“I Will Be a Unifying Church Member” (Ephesians 4:1-6) - I AM A CHURCH MEMBER II -

Unity Takes Work 

I once heard a funny story about how hard it is to keep the unity of the church. There was a man who was standing in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge, admiring the view. And he heard another tourist say quietly, “What an awesome God!” So he turned to him and asked, “Oh, are you a Christian?” The tourist said, “Yes, I am a Christian.” He said, “So am I,” and they shook hands. Then, he asked, “Are you a liberal or a fundamental Christian?” The tourist said, “I'm a fundamental Christian.” He said, “So am I,” and they smiled and nodded to each other. He said, “Are you a covenant or dispensational fundamental Christian?” The tourist said, “I'm a dispensational fundamental Christian.” He said, “So am I,” and they slapped one another on the back and agreed to exchange Christmas cards each year. He said, “Are you an early Acts, mid Acts, or late Acts dispensational fundamental Christian?” The tourist said, “I'm a late Acts dispensational fundamental Christian.” He said, “You heretic!” and he pushed him off the bridge.[1]

In today’s passage Paul exhorts us, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (3). That doesn’t mean we should maintain the unity of the church at the expense of truth. In this matter it would be wise to follow St. Augustine’s approach: “In the essential things of our faith, unity; in non-essentials, freedom; in everything, love.” I want to draw your attention to this: Paul doesn’t say that we Christians ought to “create” unity; instead, he exhorts us to “preserve” the unity already established by the blood of Christ. The Bible says, “For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles (all the different people!) into one people (one Church!) when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.” (Eph 2:14, NLT) Jesus did it! He reconciled us to God, and to each other through his death on the Cross. Unity is a given, and now we are called to maintain the unity of the church. As we know, unity takes work. It takes sacrifice.

Gossip 

There are at least three main obstacles to the unity of the church. And Paul urges us to overcome those obstacles for the sake of unity. The first obstacle we as a church face is the sin of gossip. Gossip is destructive in the church. It is like cancerous cells in the body of Christ. It creates divisions and sows discord. It tears apart the unity and renders the church sick and powerless. Few weeks ago when we studied Romans 12:9-21, “Three Simple Rules,” we learned about how can we deal with our own gossip. And the basic principle was if you are not sure whether something is gossip or not, don’t mention it. Keep your tongue under control. Unless it builds up those involved and the body of Christ, don’t tell anyone else’s story.

So now we know how can we deal with our own gossip. But how do we refuse to listen to someone who wants to spread gossip? How can we deal with gossip in others and in the church? Bill Gothard tells us five questions to ask before we listen to an evil report or negative talk:[2] 

1. What is your reason for telling me? 
2. Where did you get your information? 
3. Have you gone to those directly involved? 
4. Have you personally checked out all of the facts? 
5. Can I quote you if I check this out? 

Perhaps you may not remember all these five questions at the moment. If so, ask this one question to yourselves: “Is this report or talk building up those involved and the church?” If not, gently rebuke him or her. Confront that person in love. Kindly say, “I would rather not hear any gossip and I would hope it wouldn’t continue to spread. Lovingly say, “You should go directly to the person involved, or to the pastor.” If there are just a few more members like you, other church members will know that gossip is not tolerated in this church. And our church will be a place of joy and unity. Sisters and brothers in Christ, we are called to be a source of unity, not a source of gossip. Let us stop gossip when it’s shared with us and look for ways to encourage people and build up the church instead. Let us be a unifier! That is our calling! 

Unforgiving Heart 

The second obstacle to the unity of the church is unforgiving heart. Unforgiveness is an enemy of church unity. In Colossians 3:12-13 Paul says, “As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear 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.” (NRSV) Forgiveness is essential to the unity of the church. Church unity is torn apart when church members refuse to forgive, when they refuse to seek forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not easy. Too many times we have anger and hurt because of something another member said or did or failed to do. Anger rears its ugly head. Bitterness keeps coming back. We may have to let go of resentment over and over again. Forgiveness takes work. But as we come to the cross of Christ, we begin to comprehend the depth of our own sins and the wonder of God’ grace. We begin to realize Christ loved me so much that He died on a cross to forgive me. If the Lord has forgiven me – even me, who am I to refuse to forgive others? I must forgive. You must forgive. We must forgive. Do you have any grudges you’ve been harboring? Identify them, and forgive the people involved today.

