Yearning for Righteousness　

Yearning for Righteousness　　

I am writing about my understanding of N. T. Wright's book "Being a Christian" (subtitled "An Introduction to Christianity by N. T. Wright").  The first chapter is about righteousness and was surprised at how the book begins.

The reason why the church exists is developed in relation to righteousness.

We have a vague idea of what righteousness is. In this present world where injustice is rampant, our voice is overridden and is faded away.

In such a society, there are three reactions which we can take.

1)   Accept the real world as something that cannot be helped and live with it, believing that we have no choice but to get used to it.

2)   Live by taking refuge in the dream of a world different from injustice of this world, believing that a different world will surely come.

3)   Rather than yearning for that dream as a dream, we listen to the whispering voice of that dream and try to make that voice a reality.

Number 3 is the reason why the church exists.

It focuses on people who dedicated themselves to "God's will being done on earth as it is in heaven" and who listened to the His voice.  The Christian group led by British politician William Wilberforce and American pastor John Woolman at a time when the slave trade was thriving and slavery was justified from the Bible; Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., who campaigned against racial discrimination; Bishop Tutu's campaign against apartheid in South Africa; and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was murdered by the Nazis.  These are some of the names mentioned. (Pastor)