Love your enemies

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…^[1]

…if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink…[2]

The instruction concerning enemies must have sounded as strange to the ears of people in the first century as it does to us today. More than a few have endeavoured to demonstrate the impracticality this command. Some with time on their hands might seek solace in the eternally long poem of Alexander Pope, from which I have extracted a very short quotation:

To what base Ends, and by what abject Ways,

 Are Mortals urg’d thro’ Sacred Lust of praise!

 Ah ne’er so dire a Thirst of Glory boast,

 Nor in the Critick let the Man be lost!

 Good-Nature and Good-Sense must ever join;

 To err is Humane; to Forgive, Divine.[3]

It would be against God’s nature to burden believers with impossible demands. “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”[4] Some of the difficulty connected to loving and treating enemies well, maybe that we do not look at the whole situation. To love your enemies is not natural; in what way could human nature be changed to make it natural to love enemies? To a somewhat similar question Jesus responded, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”[5] If I with God’s help were able to elevate my spiritual nature and follow its course would that circumvent my human nature? The short quotation from Romans above has been taken out of context so that it aligns with Jesus’ statement. The full context follows:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.[6]

“…you will heap burning coals on their heads.” This is a much debated phrase; some commentators suggest “divine punishment” is meant. Some look to an Egyptian ritual in which a person showed his repentance by carrying a pan of burning charcoal on his head. Some point out the source of Paul’s quotation as, “If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.”[7] An explanation put forward by a very few commentators suggests, “A deed of benevolence (giving live coals to those in need)”

This might well be an occasion to invoke, “Occam’s Razor” - “Entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily.” Or, in its modern concise form “keep it simple”. The general theme of the paragraph is kindness and love, and the victory of doing good. It would be inconsistent to require believers to love their enemies, and as an incentive to do so, point out that their love will bring pain upon those enemies. Paul earlier quoted God saying, “Vengeance is mine, and retribution…”[8] I can’t reconcile the notions of loving your enemies and doing good to them, so that they will be worse off because you did. I don’t know if heaping coals on your enemies’ heads can be satisfied by the explanation of providing live coals for them to use, but, at least it fits the context a whole lot better than being gleeful over their increased suffering.

There is perhaps another idea which may fit into the context of Paul’s writing. We need to focus on ourselves and the command for us to love our enemies. Two things we must notice; one is that the injunction of Jesus does not include anything about the impact on our enemies. Secondly, the passage quoted by Paul from Proverbs includes, “and the LORD will reward you.” From the context which is more likely to be rewarded, kindness, or causing pain? The concluding sentence of Paul’s instruction is, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Taking it as the summary of the paragraph, it is the principle that must govern our behaviour. It is a principle, a guideline for living. Overcoming evil with good, doesn’t suggest satisfaction at another’s suffering. What I get from Paul’s writing is that I am to focus on positives, I am to love, and I am not to be distracted by vengeance. God has claimed vengeance, and the right to judge and punish. In exercising love and kindness I glorify God, and show grace and love in my life. I honour God by not taking upon myself that which he has claimed as his right. The burning coals to me expresses that God is doing his job and allowing me to do mine. The assurance that God will do whatever is necessary, if accepted, permits me to get on with what I have to do –and that is to love.

Corrupt governments, child murderers and molesters, terrorist organizations, civil wars, and the like. People who commit such despicable heinous acts give up the right to be called human, they are worse than ravenous animals. It would seem that no individual could love such evil people, but for some it is easier to be magnanimous to cruel and bloodthirsty terrorists than to their next-door neighbour. As the adage says, “hate the sin, but love the sinner”; that may just be a copout. My first observation would be that I’m not sure the creeps I’ve listed would have been the kind of enemies that believers in the first century were told to love. I would think their enemies would likely have been a cranky neighbour or a domineering boss. An enemy might also have been someone to whom they owed money, or, someone guilty of slandering them, or a neighbour whose livestock trampled their gardens. I’m inclined to believe that the murderous people and groups listed fall within God’s bailiwick. That God is the avenger is comforting to any who witness injustice.

My second observation is that the love we are to show our enemies, is God’s love. God’s love goes beyond friendship or affection and may not even include familiarity or friendship. We are to love our enemies because God has loved us. We did not, and do not, deserve God’s love. We are to love our enemies even when they don’t want, deserve, or appreciate our love. As children of God we must have his nature, and his nature is love. Believers are people through whom the love of God is extended to any and all. It may be reasonable to withhold affection or friendship from someone who is mean or miserable, but you cannot withhold love. Believers recognize the awfulness of being separated from God in eternity. When God’s love is channeled through believers, hope is offered to the hopeless. “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”[9] Love demands that we put aside animosity and hostility. God’s love is channeled through us to those who have insulted, persecuted, or just annoyed us. Love cannot be institutionalized or programed. It is hosted in individual hearts –from which it flows to others.  

To love in God’s way believers have to relinquish the desire to control situations beyond their scope. A clear line of distinction must be maintained between what I am expected to do, and that which is within the purview of God. This I believe is the first step in being able to love enemies. I can fret and stew about the heinous acts of Mugabe, or the malevolent creep that murdered the five year old girl, but in the end I am the one that becomes embittered and frustrated. On the other hand, accepting those situations will be handled by God, leaves me free of the burden of setting things right. And yes, God is able and will see that justice is done; of that I am sure. One final thought; we must love our enemies, and not make enemies of the ones we love. With the institutionalizing and programming of personal responsibilities, it becomes possible to “love” people, as part of a Church program. We feel pious about what we do for the Church, while at the same time failing to meet family and personal obligations. The parable of the young ladies and oil for their lamps[10] suggests that you can’t give away what you don’t have, or that which is crucial to your spiritual survival. The same applies to family; it is wrong to provide spiritual nurturing to others, at the expense of your family. The home is more important than the Church, and godly parenting more critical than Sunday school programs.

…the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.[11]

---

[1] Mat 5:43, 34

[2] Rom 12:20

[3] An Essay on Criticism, by Alexander Pope

[4] 1Co 10:13 

[5] Luke 18:27 

[6] Rom 12:14-21

[7] Pro 25:21, 22

[8] Deut 32:35 

[9] Rom 13:8 

[10] Mat 25:1-12

[11] Hab 2:20 

What you are, where you are.

…let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.[1]

In this section the apostle wrote to Corinthian believers concerning marriage, circumcision, and slavery. His teaching was driven by a sense of urgency; the term qualifying the urgency was “the present distress”[2]. That distress would have included the persecution of believers by Jews and Romans, as well as events associated with the Jewish rebellion and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem. The destruction of the temple in 70 CE was hugely significant since it marked the end of the Jewish age. The temple represented God’s presence among the people of Israel, and its destruction indicated God’s absence. The focus of Paul’s recommendations centered on the instability and cruelty of the time they were about to enter. None of the recommendations of Paul’s warning flow through history as regulations for believers today. However, there is at least one principle that rings true and clear, one that people today need to consider carefully. That principle is, “in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.” A caveat Paul included for slaves was, if they were offered freedom they should take it. His warnings were not meant to prevent people from improving their lives. Paul was burdened by the trials he saw coming upon believers. It is saddening to read of the suffering and torture some early believers endured.

The idea of being called by God, is not common to all Churches, even though it is referred to in apostolic writings. “…you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”[3] There is a relationship between what Peter wrote regarding believers and what Moses was told to tell the people of Israel; “but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.”[4] The proviso for Israel was “if you obey my voice and keep my covenant.”[5] For believers, being in the kingdom is a gift from God, yes, we have to believe, but it is by grace that we are called into God’s kingdom. Appreciating that we have been called helps us to be confident of our place in that kingdom. “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”[6] We have been called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light to proclaim all that he has done in love. God is not capricious seeking to take back what he has given. God’s love is as strong as ever, it is his nature. Peter addressed a concern that some had in early times writing, the Lord, “is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.”[7] We live in a different times to those first believers, yet may have similar concerns; when it comes to God’s love we have the same assurance. God loves us and wants us to be secure in his kingdom; he’s paid way too much to let his investments slip away. We have a responsibility to believe so that we can proclaim God’s grace in and through our lives. We need to give up being religious in order to earn a place in God’s kingdom. We are in it, we don’t deserve it, but we’ve got it, because God loves us. Now, we have to show it! Every day, who we are, where we are.