Forgiveness is a two-way street. Not only do we ought to forgive, but also we are to seek forgiveness. There was an occasion when I had to stand up for what I believe it is right. At that time I firmly believed I did the right thing, and I said the right thing. One day I had a chance to meet one of my mentors. After hearing my story and prayer concerns, he said something disturbing in this way: “Victor, I admire your willingness to take a stand for the truth of the gospel. I stand with you. But you may still need to apologize if you have unnecessarily hurt other’s feeling in expressing your beliefs.” My first response was denial. But as I was praying and asking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I realized that I may be theologically right, but I was relationally wrong. So I went to see those involved and did ask for forgiveness. Too many times we hurt other’s feelings because we are imperfect. But, too often we don’t even realize it. We need the help of the Holy Spirit. We need to work with Him to identify the ways in which we have hurt other’s feelings and contributed to division within the church. With humility, let us come and ask the Holy Spirit to identity our words and deeds. And if He convicts us of our sin, let us confess our actions and seek forgiveness.

My Way 

The third and the most fundamental obstacle to the unity of the church is self-centeredness or selfishness. By nature, we are constantly seeking things “our way.” Too often, we expect the church to cater to our preferences and our needs. We serve the church “my way.” Of course, our preferences, our desires, our ways clash with each other, and the church becomes a battle ground. Then, how can we overcome our self-centered human nature? The cure for this is to die to self and to live to Christ. It is to deny ourselves and submit to Christ. In Ephesians 2:20 Paul calls Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone of the church. In ancient architecture, the cornerstone was the most important stone in a building. It was the building stone that held the entire structure together. Here Paul is saying everything in and about the church rests on Jesus’ authority. He is the one who connects us all together. In Christ there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God (4-6). 7 times of “oneness” – perfect unity! This oneness doesn’t mean we agree with everyone all the time. For instance, we may disagree about the proper mode of baptism. But this oneness does mean we are willing to sacrifice our own preferences as secondary issues, and to seek the will of Christ and obey Him to keep the unity of the church!

As I close, I would like to share a story of the testing of a candidate for missions work. A missionary candidate was summoned to come before a certain interviewer. A veteran missionary himself instructed the young man to come to his house at 5 a.m. So the young man got up at 4 and arrived at the examiner’s house by 4:55. “Wait for me,” the examiner said as he ushered the candidate into his study. Then he disappeared. Three hours later he returned and said, “How do you spell baker?” “B-a-k-e-r,” answered the young man. “How’s your math?” asked the examiner. “What’s two plus two?” “Four,” answered the young man. That evening, the veteran missionary met with his mission board and said, “I highly recommend this young man for ministry. I tested him on self-denial. He rolled out of bed and showed up at 4:55 a.m. Patience? I made him wait three hours in my study, and he didn’t say a word. Temper? I asked him to spell baker, and he didn’t become agitated. Humility? I asked him what two plus two was and he answered readily. This man will make a great missionary, just the kind we need.”[3]

Making Much of Christ 

Not all of us in this room may not have been called to be a missionary. But all of us are called to have a “missionary mindset” – Making much of Christ and serving His Church with all humility and gentleness, with patience and love! (2). Keeping church unity itself is not our purpose. Our ultimate goal is to make much of Christ. We make much of Christ by stopping the gossip. We make much of Christ by forgiving and seeking forgiveness. We make much of Christ by setting aside our ways and following His ways. As we make much of Christ, church unity comes and the church become the most loving place in the world. So brothers and sisters in Christ, let us make much of Christ together above all things!

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[1] Nicky Gumbel, Alpha Course, “Talk 15: What About the Church?”
[2] Steven J. Cole, “Lesson 13: Have You Heard about Gossip?” (2 Samuel 13-15), https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-13-have-you-heard-about-gossip-2-samuel-13-15
[3] Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary: Vol 3, New Testament (Thomas Nelson, 2003), 974.

