Doing Justice and Loving Mercy: Compassion Ministries, Mentor's Guide, MG16

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D O I N G J U S T I C E A N D L O V I N G M E R C Y : C O M P A S S I O N M I N I S T R I E S

• The word most commonly used in the NT to refer to the world system is kosmos , meaning “order, arrangement, ornament, adornment.” It speaks of structure and orderly arrangement of its belief and conduct systems. • Traditionally, Christian communities have taken various positions to the world, including withdrawal from it, living in tension with it, or accepting responsibility to transform it. • The Church is both the locus and agent of the Kingdom of God in the world but not of it . As such, the Church affirms that God is the God of all nature as well as the God of salvation, the God of creation as well as the God of covenant, and the God of justice as well as the God of justification. • In its own ministry as the representative of the Kingdom of God, the Church is called to display and announce freedom to the world, to express God’s wholeness in the world, and to stand for God’s justice throughout the world. I. Prolegomena to Justice and Compassion: Are We Our Brother’s Keeper? Or Should We Be Concerned about the “World” and Those in the World? Amos 5.20-24 - Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? [21] I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. [22] Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. [23] Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. [24] But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

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Video Segment 1 Outline

A. The world in the biblical languages and worldview

1. Kosmos - word most commonly used to refer to the world system; means “order, arrangement, ornament, adornment”