
God says "Drop the surge"
Mercy not only trumps purity. Mercy trumps sacrifices on the altars of Corporate Food, the military, the health care industry, organized religion, international trafficking of pornography, one's rights to own weapons, and on and on.
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