FormationSeriesSummary

PacificConferenceofChurches
2013

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Introduction

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FormationonMorality
Theproblemofthestrangeristhecentralmoralissuethatthebiblicalsystemofmorality
isbuiltupon
Reflectionstwokeyprinciples:
donotdotootherswhatwashavedonetothem(LoveofGodandloveofneighbour
Lk4:16ff)
Stewardship:totallydifferentfromandacritiqueofempire
Biblicalfaithwasbornasaprotestagainstempires.Why?
Itisanattempttoimposeasingleideaonapluralworld;toeliminatediversityinthe
nameofasingleUniversalistorder
AgainstPlato,theBiblicalnarrativearguesthatuniversalismisthefirst,notthelast,phase
inthegrowthofmoralimagination
Noah:anattempttoimposeamanmadeunityondivinelycreateddiversity.

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Egyptianexile:experienceofbeingastrangerinastrangeland
Thegreatestreligiouschallenge:toseeGodsimageintheonewhoisnotinourimage
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Moraldignityextendsbeyondtheboundariesofanyonecivilisationorculture(Malachi
1:1011)
DeclarestheonenessofGodandthediversityofcultures
Tribalism(anditsmoderncounterpart,nationalism)assumesthatthereisonegodforeachnation
anduniversalismcontendsthatthereisoneGodand,therefore,onetruth,onecodeforall
humanity
Neitherofthesedoesjusticetothehumanother,thestrangerwhoisnotinmyimage
but,nevertheless,isinGodsimage
Nationalismdeniesfreedomtotheoutsider(stranger)andturnstheideaofachosen
peopleintoamasterraceorasingletruth
Universalismgrantsfreedomifandonlyiftheoutsider(stranger)converts,conformsor
assimilates,andturnsasinglecultureintothemeasureofallhumanity
OnForgiveness:mustanswerhatredwithlove,violencewithpeace,resentmentwith
generosityofspiritandconflictwithreconciliation
Onhope:itisnotbornoutofanexpectedheavenlypromisebutoftakingresponsibilityfor
thepresentonthereflectionsofthepastandresponsibilityforthefuture
TheBiblessinglegreatestandmostrevolutionarycontributiontoethics/moralityisweencounter
Godinthefaceofastranger

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WrestlingwiththeproblemofthestrangertaughttheIsraeliteswhatitmeanstobedifferent
fromempire
Oncetheywerestrangersinastrangeland,theymustnownotilltreatthestrangerwho
comestothemandhasmadehis/herhomeamongthem
Oncetheylivedinabjectpovertyandhumiliation,theymustnowlookafterthepoor,
stranger,thewidow,theorphanandtheneglectedamongthem
Oncetheywereslavesandweredeniedfreedomandjustice,theymustnownotenslave
anddenyothersjusticeandfreedom
Oncetheysawthedestructionoftheenvironmenttobuildanempire,theymustnowwork
toensurerespectfortheintegrityofGodscreation
Oncetheylivedunderuniversalistempires,theymustnowseekthefaceofGodinthe
particularitiesoftheirculturesandinthefaceofthestranger.
Whatthissystemofmoralitydoesisthatbydeferringtohistory,restorestothemtheidea
ofresponsibility;theyarenotpowerlessinthefaceoffate.
Appealtoexperienceandtoremember(onceastranger)Youknowwhatitisliketobedifferent,
becausetherewasatimewhenyou,too,werepersecutedforbeingdifferent.
Thecalltobedifferentbelongstothesocialandthepoliticalasmuchasitbelongstothereligious

