The Value in Exile, Compassion and Mercy

There are numerous passages throughout Holy Scripture that point to God's fervent heart for the outcasts, marginalized, and those on the peripheral of societies. There are many passages, almost too plentiful to list, that expose His desire for His people and followers to also have hearts shaped after His own for such people. His desire is for His people to have compassion and mercy for all people, but especially for these people.

From a theological perspective, we are all outcasts because of brokenness and selfishness in our lives as every person lives in the effects of Adam and Eve first being cast out of the Garden (Genesis 3). God's heart for the outcast is His heart for you and me. So great is His love that He went out of His way by coming to earth to be an outcast Himself. In Christ, through His life where He was pushed aside, His death at the hands of those in power, and His Resurrection, a wayward world is reconciled to God. In Christ, and through our Baptism, we are brought home to the Family of God. This is most certainly true.

Yet, there is a incarnational and practical side to loving the outcast and marginalized. It is true we are all technically outcasts because of disconnection with God and brokenness and this is important to realize, but there is a real, tangible call to love those who are socially outcast or marginalized in the context of society. These are people so easily cast aside, neglected, or forgotten by the world itself. They are the ones not part of the "in crowd" of the dominant society. In being the outsiders, they undoubtedly experience need and also experience the inclusion of the Gospel most thoroughly and abundantly. In this world and life, they are the physical representation of the internal realities in all of us. In physical service and love for these people, we are tangibly expressing the Gospel that is true for everyone. The Gospel becomes exposed so vividly in His people loving and sharing life with those the greater culture generally ignores.

What does this have to do with exile? In short, God is always shaping the hearts of his people and will use exile to assist in this process. What greater tool could there be in shaping our hearts for the marginalized and outcasts than through experiencing being outcasts and marginalized ourselves? Most vividly we realize our own neediness and dependence on God, and we can identify ourselves most vividly with those treated the same way by the world and society. In exile, the hearts of people are softened to others treated similarly and the eyes of people are opened to look for them. Whereas, being the dominant members of society or being in a place of privilege tempts us neglect or forget other groups within society, or worse, be the ones pushing others to the side or fringes, incidentally or even malevolently. Even further, even if we serve those on the outside, as he dominant members of society we can easily fall into the trap of paternalism. There is value in exile because we as the People of God can most fully realize in deep humility the profoundness of the Gospel for us and especially for others.

The Church in America (that has generally been privileged) has never quite experienced being the outcasts of society. We are heading in that direction, though, and we are not liking it. If we don't ultimately get pushed aside, great. If we do, so be it! God can do wonders through it, especially for others who are also pushed aside by society!

A unique challenge for Christians in America, who have generally experienced comfort and privilege, is that it is hard for us to acknowledge there are people marginalized or cast aside in a place like America. Yes, it was true for societies and empires in Biblical times, and yes it is true in other countries and societies in present times. But not in America! "We live in a land of opportunity, choice, equality, inclusion and personal responsibility," we tell ourselves. We don't want to see disparity, or we excuse disparity away as the fault of those suffering, since we are all the "masters of our own fate."

However, by the wisdom of God, we are now experiencing it ourselves and gaining a taste for it, as the government and culture grows in disfavor toward Christianity. Christianity is beginning to see how disfavor and loss of influence can lead to disparity and a sense of being cast aside or "persecuted," even though America is still the land of equality, choice, opportunity, and religious freedom. We are beginning to experience how it feels not to be the "choice people or religion" by the growing majority. There is value in exile because we then can possibly cease excusing away others' situations or plight and ignoring our call to serve and love, as well as share the Gospel in these places and relationships. I believe that a greater priority for Christians is not to fight to become the ones "on-top" again in our culture and not be cast aside anymore, but instead look around to see others pushed aside, neglected, and cast out and actively live out compassion and mercy in the Name of Jesus.

There is value in exile, because in it compassion and mercy may flourish as ones first shown abundant and fervent compassion and mercy by our Savior.

"40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’"

- Matthew 25:4045

As a hinge between this post and the upcoming post, I'm posting this video below for further contemplation. It is a presentation from a former professor of mine, Dr. Rev. Bob Newton who spoke at the Lutheran Society for Mission conference a couple years back: