TROUBLE IN AMOS - Amos is marked by passion for people who are marginalized, powerless, impoverished, taken advantage of, and oppressed. The theme of Amos might well be: "This is the end of Judah and Israel." This book, was instrumental in impacting the thought and theological thinking of social activists such as Walter Rauschenbusch and Washington Gladden at the close of the 19th century.

AMOS’ FUNERAL SONG - Amos has been one of the most neglected books of the Hebrew/Christian scriptures in our day-and not without reason! Amos is not a seeker-sensitive book, there is no (or very little) hope in its pages, and very little ethical "how-to" instructions for those who want "to apply God’s Word to our hearts." Even in the midst of prosperity, Amos stands up and faithfully and boldly announces the death of the realm of the covenant people. But though Amos could see nothing beyond the demise of the kingdoms, he has in fact, uttered only the first movement of God’s great symphony of redemption. The later prophets will add another development to Amos’ funeral song: resurrection and a new beginning. The finale will be glorious beyond what either of the movements could imagine. An ending the will continue beyond their time, even sweeping us into God’s Plan, world without end.

"Go spread your doom and gloom elsewhere!" This scene is almost comical until we ask ourselves how many times we have done the same thing in one way or another. Have you ever heard an unsettling message, which may have come from God, but responded by dismissing the prophet entirely? Ask God for help to discern God’s words in the many voices around you.

Why might prophetic voices in the community be healthy to congregations?

Isn’t it inevitable that left without a prophetic voice in the community, congregational vision and mission all too often erodes? And isn’t it also common that when an outside "consultant" comes with a word of "the way it is" / "the way it could be," those on the inside tend to view such change-language as offensive. Changes that would also prompt us to follow Amaziah’s actions and seek to remove the discomfort?

How could this part of the lesson be proclaimed? You might begin with Spencer Johnson’s bestseller, Who Moved My Cheese? [1] The book is pedantic and trite, but the parable reveals the truth about change. Sniff and Scurry and Hem and Haw find are each confronted with unexpected change. How each of the characters (and how we Amaziah-types) deal with confrontation and change is what the little book is about.

Another piece of literature that you might consider using in the proclamation of Amos 7 would be Dostoevsky’s, The Brothers Karamozov (chapter 5, "The Grand Inquisitor"). In this episode we see the Amaziah (churchly institution) vis-à-vis Jesus (Amos) who returns to mother Russia only to run into conflict with the institution.

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[1] Spencer Johnson, Who Moved My Cheese? (NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1998).   You can pick up this book that lists for $20.00 for seventy-five cents on www.Half.com.