I don’t know all the ways in which God calls people, but judging from ancient times I expect it may be similar to what Elijah experienced:

…behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.[8]

A thin small voice, or a gentle whisper; it was not the tumultuous violent demonstration of power, but a gentle comfort that alerted Elijah to God’s presence. God the Creator is all-powerful, yet his approach to people is gentle and loving. Jeremiah foretold a time in which God would replace the old covenant with a new covenant;

…this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.[9]

We don’t know how God writes on our hearts, but we know he does. His calling us into his kingdom will be such that we attribute it to some particular event or circumstance, or maybe go unnoticed in the passage of time. However God accomplishes that which he promised is really not the issue; we need to know that we are wanted and called by God into his family. I have difficulty recognizing any call in my life; my introduction to believers was the result of wanting to go out in the evening as my older sister did. I wanted to go out and have fun with my friends, but my parents said I could stay out late only if I went with my sister. I guess at the time that was preferable to staying home.

The most important feature of being called is not the ability to identify a voice, an event, or even a time, but to acknowledging that God through Jesus reached out to us, offering hope and love. I have no idea when or how I was called by God, maybe it was in the crucifixion of Jesus, maybe through my dad’s advice, or maybe some sermon I actually listened to. It really doesn’t matter to me if I know the how; what impresses me is knowing why. Recognizing that God loves me, and wants me in his family is comforting beyond words. My only wish is that I had realized this decades ago. In the light of God’s message in Jesus the Church may be an obstruction to people seeking to simply belong to God’s family. I don’t believe that the Church began with the intention of hindering people’s relationship with God, but in many cases that has happened. No matter how good or well-planned Church programs are they are no substitute for the teaching of Jesus. Too often Church teachings feature the doctrines of a Church and are biased toward its plans and programs. The effort and devotion to Church is misplaced and must be focused on Jesus. The Church depends on its members to support its infrastructure and programs. We need to understand that God doesn’t need human planning, or financing, to accomplish his plan. Jesus gave advice on what to do with wealth; give to the poor. There is nowhere in Jesus’ teaching that I’m aware of, suggesting believers to put their money into structures or programs. As a Church member or a believer at large, one’s relationship with God is personal.

May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.[10]

My initial response to being called by God is denial, supported by a number of thoughts that come to mind; why me? It’s not logical! What would God want with me? I’m not sure it’s theologically sound. How can I measure up? Haven’t I made too many mistakes? I really don’t want to change! I don’t need to include more, but you likely have a few you could add –not that I want to know what they are. We either feel self-sufficient or too bad to accept that God would call us into his kingdom. Maybe the supposed responsibilities of being a citizen in God’s kingdom are too daunting. As I write I see a pattern played out in a number of situations where, fear, self-loathing, blaming, or pride are at the base of our decision-making. Somewhere between the extremes we find acceptance; the point at which we are willing to submit to God’s love and grace. That God calls us into his kingdom is really no big deal; he sent his son into the world to be sacrificed. Our relationship with God the Father will be enhanced when instead of looking at the Bible as a textbook for religion we acknowledge it as a love story. The Bible is a library of different records, by different people, unified by a common purpose –the revelation of God’s love.

---

[1] 1Co 7:17-24 (ESV)

[2] 1Co 7:26

[3] 1Pe 2:9 

[4] Exo 19:6 

[5] Exo 19:5

[6] Heb 4:16 

[7] 2Pe 3:9 

[8] 1Ki 19:11 

[9] Jer 31:33, 34

[10] 2Pe 1:2-8 (NRSV)

What are we here for?

