Post by The Ambassador on Jul 6, 2019 19:34:48 GMT
Love and Justice in the Christian church
GOD loves his worshippers. He always has, and he always will. He also loves justice. (Ps. 33:5) So we can be sure of two things:
* It pains God when his servants are treated unfairly.
* He will make sure that justice is served.
The Priestly Law of the Jews ended in c33 A.D. when the Christian church was established. Would Christians be without the benefits of a law that is built on love and promotes justice? By no means! Christians had a new understanding of the law. In this article, we will first discuss what that understanding is. Then we will answer these questions:
* Why can we say that this law is built on love?
* Why can we say that it promotes justice? Under this law, how should those in authority treat others?
WHAT IS “THE LAW OF THE CHRIST”?
Christians are under “the law of the Christ.” Jesus did not write down a different law code for his followers, but he did give them instructions, commands, and principles to live by. “The law of the Christ” includes everything Jesus taught. To understand this law better, consider the following. "Bear one another's burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ." ~ Galatians 6:2. [Note: unless otherwise indicated, all scripture is quoted from Green's Literal Translation of the Bible LITV]
In what ways did Jesus teach? First, he taught people by what he said. His words had power because they conveyed the truth about God, taught the real meaning of life, and pointed to God’s Kingdom as the remedy for all human suffering. (Luke 24:19) Jesus also taught by example. By how he lived, he showed his followers how they should live. "For I gave you an example, that as I did to you, you also should do." ~John 13:15.
When did Jesus teach? He taught during his ministry on earth. (Matt. 4:23) He also taught his followers shortly after he was resurrected. For example, he appeared to a group of disciples—perhaps numbering over 500—and gave them the command to “make disciples.” (Matt. 28:19, 20; 1 Cor. 15:6) As head of the church, Jesus continued to instruct his disciples after he returned to heaven. For instance, about 96 A.D., Christ directed the apostle John to give encouragement and counsel to anointed Christians.
"And He is the Head of the body, the church, who is the Beginning, the First-born from the dead, that He be preeminent in all things" ~ Col. 1:18;
"A Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to show to His slaves things which must occur quickly. And He signified by sending through His angel to His slave, John ~ Rev. 1:1.
Where are Jesus’ teachings recorded? The four Gospels record many of the things Jesus said and did on earth. The rest of the New Testament Scriptures—written by men who were inspired by holy spirit and who had “the mind of Christ”—further help us to understand Jesus’ thinking on matters. "For who has known the mind of the Lord?" "Who will teach Him?" But we have the mind of Christ." ~ 1 Cor. 2:16. See also Isa. 40:13
Lessons: Jesus’ teachings cover all aspects of life. So the law of the Christ governs what we do at home, at work or at school, and in the church. We learn this law by reading the New Testament Scriptures and meditating on them. We obey this law by bringing our lives into harmony with the instructions, commands, and principles found in that inspired record. When we obey the law of the Christ, we are obeying our loving God, God, who is the Source of all that Jesus taught. "Then Jesus said to them, When you lift up the Son of man, then you will know that I AM; and from Myself I do nothing; but as My Father taught Me, these things I speak." ~ John 8:28.
A LAW BUILT ON LOVE
A well-made house built on a solid foundation makes those who live in it feel safe and secure. Similarly, a good law built on a solid foundation makes those who live by it feel safe and secure. The law of the Christ is built on the best possible foundation—love. Why can we say that?
Jesus and his apostles encounter a funeral procession for the son of a widow
Jesus was motivated by love in everything he did. Pity, or tender compassion, is an expression of love. Moved by such pity, Jesus taught the crowds, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and raised the dead. (Matt. 14:14; 15:32-38; Mark 6:34; Luke 7:11-15) Although doing such things consumed much of his time and energy, Jesus willingly put the needs of others ahead of his own. Above all, he showed great love by surrendering his life in behalf of others. "Greater love than this has no one, that anyone should lay down his soul for his friends." ~ John 15:13.
Lessons: We can imitate Jesus by putting the needs of others ahead of our own. We can also imitate him by cultivating tender compassion for people in our neighborhoods. When such compassion moves us to speak to others about the good news, we are obeying the law of the Christ.
Jesus revealed his Father’s love. During his ministry, Jesus showed how deeply God cares about his worshipers. Among other things, Jesus taught the following:
* Each of us is valuable and precious to our heavenly Father. "Then do not fear; you are better than many sparrows." ~ Matt. 10:31
* God is eager to welcome back a lost sheep who repents and returns to the church. "I say to you that so is [there] joy in Heaven over one sinner repenting, than [there is] over ninety nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance. Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and look carefully until she finds it? And finding it, she calls together the friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I lost. I say to you, so there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner repenting." ~ Luke 15:7-10
* God proved his love for us by giving his Son as a ransom in our behalf. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." ~ John 3:16.
Lessons: How can we imitate God’s love? (Eph. 5:1, 2) We view each of our friends and neighbors as valuable and precious, and we gladly welcome back “a lost sheep” who returns to God. (Ps. 119:176) We prove that we love our friends and neighbors by giving of ourselves, such as by helping them in times of need. "Whoever has the means of life of the world, and sees his brother having need, and shuts up his bowels from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" ~ 1 John 3:17 When we treat others in loving ways, we are obeying the law of the Christ.
