Why Should We Sit Here Until We Die?

People’s Congregational United Church of Christ, featuring guest preacher Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II.

Key Points:

• Opening Hymn: The congregation sang “There is Power in the Blood” [06:44].
• Scripture Readings:
  • Old Testament: 2 Kings 7:1-11 [27:00]. This passage tells the story of four men with a skin disease who question why they should “sit here until we die” [28:53] during a famine, leading them to discover the Aramean camp deserted by the Lord’s intervention.
  • New Testament: Mark 4:26-32 [33:41]. This passage includes the parable of the growing seed and the parable of the mustard seed, illustrating the growth of the Kingdom of God.
• Sermon by Bishop William J. Barber II:
  • The sermon addresses the question from 2 Kings 7:3 [01:08:47]: “Why should we sit here until we die?”.
  • Bishop Barber connects this ancient question to contemporary issues of “policy violence” [01:10:09] through unjust budgets, cuts to healthcare (Medicaid) [01:23:53], food assistance (SNAP) [01:28:36], and green energy, arguing these policies disproportionately harm poor and low-wage Americans [01:17:46].
  • He cites Proverbs 6 regarding “things the Lord hates,” such as a lying tongue and sowing discord, to critique leaders who violate God’s principles [01:15:32].