Have you ever asked yourself, “Why are we here?” or “What are we here for?” I used to ponder questions with illusive answers, but for some considerable time those particular questions to me seem irrelevant. That said, there’s nothing wrong with wondering if humanity has a purpose, or maybe had a purpose, until it went so far off the moral track that any purpose would be impossible to uncover. I assume that one of the characteristics of being human is wondering why we are here. I began thinking about Noah and his awareness of the chaotic world about him. “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”[1] God was sorry that he had created man and decided to destroy every trace of humanity, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”[2] I guess Noah was the proverbial “one in a million”. It also sounds like Noah was the odd man out in his society when God called him to be odder than odd; he was told to build a boat too big for any waters anyone had ever seen. I doubt Noah understood what it was that he was doing. If Noah thought he was different to other people before God called him, after, when doing what he was told, it would have been evident to all that he’d lost more than his marbles. After a while he came to understand what he had to do; one, was to warn people of impending doom, and the other, to build a big boat.

When we are wondering about what we are here for we must recognize that there is no need for a saver of the human race; that’s been done. We need to also accept that there is no need for another Saviour, that’s Jesus. We will have to settle for lesser appointments than either of those that have already been taken. What we have been given is citizenship in God’s kingdom. That is exceptional when we think of it, because Jesus is the King. For citizens wanting to know why we are here, the answer carries significantly more weight. Believers can look back to apostolic writings to read and hear the words of Jesus explaining the kingdom of God. The kingdom was very important to Jesus, it was his mission. Many of his parables define the nature of the kingdom. Jesus’ teaching in general addressed characteristics of the kingdom. A distinguishing feature of the kingdom is love. God’s love, Jesus’ love, and citizens’ love. If we are in God’s family and are ruled by Jesus, we must grow in love. Nearing the time Jesus would leave the world he spoke to his disciples, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”[3] Love is not something that would be nice to have, it is a critical requirement. Paul said that love validates every action or behaviour. Jesus wasn’t suggesting that if the disciples got around to it they should try exercise love; it was a command. Through loving acts and behaviour people at that time would have connected them to Jesus.

I remember as a teenager feeling that I belonged in the Church I attended. That Church was populated with people who were loving and accepting. Much if not most of my time was spent with other young people of the Church, and I attended every service. Later in life I learned that my parents felt they had been replaced by a group they knew nothing about. I have come to realize that most Churches are places of comfort for their members, a place to enjoy one another’s fellowship. A large Methodist Church I frequently passed by, had a sign saying; “Charity begins at home –but cannot stay there.” Of course love begins in the home, and good works in the Church, but neither of which should remain where they started! In my situation I enjoyed receiving love and acceptance and took that Church to be my second home. My story is not unique, I believe it is actually quite common. Churches in decline need only to look at their programs to find the reason they are losing members. Churches that try to be everything for everyone, end up doing nothing for anybody. At the outset of Christianity assemblies were for encouragement and remembrance. Some gatherings may have shared meals, but for the most part, gatherings were a brief escape from worldly pressures. The greatest part of any believer’s influence was, and still is, on the sphere of their social interaction. The Church has become an end in itself, granting love and acceptance to members only. It has produced generations of crippled Christians, unable to function outside its walls. Instead of equipping people with a faith that is portable, and that would remain with them wherever they journeyed, people have been warned not to locate in a town where that particular Church has no presence. It seems that Jesus’ teaching hasn’t been fully grasped, or maybe it has been completely disregarded.

Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.[4]

The first part of this section of scripture suggests, that if the cycle love exists only in and around Church membership, members are doing no more than people who ignore or defame Jesus. People in God’s kingdom do not live isolated from the world, they live in it. Jesus prayed on behalf of his disciples, “I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”[5] Spiritual family time is important, it is a time of encouragement and support needed to go back out into the world as emissaries of God’s love and grace. Believers are to represent the kingdom of God, not by attending Church, but by living as children of God in the world. The world is in a pretty bad state right now, and in this critical time people are leaving the Church in droves. Why? Because the Church has failed its membership. That’s not to say there aren’t any Churches that provide support, there obviously are. But, the vast majority of Churches are more concerned with maintaining the status quo than they are meeting needs of people. God our Father, and Jesus the King, provide security and promise that no Church can match. Believe it or not, I am not against Church in general, but I am against any Church that puts itself ahead of Jesus, or its programs ahead of the teachings of Jesus. There is only one legitimate purpose for a Church and that is to support and encourage citizens of the kingdom of God; beyond that lies institutionalism and failure.

It’s time that believers accept that there is no other path to God than through Jesus. That’s it! No institution, no organization, and, no Church. You don’t need to be a member of a Church to have the blessings of the kingdom, but you do have to be in Jesus. Church should be a place of comfort and nurturing, a place where people are refreshed and strengthened to walk in the spirit. A place that glorifies Jesus as Saviour, and supports hope, and not focused on attendance and how much money is needed to pay the mortgage. In the parable of the soils, the third and most dangerous place for plants was among thorns. “…the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” The worry of the world is what encumbers most Churches; those with real-estate, staff, and costly programs. The kingdom of God does not have earthly wealth or debt.

love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

What it takes to be children of God is considerably different to what it takes to be a Church member. Membership requires conformity to a Church’s doctrines, to its programs, and to give money to its cause. Children of God are encouraged, to love enemies, to do good, to lend, expecting nothing in return from anyone. While Church membership and being a child of God are different, it cannot be said that they are mutually exclusive. Children most often reflect their family’s values, and that’s what children of God must do; those values are found in the teachings and life of Jesus. I can’t be sure, but I wonder if in some cases people want to feel good rather than do good. That might be one area the Church has failed its members; preaching a feel good gospel, or, being active in Church work will make you feel good. What Jesus taught his disciples in the passage I’ve focused on basically points out the difference between feeling good and doing good. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?” “If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?” If you only associate with people who go to the same Church as you…? Doing those things can make you feel good, but feeling good isn’t necessary the doing good Jesus spoke of. Jesus taught in synagogues, not exclusively or even a lot, most of his teaching was done to groups both large and small among common people. I have heard congregations boast of the Professionals and Wealthy people in their membership. James spoke to a situation similar, “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”[6] In a time when “super heroes” fill screens of theaters and television, we need to have a super hero, but not some comic-strip character or elite athlete –we need to have Jesus as our Super-Hero.  

---

[1] Gen 6:5 

[2] Gen 6:8 

[3] Joh 13:34, 35

[4] Luke 6:31-36

[5] Joh 17:15-17

[6] Jas 2:5   

Zaccheus

…there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house." And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."[1]

This is an intriguing account of a man whom contemporaries would have thought no less despicable than Shylock in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venus. Most commentators present Zaccheus as a person of considerable faith seeking Jesus; that concept is, I believe, far from reality. Tax collectors were despised, and this guy was the Chief Tax Collector. Zaccheus was a creepy little money grubbing outcast, and yes, he was curious to see who Jesus was. He was small and couldn’t see above the heads of those lining the route Jesus followed. It may also be that other spectators blocked his way preventing him from seeing Jesus and his entourage. Zaccheus was resourceful, he ran down the road and climbed a tree; not the most dignified act for a man of wealth. To the horror of all, Jesus invited himself to be a guest in the home of Zaccheus, taking opportunity to state his purpose, “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Chances are that from time to time we struggle with the notion that, Jesus died for us, as much as anyone else. Most people at one time or another have wrestled with “unworthiness”; the feeling that I am not good enough to receive God’s love or blessing. After Jesus made a statement that it’s really, really, difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom, his disciples asked, “Then who can be saved?”[2] The rich person who had just left their company, in their eyes, had all the right credentials of a worthy candidate. It didn’t make them feel very secure when Jesus said a person of wealth who had kept the law diligently was excluded from the kingdom. Zaccheus was rich, and probably thought that the prophet from Nazareth would see him in the same light as all religious leaders. Most Jews disliked Zaccheus because he was the chief tax collector, and tax collectors were traitors in their minds. However, Zaccheus was on Jesus’ list of people who needed saving. Based on the account of Zaccheus one doesn’t have to worry if he or she is good enough to make the “saving” list. The question seems to be, are we bad enough? Just in case you feel a need to rush out and be very bad to get on the list, you don’t have to worry, we are already bad enough and need saving. My point is this, Jesus didn’t set the bar high to make people work to achieve a required state of “goodness”; that’s a human issue. Jesus removed the bar, there is no standard to be achieved, no chasm to leap over, not even an entrance examination –there is only an invitation.