Jesus commanded his followers to show self-sacrificing love. "I give a new commandment to you, that you should love one another; according as I loved you, you should also love one another. By this all shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love among one another." ~ John 13:34, 35. Jesus’ commandment is new because it calls for a kind of love that was not required under the Law that God gave Israel: Love fellow believers as Jesus loved you. That requires a self-sacrificing love. We are to love our friends and neighbors even more than we love ourselves. We must love them to the point of being willing to give up our life for them, as Jesus did for us.
Lessons: How do we obey the new commandment? Put simply, by making sacrifices for our friends and neighbors. We are willing to make not just the ultimate sacrifice—giving up our life—but also smaller sacrifices. For example, when we regularly go out of our way to pick up an elderly friend for a Christian meeting, or we willingly give up our own preferences in order to please a loved one, or we take time off from our busy work schedule to help with disaster relief, we are obeying the law of the Christ. We are also helping to make our church a place where each individual can feel safe and secure.
A LAW THAT PROMOTES JUSTICE
“Justice,” as used in the Bible, basically means to do what God considers to be right and to do so without partiality. Why can we say that the law of the Christ promotes justice?
A woman has just washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, and poured some oil on them
Jesus was respectful and kind to women, including those whom others viewed with scorn
Consider how Jesus’ actions revealed his sense of justice. In his day, the Jewish religious leaders hated non-Jews, despised common Jews, and disrespected women. Jesus, however, was fair and impartial in dealing with all. He accepted non-Jews who approached him in faith. see Matt. 8:5-13. He preached without prejudice to all, rich and poor. (Matt. 11:5 ; Luke 19:2, 9) He was never harsh or abusive in his treatment of women. On the contrary, he was respectful and kind to women, including those whom others viewed with scorn. ~ see Luke 7:37-39, 44-50.
Lessons: We can imitate Jesus by dealing impartially with others and treating all—regardless of their social or religious background—with Christian kindness and respect. Christian men follow his example by treating women with respect. When we do such things, we are obeying the law of the Christ.
Consider what Jesus taught about justice. He taught principles that would help his followers to treat others fairly. Think, for example, about the Golden Rule. "Therefore, all things, whatever you desire that men should do to you, so also you should do to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets." ~ Matt. 7:12. We all want to be treated fairly. Therefore, we should behave fairly toward others. If we do, they may be moved to treat us with fairness. But what if we have been treated unjustly? Jesus also taught his followers to trust that God will “execute the avenging of His elect, those crying to Him day and night, also having been long-suffering over them?” ~Luke 18:6, 7 That statement is, in effect, a promise: Our just God is aware of the trials we are facing in our lives today, and he will cause justice to be done for us in his due time. ~ 2 Thess. 1:6.
Lessons: When we follow the principles that Jesus taught, we will treat others in a just way. And if we have been a victim of injustice in this world, we can take comfort in knowing that God will cause justice to be done for us in the new world to come.
HOW SHOULD CHURCH ADMINISTRATION TREAT OTHERS?
Under the law of the Christ, how should those in authority over the church treat others? Since love is the foundation of that law, church officials must dignify those in their care and treat them in a loving way. They must remember that the way of Christ is the way of love.
In the family. A husband is to love his wife “as the Christ does the church.” (Eph. 5:25, 28, 29) A husband must imitate the self-sacrificing love of Christ by putting his wife’s needs and interests ahead of his own. Some men may find it difficult to show such love, perhaps because they were not raised in an environment where treating others fairly and lovingly was valued. It may be difficult for them to unlearn bad habits, but they must make these changes in order to obey the law of the Christ. A husband who shows self-sacrificing love gains his wife’s respect. A father who truly loves his children would never abuse them by what he says or does. (Eph. 4:31) Instead, he expresses his love and approval in ways that make his children feel safe and secure. Such a father gains the love and trust of his children.
In the church. leaders must remember that the “sheep” do not belong to them. (John 10:16; read 1 Peter 5:1-3.) The expressions “flock of God,” “before God,” and “God’s inheritance” remind leaders that the sheep belong to God. He wants his sheep to be treated with love and tenderness. see 1 Thess. 2:7, 8. Leaders who lovingly carry out their responsibility as shepherds gain God’s approval. Such leaders also gain the love and respect of the church members.
What is the role of leaders in handling cases of serious wrongdoing? Their role is different from that of judges and leaders under the Law that God gave Israel. Under that Law, appointed men handled not only spiritual matters but also civil and criminal cases. But under the law of the Christ, the leaders’ role is to handle the spiritual aspects of the wrongdoing. They recognize that the secular authorities have the God-given responsibility to handle civil and criminal cases. That includes the authority to impose such penalties as fines or imprisonments. ~ Rom. 13:1-4.
How do leaders handle the spiritual aspects of serious wrongdoing? They use the Scriptures to weigh matters and make decisions. They keep in mind that love is the foundation of the law of the Christ. Love moves the leaders to consider: What needs to be done to help any in the church who have been victims of the wrongdoing? Regarding the wrongdoer, love moves the leaders to consider: Is he repentant? Can we help him to regain his spiritual health?
How thankful we are to be under the law of the Christ! When all of us work hard to obey it, we help to make our church a place where each individual can feel loved, valued, and safe. Still, we are living in a world where “wicked men” have advanced “from bad to worse.” (2 Tim. 3:13) We must not let down our guard. How can the Christian church reflect God’s justice when dealing with child sexual abuse? Next week, will answer that question.
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