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FormationonGovernance
ThepoliticsofancientIsraelbeganwithaneventthatisinconceivabletothehumanmind:
Godentersintohumanhistorytoliberateagroupofslaves.
ClimaxinEx19inwhichGodrevealedHimselftoanentirepeopleatMountSinai,and
enteredintoacovenantwiththemcovenant(10commandments)wasagreeduponafter
dueprocess(Ex19:38)
OneofthepartnersisGod
Theotherpartnerwastheentirepeople,eachoneofwhom,bygiventherightof
assentorrefusal,isgrantedthedignityofcitizenship
God,byinvitingthepeopletosignaltheirwillingnesstoenterthecovenantbefore
communicatingitsterms,isineffectmakingitconditionalontheiragreement
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 Fromitsinception,Biblicalmoralitywasalivingprotestagainsthierarchicalsocietiesthat
givesome,butnotall,dignity,powerandfreedom.
Insteaditinsistedthatifanyindividualissacred,theneveryindividualis,becauseeachof
usismadeintheimageofGod

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Neverbefore,andrarelysince,hasthedignityofthehumanpersonbeensosingularlyelevated
andrarelyeversinceuntiltheJesusChrist.
Ahistoricallyunprecedentedattempttoenvisageandcreateasocietyasacovenantofequal
citizensfreelyboundtooneanotherandtoGod
Ideasofequality,citizenshipandfreesocietyemergedaskeyfoundationsintheconstructionofa
nation.
3keygovernanceprinciplesconsult,consentandparticipation.
TheLawisessentiallyaboutthewholeoflifeanditspurposesare:
theprotectionoftheweakandthepowerless
acritiqueofthelawasperceivedandexercisedbyempire
Thosewhoareinpositionsofpowerandprivilegecanmakethingshappenaccordingto
theirinterests(1Kings21)

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Covenants
Existsbecausewearedifferentandweseektopreservethatdifference
isintergenerational.(Deut29:1415);betweenthosewhoareliving,thosewhoaredead,
andthosewhoaretobeborn(EdmundBurke)
Ananswertothequestiononhowcanweestablishrelationshipssecureenoughtobecome
thebasisofcooperation,withouttheuseofeconomic,politicalormilitarypower
Morefoundationalthancontracts;itcreatessocieties;definesthemoralprincipleson
whichanationisfounded;and,reaffirmsthebasicfeaturesofmorality(Selznick,1994):
deferencetoasourceofjudgementbeyondautonomouswill
constructiveselfregard
concernforthewellbeingofothers
affirmsthatthereisdignityindifference
MakeusawareoftheInequalities,extremesandlimits,andourobligations(withoutsome
formofcovenants,itisdoubtfulwhetherwewouldevencare)

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FormationonSocialJustice
PoliticalFreedomtoCollectiveResponsibility
Freedomfromslaveryisjustonestagepoliticalfreedom.Thesecondstageisthis:
tobefreerequiresresponsibility
ThefirststagewasIsraelsreleasefrombondage/slavery
Politicalfreedomintermsofpoliticalgovernance.Enslavement,persecution,poverty
anddenialofhumandignityarenottoberepeatedinthenewIsraelhencethe
newformofgovernance
ThesecondwasthecovenantwithGod
ItinvolvesaCOLLECTIVERESPONSIBILITY,aimedatensuringthatnooneisexcluded
fromthesharedgraciousnessofthecommunityanditslife
TherearetwokeywordsinthemissionGodgavetoAbrahamandhisdescendantsand
thesesignifytwoformsofjustice:
Right(HebrewTzedakah)
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Just(HebrewMishpat)

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Tzedakahsignifiesiswhatisoftencallsocialjusticenooneshouldbewithoutthebasic
requirementsofexistence.
Laythefoundationofasocialorderinwhichdeeppovertyanddegradingwantshouldbe
unknown.
Governanceprinciplesaretoensuretheprotectionofthewidow,theorphan,theweakand
thepowerless.
Theimportantpointisthatthisrequirementpreventsegoisticalandfanaticalpursuitof
personalrightsandprojectshumanitytocompassionateconcernofothers.
Thisisabsolutelyfundamental:everyonehasabasicrighttoadignifiedlifeandtobeequal
citizensinthecovenantalcommunity
ThepointisthatGodwasactivelyconcernedintheeconomicandpoliticalorder,especially
withthosewho,becausetheylackedpower,orevenavoice,becamevictimsofinjustice
andinequity.