“I Will Be a Functioning Church Member” (1 Cor 12:12-31) - I Am a Church Member I -

What Is Not 
Membership has its privileges. Join Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana, and you can golf, ski, ride horseback, fly fish, hike, bike, kayak, and more among some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. You can dine in luxury. You may meet occasionally some of the celebrities. Probably you expect these kinds of perks from a club that requires $300,000 to join and $30,000 in annual fees.[1] Most of us don’t have such membership, but we do get the idea of membership. We pay our dues and are entitled to certain benefits in return. The problem occurs when we bring this same mentality to the church. If we pay our dues (either money, time, or service), we become “active” members and expect the church to cater to our preferences (“my way”) and serve our needs. Sometimes we even get angry and threaten to leave when things don’t go our way. If we don’t pay our dues, we consider ourselves “inactive” members and become “spectators” and let few “players” run the church according to their preferences and desires.

What Is 
Church membership is not about having our needs met, but there is much greater value in being a church member. Before we receive the Communion, we always confess to God, “By the baptism of his (Jesus’) suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your church!” Church membership is one of the most glorious privileges and perks we have as Christians. Jesus suffered, died and rose again to give us the church (and church membership!). During Lent (for 6 weeks), we will explore the privilege and the joy of church membership based on a book I Am a Church Member, written by Thom Rainer. Each week at the end of the message, we will have an opportunity to reflect and to make a real commitment to our church. My prayer is that as we go on this journey together, we will have a new, healthier, biblical understanding of church membership, so that we as a church may be transformed and then transform our community and the world.

The Apostle Paul, in today’s passage, uses the human body metaphor in order to explain what it means to be a “functioning” church member. He follows a time-tested approach: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty (or diversity); and in all things, love.”

Unity 
Biblical membership means we pursue unity in essentials. In verse 13 Paul says, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” The church is the people of God who used to independently call our own shots, but then entered into a large and integrated life in which Jesus has the final say in everything (MSG). Although we are many and different, we pursue unity and don’t compromise the teachings of Scripture when it comes to essentials of our faith: Jesus is the foundation and the head of the church. He is the only way to salvation. We can’t save ourselves by our own good works. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. And by the Holy Spirit we say “Jesus is Lord!” (3). Where Christ is truly preached, there is the gospel; and where the gospel is truly believed, there is the church.

Church members let Jesus have the final say in everything. Although they are many and different, they have the essential, unifying marks as the body of Christ. In the early church we can find at least four distinguishing marks (Acts 2:42-47): worship, discipleship, fellowship, and evangelism. First, the early church was a worshiping church. They devoted themselves “to the breaking of the bread (the Lord’s Supper) and to the prayers.” They got together in their homes as well as at the temple. Second, the early church was a discipling church. They devoted themselves “to the apostles’ teaching.” Third, the early church was a caring church. They devoted themselves to the fellowship. They shared their possessions and goods among believers and also gave them away to those in need. Fourth, the early church was an evangelizing church. The Bible says that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Based on Acts 2, church membership is not about how long we have attended this church. It is not about how many committees or ministries we serve. More important questions to ask ourselves are these to know whether we are a functioning church member:

• Am I connected to the church through worship? Am I connected to God and to other sisters and brothers in Christ through worship? 
• Am I connected to the church through fellowship? Do I live in harmony with other believers? Am I sharing my resources and possessions with those in need? 
• Am I connected to the church through discipleship? Am I discipling and equipping others for ministry or learning and engaging in ministry myself? 
• Am I connected to the church through evangelism? Am I inviting my family and friends to the church? Am I giving Jesus to those in the community?

Liberty (Diversity, Not Uniformity) 
Membership means we pursue unity in essentials. Membership also means we celebrate liberty in non-essentials, diversity in unity. I am a fan of Boston Red Sox. Notice I didn’t say I am a member of the Boston Red Sox. There’s a difference. I don’t go to spring practices and work out with the team. I don’t study game films or discuss plays with the coaches. That’s not my job. I am a fan – a spectator. I watch them play on television. But church membership is not like baseball. There should be no spectators. If you are a Christian, you belong to the body. You are connected. We’re all participants. Everyone has a role to play. In verse 18 Paul says, “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.” So the question we ought to ask is not: “Do I have a role in the church?” But the real question is: “What’s my role in the church?”

