The Marginalized

This past week I have been awed at the side of Jesus that addresses and corrects the pathogenic social forms that marginalize certain groups. First, a friend visiting from out of state got me thinking about how the church today is marginalizing artists. Not all churches, of course, but she mentioned how churches that operate by the business world's rationale of efficiency are more eager for artists to serve in a prescribed "useful" way, and treat their original work as too selfish, or need it to tell an explicit story about salvation for it to have a place in the church.

Then today I read the last part of Luke, where women, who were up until Jesus' time not invited into Bible studies or ministry, were the first to find out about Jesus' ascension. He chose them to carry the news of the unbelievable to the masses! It fell fresh on me how Scripture always highlights our core essence as human beings. I love Scripture because it is what God is telling us and reminding us and it illustrates who He is. Of course, I am glad there is a book that tells us good ideas about how to live. Following His commands in it will make our lives better and richer, because his way helps us as limited, finite physical beings to transcend brokenness by His power. But more than usual, this week, I appreciate Scripture because it addresses social malformations. jesus is interested in empowering the marginalized, giving them a role and purpose, where they don't feel like the church is doing them a favor by allowing them a voice or by allowing them to serve in their own special way, the particular way God created them to before they even had a heartbeat.