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OnEquality,theBiblicalnarrativeunderstoodthatitisbestservednotbyequalityofincomeor
wealthnorevenofopportunity.Itmeanshumanhonourandasocietymustensureequaldignity
(kavodhabriyotinHebrew)toeachofitsmembers.(Itisnotaboutnumbersbutaboutensuring
thateachchild,womanandmanisprotectedandgiveneveryopportunitytofullyexpresstheir
dignity)
OnPoverty,Biblicalmoralityandtheprophetictraditionwenttogreatlengthstoimpressonthe
rulersthatpovertyhumiliatesandagoodandjustsocietywillnotallowhumiliation.
Onindebtedness,theperiodicdistributionofresources(SabbaticalandJubilee)recognisethatan
equitabledistributionofresourceswillnotemergenaturallyfromthefreeworkingofthemarketor
theeconomy

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SocialJusticeisattheheartofwhoGodis;righteousnessandjusticeareinseparable.
Afreesocietycannotbebuiltontheruleoflaw(retributivejustice)alonebutmustalsobebuilt
ondistributivejustice.
Toberesponsiblerequirescertainfreedoms(ifpeoplearedeniedtheirbasicneeds,asociety
cannotbesaidtobefree)
Anopeneconomydoesnotguaranteejustoutcomes(biblicallegislationsandpropheticspeech
revealsacommitmenttoaneconomicorderthatbalancedfreedomandequity)
Thecentralconceptssuchassocialjustice(tzedakah),collectivefreedom(cherut)andresponsibility
conferhumandignityandhonour,andavoidshumiliation

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FormationonEconomicJustice
HowwouldIsraelbuiltsocialstructuresthathonourandsustainthefreedom,integrity
andcreativityoftheindividual?
Ifsocialjusticeistheorganisingprincipleofthenewsocialorder,theeconomyisthe
mechanismorthemeansforwealthcreationanddistribution.
Humanitycreativelyparticipatesinproducingwealthandthemeansbywhichitis
distributedtothecareforthepoor.
Thefundamentalmoralprinciple:SincewearetrusteesofGodscreation,weareboundby
itsrequirementstosharethebenefitsofwhatweproducenooneistobeleftoutfrom
thegraciousnessofthecommunity
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Primarypurposeofeconomicactivity
SinceeachoneismadeintheimageofGodand,therefore,sacred,isnottobeexcluded
fromthegraciousnessofthecommunity(Gen1:26).
Israelisboundbytheresponsibilityoftrusteeshiptoensurethefreedomandcreative
participationofall,especiallythepoor,inthedevelopmentandenjoymentofthe
communityswealth(Deut10:1219).
Specificeconomicprinciple
IsraelistobecocreatorswithGodandtheyaretocreateanddistributethewealththey
producetocaterforeveryonesbasicneeds.
ThecreativeGodseekscreativityfromHishumancreation.ItisinthissensethattheBiblical
narrativeseesthesystemsofeconomicexchangeandtradeasnecessarybecausetheseallowfor
thecreationofwealththroughhumancreativity.

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Thenatureandpurposeofgovernanceintheeconomy
Insistedthatmorallimitstogovernancearenecessaryforhumanfreedomandcreativity
toflourish.Thesearenecessaryforparticipationinwealthcreationanddistribution.
Insistedalsothattheremustbelimitstohowfareconomicscaninterferewithnatureand
equityintheparticipationofwealthcreationandwealthdistribution.Everysystemhasits
limits.Themarketeconomyisgoodatcreatingwealthbutnotatdistributingit.It
encouragescertainvaluesbutunderminesothers.Ithassocialconsequencesthatarenot
alwaysbenignandsometimesdisastrous.(Sacks,2000)
Economicactivityisnecessarybecauseitgivesexpressiontohumanfreedomand
creativity.Godseeksthefreeworshipofhumanbeings,andtwoofthemostpowerful
defenceofhumanfreedom,creativityandintegrityarepropertyownershipand
economicindependence.
Butifanythinghasamoraldimension,economicsdoes(ProphetIsaiah(1:1723)makesthe
pointthatwithoutpoliticalandeconomicvirtue,religiouspietyorholinessisvain)

