To reject our faith's call for social justice is to ignore some of the Bible's most uncompromising words. Take the prophet Amos, for example.
Amos was a shepherd and farmer chosen by God to speak up for true faithfulness. The prophet spoke to the prosperous northern kingdom. At this point, Israel looked well on the outside. They were religious, wealthy, and stable. Underneath their veneer of holiness, however, lay a foundation of systemic injustice. The poor were oppressed, the courts were corrupt, and the powerful people lived in comfort at others' expense.
Today's reading is like a courtroom speech. The Lord lists the "many" crimes and "numerous" sins of the people. You didn't have to be God to see them all in action. They weren't secret, hidden things. They were normalized parts of society. And if injustice lies underneath our success and prosperity, God is not impressed because we have failed to love and protect others.
So, what's the response? God says plainly, "Seek good."
To seek implies a continuous spirit. This is not a one-time choice or a "I've done my good deed for the day" mentality. Instead, this seeking is a way of life. To seek God, in part, is to seek the good of others. Every decision is a chance to choose life for another human being. So, Amos told the people to keep from harming others.
But he didn't stop there. 
If you're seeking good, you'll run out of room for evil. You'll learn to love what is good. When we learn to love what is truly good, we will not be able to stand by and let others be deprived of it. That's when we decide to "establish justice at the city gate."
Today, ask yourself, where in my life have I confused comfort with faithfulness? And what would it look like to seek good there?
Stay blessed...john | 
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