Community
We are each members of various communities.
These communities have corporate responsibilities.
Communities have the capacity to engage in action and policy that may be loving, hate filled, or indifferent. Every community has the potential to act in accord with the will of God or not. Since this is the case, a community has the responsibility to engage in collective self
reflection, to make choices, and to develop loving customs, habits, and policies.
More importantly, individual members of the community have the responsibility to act as the prods and guides to collective conscience of that community.
Micah
prior to 722 B.C., Micah critiqued the national and collective policies of Judah and Israel.
Things were not right. Actual policies and practices diverged from the ideals that supported Israel's relationship with God.
Three problems:
€syncretism - melding of religious beliefs and practices from various quarters
€lack of integrity and wisdom of the worship leaders
€lack of sincerity of heart in the worship of God (6:8)
There was exploitation of the weak and self-serving conspiracy among the leadership.
Micah calls it as he sees it, and predicts the demise of the nations because their actions reveal that they have forsaken their covenant with God.
€ What communities are you a part of?
€ Are their policies in harmony with the values of God that we see in Jesus?
€ Do you have a voice or other means of influence?