Six Signs of a People in Exile

A couple of years ago, Rev. Chip Freed spoke at the East Ohio Annual Conference. In his message, he shared what Walter Brueggemann calls the six signs of a people in exile. Chip pointed out that while we don't think of ourselves as an exiled people, the list fits pretty well.

1. a community of sadness over what used to be.

2. the loss of the old family home place.

3. a keen awareness of the power of despair. We ask, "does our effort make any difference?"

4. the absence of God. If the temple = God's presence, and if the temple is far away, then we are far away from God's presence.

5. the "Blame Game" -- finger pointing to find out who's at fault.

6. an intense preoccupation with self and self-concerns.

The feelings of the exiles are summed up in the first couple of verses of Psalms 137. In a lot of churches today, we find that these same six characteristics fit. We are a people in exile, longing for our eternal home.