So it’s important to discover our spiritual gift. Some are eyes; others are ears. Some are feet; still others are hands. God has not gifted you to do what you want to do; He has gifted you to do what He wants you to do. Spiritual gift is given to us for others, for the common good (7), to build up the body of Christ (14:4, 5, 12). So what is your spiritual gift? If you are not sure, you may carry out these three steps. First, pray specifically for God to reveal your gift. Second, ask other mature Christians who know you well what grace, gifts, strengths they see in you. Third, prayerfully look for open doors of opportunities to try different areas. Regardless of our limitations of time, strength, or money, there should be at least one area we can use our God-given gift. I’ve visited many homebound Christians who used their valuable spiritual gifts even though they could never attend the church. They prayed faithfully. Some have a ministry of encouragement through cards or calls; others are determined to be an encourager to all who visit them. When we use our spiritual gift properly, we will find fulfillment and joy and our church will be strengthened. [During Lent, each week you will hear different missions and ministries of our church from the committee leaders. Please hear them prayerfully. If the Lord gives you desire to serve, I encourage you to try and be part of that ministry.] Remember, God gives spiritual gifts to each member of the body. Everyone has a role to play. Membership means we are all necessary parts of the whole. Discover your gift and use it for others today!

Love 
Last but not least, membership means we pursue love in everything. The story is told of a boy who did his household chores and left his mother this note: “For cleaning my room, $5…For washing the dishes, $3…For raking the leaves, $10…Total: $18. You owe me, Mom.” The mother read the note while the boy was at school and put $18 on the table. With it she left her own note: “For bearing you nine months in the womb, throwing up for three months, no charge. For cooking your breakfast every day, no charge. For washing and ironing your clothes, no charge. For staying up all night when you were sick, no charge. Total: Grace.” When the boy read that note, he ran to his mother and asked, “What more can I do to let you know I am grateful?”[2]

At the end of today’s passage, Paul says that he will show us a still more excellent way, that is, the way of love. Then, he talks about what is the mind and attitude of Christ towards us. Jesus is patient with us. He never gives up on us. He is kind. He keeps no record of our wrongs; instead, he forgives all our sin. In fact, he did lay down his life for us with love. We often fall and backslide, but he always looks for our best, never looks back. He sustains us, encourages us, and keeps us going to the end. When we experience this love, we change. Our minds, our attitudes, our actions, become more like Christ’s. And we use our spiritual gifts for others with love. We pray for others with love. We preach and teach with love. We give away and share with love. We serve and sacrifice with love. That is what biblically functioning membership looks like.

At a vigil Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the Florida shooting, paid tribute to her and said, “I don’t remember if I said I love you.”[3] If we discovered that we had only five minutes left to say all we wanted to say, most of us in this room would call our loved ones to stammer that we loved them. Agape love is our highest goal. It never ends. My prayer was always and still is that we, our church, may become the most loving people in town. Sisters and brothers in Christ, let us pursue love! (1 Cor 14:1)

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[1] Thom S. Rainer, Connected: My Life in the Church (LifeWay Press, 2014) 6.
[2] Keith Krell, “Unity and Diversity: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11,” https://bible.org/seriespage/26-unity-and-diversity-1-corinthians-121-11
[3] www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/43084392/florida-school-shooting-thousands-mourn-at-vigil

“Our Relationship to the State” (Romans 13:1-7) - Romans for Everyone XXII –

What Should You Do? 

Imagine that you are living in Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar came to power. One day he built a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet thick. He then ordered everybody under the reign of his kingship to bow before that golden image and worship it. And you are aware that anyone who does not kneel and worship shall be thrown immediately into a roaring furnace. What should you do? How should we Christians relate to our government?

