Comfort The Disturbed, Disturb The Comfortable

Psalm 18:27 — 
You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

I studied Drama and Theatre Arts at the University of Birmingham and graduated in 2012 and so the Arts have been a big part of my life. I did not know why I always connected theatre with justice until this quote articulated it for me: ‘Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.’ (Cesar A. Cruz).

I love this quote, because every time I hear it, I am reminded of Jesus. Jesus comforted the disturbed and he disturbed the comfortable. I believe that an effective church should do the same. 

Jesus comforted the disturbed. The grief stricken. The downtrodden. The outcasts. The weirdos. He spoke at their level, he included without preclusions, he showed them God. Do we as a church do that? Do I as a Christian do that?

But Jesus also disturbed the comfortable. He told the rich that they had less chance of getting into heaven than getting a camel through the eye of a needle. He told rulers and those in power that the first shall be last. He told the outwardly pious and inwardly selfish that they were the worst sinners, worse than prostitutes and thieves. Can you imagine, these people who expected deference and entitlement being told by a scruffy nobody from nowhere that they were wrong? That they should change? He told the truth to power and he made them uncomfortable. He made them squirm. To a lot of those rich and powerful and religious, that made him their enemy. 

Do we as a church do that? Do I do that? Disturb those who are comfortable in this world of injustice? This world of cruelty? This world that chases idols? Are we willing to be counted as an enemy, in the name of comforting the disturbed and disturbing the comfortable? 

Lord, I pray that you use me today to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable through your love and truth. Amen.

Esther Rai