LAW AND LOVE ROM. 13:8-10; BV 9/5/99

THE THREE CHARACTERS IN OUR SKIT FOR TODAY, JUNE, FLORA, AND ETHEL, NEEDED SOME HELP IN CHANGING THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THE MEANING OF THOSE ROAD SIGNS, DIDN'T THEY? IN THEIR CASE IT TOOK A POLICE OFFICER TO STRAIGHTEN THEM OUT...IN OUR CASE, IT USUALLY TAKES A LITTLE MORE THAN A MERE MORTAL...ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CHANGING OUR PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE.

OUR PERSPECTIVE ON OUR WORLD IS IMPORTANT. IT HELPS US LIVE OUR LIFE, DOESN'T IT?

FOR EXAMPLE, I HEARD ABOUT A PRIEST WHO WAS WALKING ALONG THE BEACH WHEN HE CAME UPON TWO GUYS PULLING ANOTHER MAN ASHORE ON THE END OF A ROPE. "THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE," SAID THE PRIEST, "A MAN HELPING HIS FELLOW MAN."

AS HE WAS WALKING AWAY, ONE OF THE GUYS TURNED TO THE OTHER AND SAID, "WELL, HE SURE DOESN'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT SHARK FISHING."

THIS PRIEST DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON...HIS PERSPECTIVE WAS ALL WRONG.

OUR PERSPECTIVES ON OUR WORLD AND OUR ROLE AND PLACE IN IT ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AREN'T THEY? THEY SHAPE AND MOLD OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND EVEN THE VERY WAY WE LIVE OUT OUR LIVES. OUR PERSPECTIVES ALSO SHAPE OUR CONCEPT OF GOD AND OUR SPIRITUAL BELIEFS.

THE PROBLEM COMES WHEN OUR PERSPECTIVES AND BELIEFS RUN CONTRARY TO REALITY...ESPECIALLY REALITY THE WAY GOD HAS CREATED AND ORDAINED IT.

THE WORLD IS A CONFUSING PLACE WHERE WE CAN COME ACROSS ALL KINDS OF CONFLICTING IDEAS AND BELIEFS. IN THE EBB AND FLOW OF HISTORY...EVEN RECENT HISTORY, OR MAYBE ESPECIALLY IN RECENT HISTORY...WE CAN SEE HOW VALUES AND BELIEFS HAVE SHIFTED AND EVOLVED.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP BACK IN THE DARK AGES, COUPLES WOULD NEVER DREAM OF LIVING TOGETHER BEFORE MARRIAGE. BACK WHEN I GREW UP SINGLE PEOPLE DID NOT USUALLY INTENTIONALLY SET OUT TO HAVE CHILDREN AND THE DIVORCE RATE WAS ALSO A WHOLE LOT LESS. THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION OF THE SIXTIES CHANGED ALL OF THAT. TALK ABOUT THESE IDEAS TO ANYONE BORN IN THE LAST THIRTY YEARS, AND THEY LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU HAVE THREE HEADS. FEELING GUILTY OVER THE BREAKING OF SUCH TABOOS IS ALMOST UNHEARD OF TODAY.

THE WORLD GIVES US A SHIFTING SET OF STANDARDS AND DEFINITIONS OF WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG...WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE. THE RESULTS ARE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING AND CHANGING SYSTEMS OF BELIEFS ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT AND WHERE OUR HAPPINESS AND MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE CAN BE FOUND.

THE DRUG CULTURE TELLS US THEY CAN BE FOUND IN THE NEXT FIX OR HIGH. THE SUCCESS GURUS SAY THEY CAN BE FOUND IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY OR NUMBER OF POSSESSIONS WE CAN ACQUIRE OR THE POWER AND INFLUENCE WE CAN EXERCISE. THE PEOPLE AT WEIGHT WATCHERS WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE THAT LIFE WOULD BE PERFECT IF WE JUST LOST TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS USING THEIR SYSTEM. THE PURVEYORS OF COSMETICS TELL US THE SECRET TO LIFE IS THE NEWEST COLOGNE OR HAIR COLOR. AND ON AND ON. I PERSONALLY AM BEGINNING TO BE SWAYED BY THE CLAIMS MADE BY THE ROGAINE PEOPLE.

