Legal Limit

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Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Now, dear brothers and sisters—you who are familiar with the law—don’t you know that the law applies only while a person is living?  For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive.  But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her.  So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man.  But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.  So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point:  You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ.  And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead.  As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.  When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.  But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power.  Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.  Romans 7:1-6(NLT)

Laws are systems (typically) of what you may not do.  The Ten Commandments in Exodus are mostly negative statements (i.e. thou shalt not), and legal, negative statements can only take you so far.  For instance, if the law says thou shalt not kill, does that mean I can beat my annoying little brother half to death and, as long as he’s still breathing, I’m still within the legal limit?  Many people think so; this is why we have so many laws on the books; people find a way to get around the law’s purpose, and you have to make a new one to clarify the old one. 

In ancient times the Pharisees, teachers of the law, took the basic ten commands, and in time had developed them into more than 600 commandments, proving there’s very little simplicity in legalism.  If one word will suffice, the legal mind will find a way to confuse it with a whole dictionary.  (Same thing for preachers!)

But the law of God was never intended to restrict; the law was intended to set a minimum standard to teach us what the wrong direction looks-like, so our human proclivity to go higher than minimums, would propel us in a better direction.  That direction being that I not only wouldn’t harm my brother, but begin to care for the little nuisance.

Paul points us to marriage, and how it is until death us do part.  Once the death occurs, the marriage is still remembered with fondness, but there is release so the still-living spouse can grieve, but move-on with living.  The Apostle uses this in an analogy of our marriage relationship with the laws of God.  Rather than bind us to an endless chain of legal decisions, properly understood, the commands of God were designed to show us where life and death part ways.  Once we find that sweet spot between legalism and license (to do what we want, rather than what we ought), there is a freedom to live which legalism can’t begin to conceive.

So…how does this shake-out where the rubber meets the road?  Consider this example.  As a husband, the law tells me I have certain responsibilities towards my wife.  Until she dies I have a responsibility to treat her fairly, by not beating her, not stealing what’s hers, and supporting the children of our union financially, as well as keeping the laws of not endangering their health.  Sounds like the romance of the ages, eh?  What kind of life is there in that kind of arrangement if I just stick to the minimums, the legal limits?

On the other hand, if I set the minimum legal limits aside as too low a standard, and consider myself dead to that kind of worthless husbandry, I will be free to place my wife at the top of my interest list.  In place of a business transaction, there is joy, laughter, and a bond of soul-friendship that will last a lifetime.  The world’s view of pre-nuptial agreements can’t compare with going beyond the letter of the law all the way to the Spirit of the Law!

For You Today

When you’ve met all the legal requirements to your parents, spouse, and children, are you satisfied?  If not, it’s because you get it, that there’s life in going beyond serving self…all the way to love, which will make you do strange and wonderful things!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com

Excluding the Includable

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Tuesday, January 15, 2019

We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.  We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.  And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God.  And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ.  He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.  Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.  1 John 5:18-21(NLT)

In public discourse words matter…greatly!  The chasm between the terms inclusive and exclusive has grown to the point where there is almost no balance.  Those who live in the United States abide under a governance of laws, which, by definition, are systemic lines between what is allowed by society, and that which is not!  Actions or deeds that are unacceptable under the law are excluded, not permitted. 

The term inclusive in today’s cultural jargon is the child of a political correctness shift which evolved out of larger human rights’ movements; particularly the waves of racial, gender, and sexual identity struggles.  To demand inclusivity for such is a matter of claiming no barriers can exist, and those which do are artificial and heinous, harmful to society.  Anything suggestive of a lesser standard is labeled phobic, or close to the line of a hate statute.  In other words, to suggest any exclusion in an era of total inclusion excludes he or she who suggests such.  And that, to the extent of being labeled a loathsome bigot…worthy of being ostracized from our enlightened, and more sophisticated company; perhaps, if bad enough...jail time!

Fast-forward to the land of reasonable balance, located on the border between double-standard and logic.  If we as a (human) race demand total inclusivity, law will be outlawed; only anarchy will do.  When restrictions are levied by those in charge (necessitated by judgment of others that you are outside of the acceptable lines) total inclusivity is not a possibility.  The simple truth about anarchy is that it doesn’t work…ever! 

Without pushing this envelope past its capacity, let me cut to the chase.  Those who demand total inclusiveness might consider that means they must also “include” or tolerate (at least) those who would exclude them!  To live in any integrity with this idea of total inclusivity means you must accept everyone who is different from you as equal, valid, and welcome…even those who don’t accept you, to the extent they despise the ground upon which you tread. 

