{"id":1379,"date":"2016-07-06T08:00:33","date_gmt":"2016-07-06T12:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anglicanconnection.com\/?p=1379"},"modified":"2016-07-07T21:06:36","modified_gmt":"2016-07-08T01:06:36","slug":"questions-message-of-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anglicanconnection.com\/questions-message-of-love\/","title":{"rendered":"‘QUESTIONS’…"},"content":{"rendered":"

I<\/span>n February 2012, David Brooks in an article in\u00a0The New York Times<\/i>, \u2018How to Fight the Man\u2019<\/a>, related the story of Jefferson Bethke, a 22-year-old man. Bethke had \u2018produced a video called \u201cWhy I Hate Religion, but Love Jesus\u201d. Brooks noted that Bethke argued: \u2018Jesus preaches healing, surrender and love,\u2026 but religion is rigid, phony and stale. \u201cJesus came to abolish religion\u201d\u2026\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018The video went viral\u2026,\u2019 Brooks commented. \u2018It speaks for many young believers who feel close to God but not to the church. It represents the passionate voice of those who think their institutions lack integrity \u2014 not just the religious ones,\u2026\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the article, Kevin DeYoung, one of the many who replied, \u2018pointed out<\/span><\/a>,\u2026 it is biblically inaccurate to say that Jesus hated religion\u2026. In fact, Jesus preached a religious doctrine, prescribed rituals and worshiped in a temple.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Brooks noted that \u2018Bethke responded in a way that was humble, earnest and gracious,\u2026\u2019 Apparently Bethke responded to DeYoung: \u201c\u2026I\u2019ll even be honest and say I agree 100 percent.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES <\/span><\/h2>\n

I refer to this article of David Brooks because we are seeing in the current electoral processes in Britain, Australia and the United States the way the integrity of institutions is being questioned \u2013 and not just amongst the young.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was interesting to read an interview with the actor Kevin Sorbo on Fox News (July 1, 2016) about the new film,\u00a0Joseph and Mary<\/i>. Sorbo commented:\u00a0\u2018the problems in America would be avoided if people had\u00a0“any moral principles — any biblical principles in their [lives].”\u2019 He further remarked that \u2018fans ask him every day to continue making faith-based, family-friendly films\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

With these thoughts in mind we might ask how we relate with one another and how others in the wider community see us. Do we come across to others in the wider community as people who live out our faith, people of integrity, or judgmental and unforgiving?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Luke 6:37ff we read Jesus\u2019 further words in his Sermon on the Plain:\u00a0\u2018Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;\u00a0give, and it will be given to you.<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

JUDGING<\/h2>\n

Judging\u00a0<\/i>others indicates a critical, condemning attitude that ignores the reality that we all fail God<\/b>. It is important that we distinguish\u00a0judging<\/i>\u00a0from\u00a0discerning<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Closely linked to Jesus\u2019 command not to\u00a0judge<\/i>\u00a0is the one not to\u00a0condemn<\/i>. Whereas\u00a0judging<\/i>\u00a0suggests an attitude of mind,\u00a0condemning<\/i>\u00a0reflects an emotion of the heart and the will<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Judgmental and condemning attitudes spring from a patronizing self-righteousness that forgets we all stand condemned by God<\/b>\u00a0(Romans 14:10-12). Jesus graphically condemns this in his parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:11-14).\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Judgment\u00a0<\/i>and\u00a0condemnation<\/i>\u00a0have the same outcome \u2013 a breakdown in relationships.\u00a0Forgive, and you will be forgiven<\/i>\u00a0challenges us to forgive from the heart everyone who has wronged us personally<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This does not remove the right of the courts to uphold justice for the good order of society<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 as we read in Romans 13:1-4 and 1 Peter 2:13-14.<\/span><\/p>\n

MESSAGE OF LOVE<\/h2>\n

Furthermore, the command to forgive doesn\u2019t mean that sin is to be overlooked or brushed aside.\u00a0However, we need to keep in mind that God chose to forgive us through a costly means that perfectly satisfied his righteousness<\/b>. We in turn are called on to resolve broken relationships with one another.<\/span><\/p>\n

If we expect God to forgive us, we should be prepared to show mercy and forgive those who wrong us.<\/b>\u00a0In Colossians 3:13 we read:\u00a0Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Our failure to show mercy to one another reveals an unrepentant spirit<\/b>, and an unrepentant spirit is hardly honest and humble enough to receive God\u2019s pardon and deliverance.<\/span><\/p>\n

How then do we relate to one another?<\/b>\u00a0Does the world around us today say, as Tertullian wrote in the 2<\/span>nd<\/sup><\/span>\u00a0century: \u2018See how those Christians love one another\u2019?\u00a0Are we as God\u2019s people known for our integrity \u2013 known as a forgiven people who hold out a message of love and forgiveness?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a9 John G. Mason\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Note 1: During June and July, my Word on Wednesday is adapted from my commentary,\u00a0Reading Luke Today: An Unexpected God<\/i>\u00a0(Aquila: 2012), pp.80-96<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

n February 2012, David Brooks in an article in\u00a0The New York Times, \u2018How to Fight the Man\u2019, related the story of Jefferson Bethke, a 22-year-old man. Bethke had \u2018produced a video called \u201cWhy I Hate Religion, but Love Jesus\u201d. Brooks noted that Bethke argued: \u2018Jesus preaches healing, surrender and love,\u2026 but religion is rigid, phony […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1386,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-word-on-wednesday"],"yoast_head":"\n'QUESTIONS'... - The Anglican Connection<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As Christians, how do we relate to one another? 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