SO WHAT IS THE REALITY? WHAT REALLY IS THE ANSWER...THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE...THE ONE THAT GOD SAYS WILL WORK THE BEST FOR US AND GIVE US THE KIND OF FREEDOM AND MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE WE ARE SO HUNGRY FOR IN OUR LIFE?

THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS THAT THE ANSWER LIES IN UNDERSTANDING THAT LOVE IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAWS THAT GOD GAVE TO THE ISRAELITES AND US SO LONG AGO...LAWS DESIGNED TO ENABLE US TO LIVE LIFE WITH ALL OF THE WHOLENESS AND JOY AND SIGNIFICANCE THAT GOD WANTS US TO HAVE. THE FULFILLMENT AND CULMINATION OF THESE LAWS WERE ACCOMPLISHED IN ONLY ONE PLACE, JESUS CHRIST. SO IN THE LOVE THAT SAME JESUS COMMANDED US TO HAVE FOR ONE ANOTHER WE CAN FIND THE CULMINATION AND END OF THE LAW.

THERE WERE ONLY TEN OF THESE LAWS AND YOU KNOW THEM IF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND HERE FOR AWHILE BECAUSE THE REV AND I PREACHED A SERIES OF SERMONS ON THEM A SHORT WHILE BACK.

THESE TEN COMMANDMENTS, HOWEVER, HAVE BEEN A STUMBLING BLOCK FOR HUMANKIND EVER SINCE MOSES CAME HIKING DOWN MT. SINAI WITH THOSE STONE TABLETS. WE CANNOT KEEP THEM.

I READ ABOUT A FULL PAGE AD IN PEOPLE MAGAZINE THAT RAN IN EARLY 1997 THAT ANNOUNCED THE NEW SUNDAY LINEUP OF SHOWS ON USA NETWORK. THEY WERE "PACIFIC BLUE," "SILK STALKINGS," AND "THE BIG EASY." THEY WERE BILLED AS "STEAMY" SHOWS.

THE AD HAD A FLESH COLORED BACKGROUND WHICH WHEN EXAMINED CLOSELY WAS THE CLOSE-UP OF A WOMAN'S MIDRIFF COMPLETE WITH A BELLY BUTTON IN THE CORNER OF THE PAGE. PRINTED IN BOLD LETTERS ON THE FLESH WERE THE WORDS, "GUARANTEED TO BREAK AT LEAST 20% MORE COMMANDMENTS THAN ANY OTHER SUNDAY NIGHT LINE-UP."

I KNOW THEIR AGENDA, BUT I NEVER SAW IT IN PRINT BEFORE. (PAR)

PAUL SAYS THAT LOVE IS TO BE THE RULE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. THAT LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW. BUT CAN LOVE BE A RULE OR A COMMANDMENT? OUR EMOTIONS ARE NOT THAT MUCH UNDER OUR CONTROL. THEREFORE TO BE ORDERED TO LOVE SEEMS TO BE TOTALLY UNREALISTIC; AND IT WILL RESULT IN EITHER FRUSTRATION, AS WE FIND OURSELVES UNABLE TO LOVE SOMEONE WHO IS UNLOVABLE, OR IT WILL LEAD TO HYPOCRISY AS WE PRETEND TO LOVE SOMEONE WE REALLY DISLIKE.

