Good Morning All,
Matthew 22:39; “And a second
is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
One day we
were having a discussion in a Bible Study.
We were discussing Christian ethics.
We had a short discussion about how Christianity brought orthodoxy and
orthopraxy together (Orthodoxy is proper faith while orthopraxy is proper
action). It is possible to do the “right
thing” for all the wrong reasons. For
example, a wealthy person who donates a million dollars to the church in order
to “buy” his way into heaven. It doesn’t
work but the church still got a million dollars. This is based on the premise that all I have
to do is the right thing and that is Christianity.
Many would agree with
this. These are the people who see
Christianity as one big “good works” event.
As long as we do the right and kind thing we are fine. Most of us even know the way we always say
it. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked,
give water to the thirsty, visit those in prison; we know the section by
heart. For most of us, we see this as
the standard answer to what does it mean to be a Christian. It means that we do kind things for those who
are in need and probably will never be able to repay the kindness they receive. We have even made a game of this. Some call it the circle of kindness, or the
circle of love, or pay it forward. Do
something nice for someone and then tell them to do something nice for the next
person. It sounds good; it provides civic
righteousness but is it what it means to be a Christian?
Some even point to what Jesus
did as support. Jesus healed the sick,
cured the lame, the deaf and the blind.
He died and rose again for us; he did the “right thing.” So what does it
mean to be a Christian? Jesus tells us
that to be a Christian means to love one another. Love, not just be nice or play fair but to
love one another. This is what makes our
faith so different from the rest of the world and other religions. Jesus came to earth out of love, not duty or
other expectations. Jesus showed us love
and then told us to love as he loved us.
Our actions are based in love not duty.
Actions based in love do not
need to be planned or put into some program.
We don’t see our actions as helping some poor or unfortunate being,
rather we are acting out of love just like we would for a beloved family
member. God, by nature, is a loving
god. His desire is that we be loving
creatures. Our faith does not seek
mechanical actions or recitation of doctrine; it seeks to bring a loving
relationship into the lives of the people.
What does it mean to be a Christian? To love one another, even as God
has loved us. To respond out of love
for one another; not just to help but to restore and to reconcile with each
other. To love as we want to be loved.
Father, in your mercy you
have shown us love. By Jesus dying on
the cross and rising again to seal our victory, we know love. Give us the strength to love one another, as
we want to be loved, as you first loved us.
Be with those who feel unloved.
Be with those who suffer in loneliness.
Send your spirit of comfort and hope and bring us to be your arms and
voice of love in this dark world. In the
precious name of Jesus, our risen savior, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret
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