Amos is a simple person at heart. And he’s unable to avoid the obvious – speaking plain truth into a complicated situation. He imagines that everyone has a common understanding of what is good…and evil. The dire warnings and ‘or else’ tone of the rest of his speeches aside, Amos comes to this work with his own clear notions of the difference between good and evil – and (as an agent of the Most High) wants to know why the rest of his community can’t see the problem.

Amos is not entirely doom and gloom. He’s a compassionate soul, who loves his audience – his fellow Israelites. And every once in a while, often in the midst of the worst of the accusations, there comes a plea so genuine, so earnest and heart-felt, that you can tell how much it costs him to be ‘prophetic.’

“Seek good and not evil, that you may live;

And so the Lord, the God of Hosts,

will be with you, just as you have said.

Hate evil and love good,

and establish justice at the gate;

It may be that the Lord, the God of Hosts,

will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”

Seek good…that you may live. Hate evil – who knows, God may give you a break.

The list of complaint and punishment that Amos offers is extreme. It goes a long way to giving God that Old Testament reputation that God is famous for. The language is harsh. There seems no room for mercy/grace/compassion/love of God (etc). And then we encounter Amos pleading. Do good. Be better. Consider that your actions (and your indifference to humanity in general) have consequences[1].

We are modern, sophisticated, rational people, and as such we don’t always make a direct connection between bad behaviour and bad results as some sort of spiritual punishment. We have invented other systems of reckoning.

We attribute failing fortunes to bad luck or bad management long before we are willing to consider a negative turn of events as ‘Divine retribution. Indeed, God as heavenly judge only makes sense to us when the judgements are levied against our enemies. When we are being judged – when our plans fall apart – when the tide turns against what we long imagined was the ‘right and proper order of society’ (according to rules we designed and standards we set), God is conveniently ignored as an agent of change. It’s always someone else’s fault.

We have convinced ourselves that, because modern life is complicated, good and evil are subjective ideas. We resist clear definitions. We say ‘yes, but…’ when challenged. We create a complex formula of excuses that allow us moral (and ethical) wiggle-room when we are asked to consider questions of good and evil.

These ideas became more popular when authors and media sources started writing obituaries for God (and by extension, the Christian faith.) Some imagined that this was liberating – to be finally free of the oppressive morality imposed by ancient texts and outdated theology. And I admit that dependence on a tired old method of control is not really appealing. But an examination of what Amos (and other ancient prophets) actually condemn -a quick peek at the horrifying human behaviours that they – in their bravest moments – call ‘an affront to God’ shows us that while our motivations may change over time, our behaviours have not.

Amos’ contends that the lines between good and evil are not as blurry as we think. There are clear choices to be made (in his case, to ‘regain God’s favour’) and we’d better start making them. It may not be too late.

The sins against God that Amos describes are actually (and also) an affront to our shared humanity. Those called to judgement have abandoned what Amos describes (early in the first chapter) as an of the covenant of kinship.

Amos – in his simple certainty – lashes out against gratuitous violence, the treatment of people as property, ignorance of past mistakes (and past moments of grace) and the lack of respect for human dignity. Amos marks all this (and more) as evil – reminds us that evil is its own reward – and implores us to ‘do good.’ Be humble – treat others with respect and dignity. Avoid violence (there is never a violent action that brings a good result.) to remember that we are more alike than we are different – Let those principles guide us toward the ‘good’ and maybe, just maybe, there is a chance.

Amos’ plea is a challenge to seek good for all – for the collective – for the human race. Jesus took up that challenge and in doing so crossed all kinds of religious, cultural and social boundaries in the name of ‘seeking good.’ May we be bold enough to do the same.

[1]  Those consequences, under the circumstances, are going to be attributed to the wrath of God whether we like it or not. If “GOD” is an active force in the universe – with emotional as well as creative and spiritual energy to spend – then our approach to the product of that creative energy will have an effect on the distribution of that energy – ergo, our actions provoke a reaction from “GOD.” Metaphysics 101)