Years ago I read an illustration by someone that went roughly like this; a man fell over the edge of a cliff, but was able to grab hold of a tree root to prevent falling to his death. Another man ran to the edge, reached over and took hold of the victim’s free wrist and tried as hard as he could to pull him to safety. Finally the rescuer spoke to the other and asked if he believed that he could be pulled up to safety, to which the victim answered, “Yes.” “Then”, said the rescuer, “let go of the root!” Jesus is our rescuer, he has a firm grip on us and is working to pull us to safety. In the case of the rich young man alluded to earlier, the root he was hanging on to was his wealth –he just couldn’t let go. It is imperative that we let go of whatever it is that inhibits our complete trust in Jesus. As long as we hang on to roots from our past we are unable to fully reflect God’s love and grace in our lives.

There is no long, complicated, theological thesis on how to let go of roots. There is no process of consultation to go through to achieve letting go. Reclining on a psychiatrist’s couch is not going get you where you want to be. The only way to let go of the past is as Nike’s trademark says, “Just do it!” “Just do it!” Sounds simple, and if it was, I’d hopefully have got rid of more baggage many years ago. Paul speaks to the quandary we face trying to balance forgiveness and the need to feel remorse. “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”[3] Some part of the need for remorse is self-flagellation in keeping with the concept that one must pay for sins committed. Sometimes it just doesn’t feel right to be happy, when you haven’t done anything to deserve it. I get the theory of God’s forgiveness, and I believe he loves me, although I don’t exactly know why. God promised in scripture, “I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.”[4] God sees me in Jesus, others see me from an external perspective, but I look out through a blur of memories some good, and others not so good. Paul was able to put memories of negative experiences behind him, and he had some bad ones. Paul focused on pressing on toward his goal, not looking backward.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.[5]

There is a small matter that has to be dealt with before one can let go of baggage; maybe not so small. We have to submit to God, and accept his gift of forgiveness. Meaning, we need to get our egos out of the way, since they are the biggest stumbling blocks to becoming the person God wants us to be. The scripture speaks of joy, and Jesus talked about an abundant life, either of which can come only when we accept God at face value, which means pushing our egos to the side. That’s what it means to believe.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.[6]

Those who went to Sunday school may remember the account of Naaman the leper. He had been told that he could be healed in Israel. He was a prominent soldier and leader. Upon arriving in Israel Naaman was frustrated that the king couldn’t help him, and finally ended up outside a prophet’s house. To further insult him, the prophet didn’t even appear, he sent his servant out with a message to dip himself in the muddy Jordan River.  Naaman was extremely angry and upset that he had been treated like a commoner, and didn’t intend to do anything the prophet told him to do. Naaman fortunately had wise servants, “…his servants came near and spoke to him and said, ‘My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” Naaman was falling over his ego, mad and frustrated, and would have left the same way as he came if not for the advice of his servants. In essence his servants told him, “Just do it!” My response may not be the same as Naaman’s; it might be fear, but whatever it is, I need to accept what God offers, and believe.

---

[1] Luke 19:2-10

[2] Mat 19:25 

[3] Php 3:13, 14

[4] Jer 31:34

[5] Eph 3:14-21

[6] Joh 1:10-13

The Renascence of Christian Thought

You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.[1]

I have been putting down thoughts on the above scripture for several days; writing, deleting, and writing again. I may refer to it later, but right now my mind has wandered into a different field. I picked up a book by Jim Palmer that’s been on my shelf for a few years, but never opened. Some of Palmer’s early comments made me to think about my own religious journey. I won’t bore anyone with details, except to say that I have moved from conservative legalism to a personal walk with Jesus. My view on the institutional Church is that it has become a substitute, replacing a life in Christ. My current views are the result of moving from knowledge-based Christianity to faith-based Christianity. In the past the Church has been dominated by academics and knowledge was power. The combination of knowledge and charisma vaulted many teachers to an elevated status. Knowledge-based Christianity is actually an oxymoron considering Jesus’ attitude;