The ideals which spawned recent inclusivity movements are not without merit, and in some instances long overdue.  The problem with most movements, however, is that they attract, and even support radical partisan-ism to a fault.  You wind up with adherents to a movement whose agenda, whether hidden or overt, is to consign the object of their hatred to becoming the new oppressed group.  It is rarely a matter of serving the constituency of the movement.  Rather it frequently becomes just a matter of revenge.  It gets out of hand, and you have mob-mentality instead of civil discourse, from which comes out-of-control knee-jerk pushback from the law-keepers, and pandemonium, bedlam masquerading as an honor-driven revolution; which it is not…it’s just violence.

So, this morning we’re talking human nature, which trends towards selfishness, anger, and disorder, all in the name of the holy grail of inclusive political correctness.  Lord, help us, we need someone with a better idea!

Thankfully there is One who does have that better idea.  God is really in-to being inclusive.  That’s why Jesus Christ came to die for us.  His sacrifice cleanses us from our sins and includes us in God’s forever family.  It puts exclusiveness in our hands; the choice is ours to accept or reject God’s inclusive, open arms…or not.

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.  1 John 5:12(NLT)

For You Today

If you’re looking for a better way, come to He who said, I AM the way!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com

How Long?

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Friday, October 26, 2018

I will praise the Lord at all times.  I will constantly speak his praises.  I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.  Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.  Psalm 34:1-3(NLT)

In Luke 13 we find the story of a woman who must have suffered from a curved spinal column.  That was the physical reality; the spiritual reality was that Satan had “bound” her.  She was bent and bound!  There was a lady like that in a church I served years ago.  Ms. Peggy had crippling arthritis; her hands were gnarled and twisted, and she walked stooped-over as the woman in Scripture.  And just like the crippled woman, Miss Peggy was a fixture at the church.  But she also didn’t let her physical condition get in the way of her spiritual nourishment.

The ruler or leader of the synagogue was quite a different matter.  The woman was powerless and faithful; the rulers of the synagogue were powerful and faithless.  The rulers had responsibility for the widows, the powerless.  Yet the chief ruler could only bring criticism for Jesus healing her.  They kept their bylaws but ignored the greatest commandment to love God and neighbor.

When Jesus saw the pitiful condition of this woman he had compassion on her; something had to be done!  He initiated the healing.  The woman didn’t even ask; Jesus reached out and touched her. 

Consider the Contrast of Reactions to the Woman’s Healing

The woman had been crippled for 18 years.  When Jesus healed her there was no doubt that it was the woman they’d seen each week at synagogue.  When this woman stood up straight for the first time in 18 years it must have been quite a sight!  Luke says that she glorified God.  Can’t you see it?  Like days gone by when you might see someone running down a church aisle because they’d been tapped on the shoulder by the Holy Spirit, this woman lifted un-crippled hands and straight arms without pain for the first time in two decades!  She didn’t care who was looking!  She sang hallelujah, off-key or on…it made no difference!

The people rejoiced.  I can imagine if Ms. Peggy had suddenly gotten healed it would’ve caused a revival at that church!

The rulers got ticked!  What a contrast!  It just proves that control is power-vested.  These rulers, in charge of everything, with the legal right to discipline and punish wrong-doers, were so threatened by the popularity of Jesus. All they could think of was the fact that he was breaking the rules.  They brought no worship, offered up no praise to God for His healing this poor sister of theirs.  They could only think of how Jesus’ popularity was growing, and theirs was shrinking!  Matthew’s gospel (chap. 12) tells us that it was after this that they started to plot how to kill Jesus.

If you follow the timeline of Jesus’ movements, this was the very last time Jesus entered a synagogue before going to the cross.  It kind of makes the point about crossing the line once too often with God.  There is a time when He finally says:  OK, your will be done. And God finally washes His hands of trying to save you.

For You Today

So, this woman was healed on the Sabbath … some big crime, eh? 

There are abused and powerless people all around us in our communities.  Our job is to look for them, find them, and heal them with the touch of Jesus.  They are crying out in their hearts a phrase that is often repeated in the Scripture; it is the phrase/question which is frequently on the lips of a sufferer:  How long, O Lord?

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image: Courtesy of Pixabay.com

Catch and Release

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Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple.  A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.  As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery.  They put her in front of the crowd.  “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.  The law of Moses says to stone her.  What do you say?”  They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.  They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”  Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.  When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.  Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers?  Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”  “No, Lord,” she said.  And Jesus said, “Neither do I.  Go and sin no more.”   John 8:1-11^(NLT)

The woman was caught in the jaws of the Law; the last thing she expected was to be released without at least being beaten and humiliated.  There was a beating, but it was her accusers who took the blows.  Many people have speculated over what Jesus wrote in the sand.  A popular guess is that he wrote the sins of the woman’s accusers in the dust.  It was just too much for them to bear the weight of being revealed as unworthy to accuse the woman, so they slinked away in shame.