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FormationonCarefortheEnvironment
IsraelsecologicalethicwasdrawnfromtheirExodusexperience,theexperienceofEgypts
stewardshipovercreation.
TheBiblicalnarrative:creationtheearthandallinit,includinghumansbelongstoGod.
Stewardshipresponsibilityisoneoftrusteeship.
Mandate
Touseitbutnottoabuseordestroyit.
Ismoral,nottechnical
Legislations:(Sabbath;SabbaticalandJubileerequirements)
Limitstointerventioninnatureandpursuitofeconomicactivity.
Abdicatethatpoweronthe7thday.
Aweeklyreminderoftheintegrityofnatureandtheboundariesandlimitationsof
humanstriving.
Webecomeconsciousofourbeingcreations,notcreators.

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Oneisenvironmental:landwhichisoverexploitediseventuallyerodedandlossitsfertility
conservation
Thesecondistheological.Theland,saysGod,isMine;youarebutstrangersresidentwithMe
(Lev25:23).
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 IsraelsexerciseofstewardshipovercreationmustbecompletelydifferentandacountertoEgypts
exerciseofstewardship.
Empires(andcivilisations)(pastorpresent)attheheightoftheirpowershavefoundithardto
maintainasenseoflimits
TheBiblicalnarrativeteachesadifferentwisdomwithregardstothenaturalenvironmentandour
stewardshipresponsibilitytowardsit.
Reverenceinthefaceofcreation
Responsibilitytofuturegenerations
Restraintintheknowledgethatnoteverythingwecando,weshoulddo

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AnancientRabbiniccounseleloquentlysumsupbothGodsmandateandentrustingofstewardship
responsibilitytousoverhisgiftofcreation:
WhenGodfinishedcreatingtheuniverseHesaidtothefirsthumanbeing:Beholdmyworks,how
beautiful,howsplendidtheyare.AllthatIhavecreated,Icreatedforyou.Takecare,therefore,
thatyoudonotdestroymyworld,forifyoudo,therewillnoonelefttorepairwhatyouhave
destroyed.(ModrashKoheletRabbah,7:20)

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JesusvisionoftheKingdomofGod

Jesus'visionoftheKingdomofGodimaginedanewworldorderwhereallarebrothersand
sistersintheonefamilyofGodcharacterizedbyinclusiveness,love,forgiveness,justice,
serviceandcompassion.LiketheCovenant,theKingdomenvisagedasocietybuiltonthe
politicsofjusticeandcompassion,theeconomicsofsharingandconcernforothers,anda
religionwherethepoorwereofspecialconcerntoGod(Barr,2012)
TheKingdomofGodinvolvesavisiblesociopoliticaleconomicrestructuringofrelations
amongthepeopleofGod(Yoder,1972)
MuchoftheBibleproteststheinjusticeofpoliticalandeconomicsystems.Indeed,perhaps
halfofthebiblicalmessageispoliticalinthissense.(Borg,2006)

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Insummary
Theformationvisionisaboutformingapeopleintoanalternativewayoflifethatis
differentfromempire.Itincludes:
Theprinciplesthatwearenottodotootherswhatwasdonetousandour
stewardshipmustnotbethatofanempirearecentraltoconstructinganew
consciousness.Thisnewconsciousnessmustbeattheheartofbuildinganationof
people.
Governance,socialandeconomicrelationsandcarefortheenvironmentmustalso
bedifferentfromthatofempires.
Requiresconversion,ametanoia,aturningawayfromthevaluesoftheempire,a
changeofheart
SuchaformationvisionisessentiallyaboutGodandwhoHeis.HeistheGodof
justiceandrighteousnessandHedesiresthesameofHispeople.