At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will."[2]

The apostle Paul was blessed with an impediment;

…to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.[3]

I’m sure Paul’s issue was more severe than anything I have thought worthy of divine intervention. Due to my prosaic background I view the section in which Palmer describes a paranormal experience as plainly weird. He’s not Paul, and he hasn’t been “caught up into Paradise”[4]. Generally such events I classify as “out of mind” experiences. The rationale behind my explanation of unexplained events comes from my interpretation of scripture. This is where things for me get complicated; I claim to have moved away from knowledge-based Christianity, and yet my attitude to unexplainable events is based mostly on my religious teaching. In reaction to Pentecostal “Spirit” led experiences the group I associated with came close to negating any Spirit activity. For clarity I need to insert my beliefs on the role of scripture in our lives today: Despite the meaning of its title, the “Bible” is not a book, it is the compilation of sixty-six books. It has more in common with a library than a single book. The convenience of having the sacred scriptures together in a single volume is offset by the confusion that causes. The sacred books are connected by a common theme which is the account of God’s creation, man’s failure to live within the constraints of paradise, God’s promise of redemption, its plan, execution, and completion. That is the revealed story of God from beginning to end. Concerning the ancient writings Paul referred to events which happened times past saying, “These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.”[5] Paul recognizing early Christians were living in the end of the age pointed out that God had left principles to be followed in the examples recorded. The end of the age or the last days of the Jewish era was the backdrop to the birth of Christianity. The promise of a new covenant was made in antiquity and brought to fruition in Jesus. His mission was to teach that the kingdom of heaven was near, his death was the ultimate sacrifice required for man to gain entrance into paradise. God poured his Spirit upon the human race establishing his covenant of grace, initiating a new era of hope. The fledgling kingdom was given birth in the shadow of the temple and all that majestic structure stood for. Judaism could not accept that its kingdom was in decline, or that it was being phased out. The period of writings, making up the so called “New Testament”, was a period of transition from the material kingdom of Israel to the spiritual kingdom of Israel; from Jesus’ death to the destruction of the temple. That was a unique time, a time of great conflict, a time of miracles and wonders confirming the truth of the gospel. Jesus told his listeners that some would live to witness the end of the age;

For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.[6]

                                                                                                                                               

Early Christians lived at a time the collated “NT” was not in circulation. In their assemblies they read the ancient scriptures and any religious document that might come into their possession, some of which today are not accepted as part of the canon. Paul taught his readers that the ancient scriptures included vital examples, and I believe the same is true of writings from the mid-first century. All sixty-six books offer principles and examples applicable today, but not regulations. Everything that Jesus taught and died for is in place, he brought the kingdom of heaven to earth, and opened the way for people to enter the kingdom. I pity people who are still waiting for the end of the age, they are missing out on the hope and security that are in the kingdom of God. From when the teaching of the gospel began on the Day of Pentecost with Peters address to fellow Jews up to the end of the Jewish era, there were two primary responses to the good news; one was antagonistic from traditional Jews, the second was from those who followed Jesus. The disciples of Jesus were excited and eager to share what they believed was the new and better way. Jewry opposed and persecuted all who accepted Jesus as Messiah. Judaism had been in place for almost fifteen hundred years, it was established and permanent. Christianity was the upstart, the new thing, and would eventually die out and be forgotten. Christianity didn’t die out, instead for three hundred years under frequent persecution it flourished. In the fourth century Constantine deemed it necessary to bring Christian factions together for the sake of the Empire. That he did, giving bishops in Rome authority to unify Christianity and maintain peace. That initiative gave birth to the Roman Church which exercised its given power to dominate the Christians throughout the world, stamping out opposition to its control. Every Christian Church has its origin in the Roman Church. Every Church, but not every Christian. Over the past forty years or more a grassroots Christian movement has been growing in spite of the institutional Church. The desire to serve Jesus and God without the encumbrance of Church faces the same opposition as the first Christians in the end times of the Jewish nation. A greater obstacle to be overcome is the long history of the Church and its many offsprings. Some would-be renascence Christians fail to find the freedom in Christ because they cling to traditions of the Church and are unable to move forward toward simple Christianity.