This snapshot of Jesus exercising intense wisdom and authority may have only taken about 5 minutes to play-out in real time.  But it has had its lasting effects on every part of our history and culture.  Even where Christ is hardly an afterthought, people understand the weight of he who is without sin casting the first stone.

Re-reading the passage again this morning brought thoughts of the current debate over immigration.  I know; I know…this is a particularly controversial subject right now, and I also know the woman caught in adultery wasn’t an immigrant.  But she was clearly breaking custom and the law of the land.  Those who brought her to be judged by Jesus had the full weight of the culture and its rules behind their accusation.  Their problem however went much deeper than whether they were within the rules; their hearts were black with self-righteousness and manipulative hatred.  They had no compassion, and, worse, were only using the woman as a pawn to set a trap for Jesus.  Their actions were, at the least, self-absorbed selfishness, and, at worst, bordering on sociopathic cruelty.  They “caught” an adulteress; Jesus “released” her with new hope.

My early morning brain-wandering led me to stand near Jesus and see what he might be writing in the sand about our current stew concerning those who have transgressed American laws by sneaking across the border.  Looking into the dust, with my mind’s eye I saw Jesus write “Plymouth Rock” and I thought of people who were escaping their homeland’s persecution for freedom, and whose descendants would eventually persecute those Native American people who first greeted them at a place with no border.  Can we see the word “hypocrite” written at Jesus’ feet?

I know; I know…its different today, border security, jobs, culture, law and order, and every other rationalization we can imagine.  There is a case to be made for all of that!  It’s just that somewhere along the line we have to do some critical thinking about what we do, and upon which side of the circle we will stand when it comes to being our brother’s keeper, or, like Cain, our brother’s destroyer. 

For You Today

Well, actually, for me, today…and you, if you will.  The question I most want to answer in my own mind today is:  What is more important, our American way of life…or being Christ-like?  I’m pretty certain the two are not one and the same.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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NOTES

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Title image: By Gustave Doré [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Is Rescuing a Sheep Breaking the Sabbath?

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Friday, May 20, 2016

Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand.  The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?”  (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)  And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out?  Of course you would.  And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep!  Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”  Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.”  So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!  Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.   Matthew 12:9-14^(NLT)

Sometimes the miracles of Jesus are so spectacularly overwhelming our poor minds are blown away, and we miss the larger miracle of why.  Of course Jesus healed the man’s hand with a compassionate touch, and that amazing and fascinating; it is also huge as a teaching point to be tender and generous towards those in need. 

But when you truly wrap your mind around the context of what was happening (Jesus was sparring with Pharisees over Sabbath law), you see a loftier point than just one man’s suffering relieved.   Jesus was demonstrating that the law is our teacher, not our master.  In the case of rescuing a lost sheep (whether it is an actual sheep, or the kind of sheep that sits next to you in the pew on Sunday), the law’s command to not do labor on the Sabbath must yield to doing good as a matter of honoring God.

General Conference (of the United Methodist Church) ends today.  That body is the legislative branch of the church’s governance, and they grapple with Sabbath-breaking and such.  This quadrennial gathering typically is a tug-of-war between the left and the right, much as we see played out in today’s political/cultural drama over which part of the tribe will be in power for the next four years.  This meeting in Portland has been no different, and, in-fact, particularly contentious.

Back to Jesus and the Pharisees; when Jesus healed the man with the withered hand it authenticated his teaching.  Unfortunately, but typically, it didn’t convince the Pharisees, it made them angry; in fact, angry enough to convene a closed-door, back-room plotting session to kill Jesus.

Back to Portland; I suspect there will be lots of smoke-filled back-room deals cut over the issues facing the United Methodist Church leadership until the General Conference meets again.  My prayer is that, when the smoke clears, the more withered parts of the body will receive a compassionate touch, rather than being brushed-aside by the rising current of cultural storms.

And that is always the rub; squabbles over issues that are one person’s Sabbath-breaking, and another’s God-honoring, usually push people aside to the gutter while the big boys fight their fights.

Lord, have mercy!

For You Today

If you tend to get tense about the rumblings of church splits, agenda-pushing over Sabbath-breaking, or political campaigns of any kind…here’s my two-cent bit of help for the day that can actually make a difference:

Go find a withered hand and be compassionate.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road today…have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image:  By Raja Selvaraj (Sheperd), via Wikimedia Commons