“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17 – NIV) Today, I launch a new clergy collegial blog. I hope we will encourage and empower each other toward success and excellence in pastoral ministry. As I sit in the Pastor’s Study at Cambria Heights Community Church, I often ponder the possible feedback of clergy colleagues as it relates to preparing sermons, counseling in particularly difficult situation, designing fresh worship, balancing competing priorities of ministry, marriage and family, maintaining self-care, pursuing personal dreams and private interests outside of ministry and family, and finding resources to meet the ever evolving and changing needs of the people whom I serve. After a sustained period of prayer, reflection and meditation, I realize I can invite you to come “In The Pastor’s Study” for an exchange of ideas.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Connecting in Community - Matthew 5:17-20 and 22:34-40 Part One


Connecting in Community 
Matthew 5:17-20; 22:34-40
Part One

The Bookends of the Christian Life

“The Great Commandment” and “The Great Commission” are the bookends of the Christian life.  Discipleship development which strives to make God one’s “Ultimate Concern” is the primary purpose for which a disciple lives.  As theological tradition holds, we are created to glorify God and enjoy Him forevermore.  “The Great Commandment” says that we are to love the Lord with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength.  Additionally, we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  Central to the second half of “The Great Commandment” is the fulfillment of “The Great Commission.”  We must prioritize sharing the love of God in Jesus Christ with all people we encounter.  Unwavering love of God and evangelism are the two major pillars of a Christian’s life.

All the same, disciples do not fulfill these grand aims in isolation.  There are no “Lone Ranger” Christians.  All believers ought to belong to a Bible based and believing church community.  We practice God’s love in community.  Anyone who has belonged to a local church for any length of time realizes the difficulty of living God’s love in a communal setting.  Shameless power plays undermine this spiritual objective.  Large proportions of members with personal problems and character incapacities severely limit the church’s abilities to live the gospel.  Then, there are those who insist upon the fulfillment of their personal preferences or they will take their marbles and go home.  Lingering low self-esteem greatly impedes progress toward missions and outreach.  There are those persons who will only work if they will get credit publicly for their efforts.  The sum of these unfortunate characterizations vividly portrays the extreme difficulty of living the love of God in a collective gathering of believers.  Nonetheless, the Bible mandates that we strive to do so.

Biblical Background

Incredulously, many Christians do not read seriously the Old Testament.  They do not, in their opinions, serve the vengeful, bloodthirsty “God of the Old Testament” who deals harshly with Israel.  Other believers ascribe to the notion that modern disciples are no longer bound to the requirements of the old covenant.  Christ issues a new covenant which releases disciples from the burdens of the black letter law.  “The letter kills but the Spirit gives life.”  In challenge to this prominent yet fallacious idea, Matthew’s gospel contains “The Sermon on the Mount” in which the Lord establishes a new law of love.  He straightforwardly says that He did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets.  Rather, He came to fulfill them. 

The new law of love interestingly places a greater burden on believers than the letter of the Law.  Love requires us to go to any length to demonstrate God’s will.  Giving exceeds the ten percent of the tithe.  Elsewhere, we are told to give generously not out of necessity and duty.  Forgiveness demands that we extend mercy and grace as many times as necessary to yield resolution and reconciliation.  It absolves our perpetrators of our demands for restitution although they may adhere to the urging of the Holy Spirit to do so.  It definitely removes any claims that we may have for punishment of our perpetrators.  Leadership in the Church emerges from faithful service to Christ.  The assurance of salvation is given to those persons who persevere until death.  Suffice it to conclude that Christ’s standard for love surpasses the legalisms of the Old Testament and its rituals.

Instead, Christ calls us into a vibrant relationship that demands that we share His love with everyone.  Cultivating the spiritual discipline of self-denial is the first step toward loving God wholeheartedly and one’s neighbor selflessly.  Christ teaches us that love is not a feeling but a lifestyle of commitment and action.  As the model of love, Jesus shows us how to love others as we love ourselves.  The new law of selfless and sacrificial love fulfills the thousands of variables of the Old Testament Law.  Again, disciples obey this mandate in the context of community rather than in isolation.

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