Back to Palmer’s strange experience. I believe we live in the time when faith, hope, and love, govern our relationships with God. As children of Abraham we live by faith and not by sight. This being true my response to unexplained experiences needs to reflect that which comes to us through principle and example not dictate. There is no doubt in my mind that the miracles and wonders prophesied by the prophet Joel ceased at the end of the age. Paul gave notice that tongues, prophecy and miracles would pass away. There is no principle indicating that all unexplained events or experiences are figments of imagination. Therefor a more appropriate response would be to consider if an experience was constructive and honoured Jesus, or detracted from spiritual life. John left a principle regarding the unexplained; “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”[7] In a time when there was demonic activity, and when the power of God was demonstrated in miracles and wonders, John’s advice was very necessary. It is important that we follow his example.From a few sources recently I have come across statements to the effect that, “we need to accept God’s plan for us rather than designing a plan for God.” I grew tired of mission pleas based on, “God has called me…” or, “God has a plan for me.” I suspect that any call that was heard was the echo of personal desire. Do what you want and ask God’s blessing, but don’t presume to tell God what he has said. Jesus charged his apostles to preach to all nations. Redemption and forgiveness of sin had not been available until Jesus’ death. He told his apostles to go far and wide and spread the good news, and he gave them the timeframe in which it had to be done. The charge to people following the end of the age, was not to go hither and yon, but to live in a manner which would bring glory to God. I’m not sure that God has a plan for everyone other than we all live reflecting his love. For me it’s important to remember that God doesn’t need me, but I definitely need God.

It looks like I have wandered back to the first quotation:

You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

There is a degree of specificity in the words of Jesus, since he was instructing his disciples. Jesus was in the world as the “exact imprint of God's very being,”[8] his disciples would be expected to represent Jesus to all people after his departure. They would live the message of Jesus for all to see. They would be spiritual seasoning in the absence of Jesus, and take on themselves the mantle of light radiating from God through his son. John said that Jesus was the Creator and “the light of all people.”[9] Later in his vision of hope John recorded, “…the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”[10] Jesus told his disciples that they were the light of the world, they bore the message of life, and the light of the logos would illuminate the world wherever they took the gospel. Believers are lights in the world, not in the same way as Jesus, not in the same way as the disciples who were the first to proclaim the hope of paradise. Our task is to let the love and grace of God radiate from our lives to those about. Reflecting God’s love through living is not a simple task, it can be easier to inundate ourselves in religious programs, or, devote ourselves to Church activities. The feedback from being involved in Church activities is more tangible than that received from “just living” as a follower of Jesus. “Just living” is more time consuming, more deliberate, and less noticed than being in the flow of Church activities. One of the most profound acts of love by Jesus gets very little attention, the theology of the cross overshadows his mundane act of house-keeping:

When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour the disciple took her into his own.[11]

Jesus instructed his disciples to be secretive when they, “gave alms, prayed, or fasted;”[12] adding that, God sees all things. The contrast Jesus made was between the behaviours of the Pharisees who performed their religious devotion for all to see, and what behaviours Jesus wanted from his followers. In the context of his teaching, Jesus went on to tell his disciples to have heavenly accounts into God credits secret acts of service.  I believe that renascence Christians seek to live similar to Jesus who made no alliances with any of the Jewish sects. He kept the Commandments, but not religious tradition. He lived a simple life, teaching through word and behaviour, he represented God in the world. Today, we live as citizens in the kingdom of God with Jesus is our king. We are not anxiously awaiting the results of a final judgement, we live in assurance that our lives are secure in Christ.

---

[1] Mat 5:13-16

[2] Mat 11:25, 26

[3] 2Co 12:7-9

[4] 2Co 12:4

[5] 1Co 10:11 

[6] Mat 16:27, 28

[7] 1Jn 4:1 

[8] Heb 1:3(NRSV)

[9] Joh 1:4

[10] Rev 21:23 

[11] Joh 19:26, 27

[12] Mat 6:4, 6, 17 (NRSV)