THE ANSWER TO UNDERSTANDING THIS COMMAND TO LOVE REALLY LIES IN UNDERSTANDING THE KIND OF PERVERSION THE WORD "LOVE" HAS UNDERGONE IN OUR SOCIETY. THE PROBLEM COMES FROM THE FACT THAT LOVE HAS COME TO MEAN EITHER SHEER SENTIMENTALITY OR ELSE THE FEELING THAT COMES OVER A PERSON WHEN THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO SOMEONE THEY FIND ATTRACTIVE. LOVE HAS THEREFORE COME TO BE IDENTIFIED WITH AN EMOTIONAL STATE. HOWEVER, AS PAUL ACHTEMEIER SAYS, "THAT IS NOT WHAT THE NEW TESTAMENT MEANS BY LOVE. THAT GOD LOVES US HARDLY MEANS THAT HE GETS A WARM FEELING INSIDE WHEN HE THINKS OF US. WE KNOW GOD LOVES US NOT BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE FEELS ABOUT US BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US: HE GAVE HIS SON FOR OUR REDEMPTION."

WHAT PAUL MEANS BY LOVE THEREFORE CENTERS ON ACTIONS, NOT EMOTIONS. TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR...OR ONE WHO IS NEAR TO US...IS TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE THAT PERSON'S GOOD. WHEN WE ARE TOLD TO LOVE OUR ENEMY IT MEANS THAT WE ARE TO WORK FOR THAT PERSON'S GOOD, NOT THEIR HARM. AND THAT IS WHERE PAUL BEGINS TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS KIND OF LOVE FULFILLS SOME OF THE SPECIFIC LAWS GOD HAS GIVEN US...ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT DEAL WITH PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

THE FIRST ONE CONCERNS THE PROHIBITION AGAINST ADULTERY...KIND OF A HOT TOPIC TODAY AS I SEE THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING FOR COUNSELING WHO ARE VICTIMS OF THEIR PARTNER CHEATING ON THEM.

BUT ITS BEEN AROUND SINCE ADAM AND EVE, I GUESS, IF I CAN BELIEVE THE STORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN ADAM STAYED OUT VERY LATE FOR A FEW NIGHTS. EVE APPARENTLY GOT UPSET. "YOU'RE RUNNING AROUND WITH OTHER WOMEN," SHE CHARGED.

"DON'T BE RIDICULOUS," ADAM RESPONDED. "YOU'RE THE ONLY WOMAN ON EARTH." THE ARGUMENT CONTINUED UNTIL ADAM FELL ASLEEP, ONLY TO BE RUDELY AWAKENED BY SOMEONE POKING HIM ON THE CHEST.

IT WAS EVE. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" ADAM ASKED.

"COUNTING YOUR RIBS," SAID EVE.

ADULTERY IS NOT AN ACT OF LOVE. IT DEMONSTRATES A TOTAL LACK OF CONCERN FOR OUR MARRIED PARTNER, NO RESPECT FOR OUR SEXUAL PARTNER, AND A COMPLETE LACK OF DISCIPLINE AND RESTRAINT.

THE NEXT LAW THAT PAUL PICKS IS THE ONE AGAINST MURDER. AND ONCE AGAIN IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE ACT OF MURDER VIOLATES THE COMMANDMENT TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR BY ACTING FOR THEIR GOOD, NOT THEIR HARM.

THE SAME THING APPLIES TO STEALING. IT IS AN ACT THAT TAKES, RATHER THAN GIVES. IT IS AN ACT OF DECEPTION AND DISHONESTY LIKE THE DOCTOR WHO WAS VACATIONING ON THE RIVIERA WHO MET AN OLD LAWYER FRIEND AND ASKED HIM WHAT HE WAS DOING THERE. THE LAWYER SAID, "REMEMBER THAT LOUSY REAL ESTATE I BOUGHT? WELL, IT CAUGHT FIRE, SO HERE I AM WITH THE FIRE INSURANCE PROCEEDS. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

THE DOCTOR SAID, "REMEMBER THAT LOUSY REAL ESTATE I HAD IN MISSISSIPPI? WELL, THE RIVER OVERFLOWED, AND I AM HERE WITH THE FLOOD INSURANCE PROCEEDS."

