Jeff Fountain Urges Jesus Followers to Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly in Challenging Times
In the face of political upheaval and cultural division, Jeff Fountain, Director of the Schuman Centre for European Studies, has published a blog post on Weekly Word, urging followers of Jesus to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God. This call to action comes amidst a discussion Fountain had in Brussels, where he and others explored the role of Jesus followers during such challenging times.
Fountain argues that acting justly involves more than just pursuing truth. It requires seeing the image of God in everyone, resisting tribal instincts, and seeking the common good. This is not about vengeance, but restorative actions that aim to set right relationships and societies.
Loving mercy, he explains, means treating opponents as neighbours to be loved, not enemies to be defeated. It involves patience, forgiveness, empathy, and understanding before condemning. In political life, this means resisting cynicism and maintaining a posture of love in a broken world.
Fountain uses the metaphors of salt, light, and yeast to illustrate the transformative power of Jesus followers. Like these elements, they constitute a small part of society but have the potential to transform it significantly from within.
Humility, a rare virtue in public life, is also crucial. It involves listening, learning, and trusting that God's purposes will prevail. Each of these virtues - justice, mercy, and humility - is grounded on truth, love, and hope, respectively.
Jeff Fountain's call to action serves as a reminder that in times of political turmoil and cultural fragmentation, followers of Jesus have a unique role to play. By acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly, they can transform society, one small act at a time. This call to action comes from a discussion Fountain had in Brussels, where he and others reflected on the role of Jesus followers during such challenging times.
