11-7-2023

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