THE LAWYER LOOKED PUZZLED. "GEE," HE ASKED, "HOW DO YOU START A FLOOD?"

STEALING VIOLATES THE LAW OF LOVE.

AND THEN PAUL CONCLUDES HIS LIST WITH THE LAW AGAINST COVETING WHAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS. LUMPED INTO THIS COMMANDMENT ARE THE THINGS LIKE GREED AND ENVY...DESIRING WHAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS AND THEN SCHEMING TO GET IT. LIKE KEVIN AND RYAN, AGES 5 AND 3, AS THEY WAITED FOR BREAKFAST ONE MORNING. AS THEIR MOTHER WAS FIXING SOME PANCAKES, THE BOYS BEGAN TO ARGUE OVER WHO WOULD GET THE FIRST ONE FROM THE GRIDDLE. THEIR MOTHER SAW A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A MORAL LESSON. "IF JESUS WERE SITTING HERE, HE WOULD SAY LET MY BROTHER HAVE THE FIRST PANCAKE - I CAN WAIT." SHE EXPLAINED.

KEVIN IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO HIS YOUNGER BROTHER AND SAID, "OKAY, RYAN, YOU BE JESUS."

THE LAW IS FULFILLED WHEN WE ACT OUT OF THE KIND OF LOVE THAT CAUSES US TO CONTROL OUR DESIRES.

PAUL'S THOUGHTS ARE SUMMED UP IN THE COMMANDMENT GIVEN IN BOTH THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF LEVITICUS AND FROM THE MOUTH OF JESUS HIMSELF: "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." THE IDEA HERE IS THAT WE ARE FOOLISH WHEN WE SEEK TO DO OURSELVES HARM...REASONABLE, RATIONAL PEOPLE TRY TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD FOR THEMSELVES. WE TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES. WE WANT TO ACT IN OUR OWN BEST INTERESTS. WHEN WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS WE ACT TO DO THE SAME FOR THEM. AND WHEN WE LOVE THEM IN THE SAME WAY AS WE LOVE OURSELVES, WE FULFILL THE LAWS GOD HAS GIVEN US.

YOU SEE, IT ALL COMES TOGETHER IN JESUS. IN HIM THE TWO CONCEPTS OF LAW, WITH ITS BURDEN OF GUILT AND CONDEMNATION, AND LOVE, WITH ITS PROMISE OF UNLIMITED GRACE AND FORGIVENESS AND FREEDOM...THESE TWO OPPOSING CONCEPTS THAT SEEM TO HAVE SO LITTLE IN COMMON...COME TOGETHER.

TO LOVE OTHERS WITH A LOVE LIKE HIS IS THE COMMANDMENT JESUS HAS GIVEN US. AND IF THIS LOVE IS PRESENT IN OUR LIVES AND OUR ACTIONS, IT MAKES THE KEEPING OF ALL THE OTHER COMMANDMENTS POSSIBLE. THE LOVE THAT JESUS ENABLES US TO LIVE OUT WHEN HE IS AT THE CORE OF OUR LIVES PROMOTES OBEDIENCE TO THE LAWS GOD HAS GIVEN US, AND LAW AND LOVE TOGETHER CONSTITUTE THE LAW OF CHRIST.

I HAVE A FAVORITE PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE THAT COMES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHET MICAH. IT'S A VERSE THAT SUMS UP PERFECTLY EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID HERE THIS MORNING. IT GOES LIKE THIS: "HE HAS SHOWED YOU, O MAN, WHAT IS GOOD; AND WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU? TO ACT JUSTLY AND TO LOVE MERCY AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD." (MIC. 6:8)

...SOMETHING THAT IS POSSIBLE ONLY WHEN WE HAVE THE GUIDING LOVE AND POWER OF THE RISEN CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES. SO HOW ABOUT IT? ARE YOU READY TO START REALLY LIVING LIFE?