The General Principle 

Today’s passage, Romans 13:1-7, raises important issues concerning our relationship as Christians with the government. What about civil rights protest or revolution against a corrupt government? When is civil disobedience right, and what should it look like? Should Christians withhold part of their taxes to protest government misuse of our tax dollars? Those are not easy questions to answer. But Paul first lays down a general principle in verse 1: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.” Then he explains the reason behind this principle: “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” God removes kings and sets up other kings (Dan 2:21). All kings (governing authorities) are all under God’s control. The general principle, Romans 13:1, applies to all rulers good and bad. For instance, King Nebuchadnezzar’s army destroyed Jerusalem, including the temple, and slaughtered many Jewish people. But God calls him “my servant” and says that He gave all of the land he conquered into his hand (Jer. 27:6). The general principle is this: Since God has ordained government authority, we must be subject to it.

Civil Disobedience: When and How? 

But this raises the following questions: “What about civil disobedience against corrupt rulers and governments, or bad laws?” “When is civil disobedience right, and what should it look like?” Merriam-Webster defines civil disobedience in this way: “refusal to obey governmental demands or commands especially as a nonviolent and usually collective means of forcing concessions from the government.” Civil disobedience is based on a commitment to conscience. So those who practice civil disobedience is obedient to what they consider a higher law. We can find quite a few examples on civil disobedience in the Bible. In the age of King Nebuchadnezzar Daniel’s three friends – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were one of them. They practiced civil disobedience. When they were forced to bow down before the golden image, they answered, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (3:16-18, ESV). Here these men were saying “I must be disobedient to a king in order to be obedient to the King." In Acts 5:27-29 when Peter and the other apostles were questioned before Sanhedrin, they answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Then, what factors should we take into consideration to decide if we should do peaceful, nonviolent, civil disobedience? John Piper gives us four things to consider:[1] 

1. The grievousness of the action sanctioned by law. How atrocious is it? Is it a traffic pattern that you think is dumb? Or is the law sanctioning killing? 
2. The extent of the unjust law’s effect. Is it a person affected here or there? Or is it millions? Does the law have an incidental inconsistency? Or is it putting a whole group of people into bondage because of their ethnic origin? 
3. The potential of civil disobedience for clear and effective witness to the truth. 
4. The movement of the spirit of courage and conviction in God in people’s lives that indicates the time is right.

That kind of civil disobedience requires courage and commitment to truth, something eternally valuable. In Daniel 3 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could not give it up, saying, “I know that my God is able to deliver me, but if not, I’m going on anyhow. I’m going to stand up for it anyway.” Ultimately we must do right because it's right to do right. We must love because it’s right to love. We must be honest because it’s right to be honest. We must be just because it’s right to be just. In verse 5 Paul says, “Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience” – for a clear, Christian conscience, which obeys God and His law rather than man made law and tradition” (cf. Acts 24:16; 1 Tim 3:9). In his sermon, “But if not,” Dr. King commends us to stand up for truth no matter what in this way: “You may be 38 years old as I happen to be, and one day some great opportunity stands before you and calls upon you to stand up for some great principle, some great issue, some great cause--and you refuse to do it because you are afraid; you refuse to do it because you want to live longer; you're afraid that you will lose your job, or you're afraid that you will be criticized or that you will lose your popularity or you're afraid that somebody will stab you or shoot at you or bomb your house, and so you refuse to take the stand. Well you may go on and live until you are 90, but you're just as dead at 38 as you would be at 90!... You died when you refused to stand up for right, you died when you refused to stand up for truth, you died when you refused to stand up for justice.”[2] In this respect, Christians are those who are disobedient to a king if necessary in order to be obedient to the King Jesus Christ. 

Living as Citizens of Heaven 

We Christians are not first citizens of any human nation but citizens of heaven, the kingdom of God. In Philippians 3:20 Paul says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” We are subject to the government for the Lord’s sake. In the same way, we may have to disobey the governing authorities for Christ’s sake. So every time we say yes to any law, it should be a yes to Jesus. And every time we say no to certain law, it should be still a yes to Jesus. We live on the earth as citizens of heaven.

So as we read Romans 13, more important question to ask is this: “How can we as citizens of heaven glorify King Jesus Christ on the earth?” rather than just “How can we fix unjust laws?” In this regard, William Wilberforce can be a good example. He became a politician in his 20s. But soon after, he considered giving up on his career because of deeply corrupt reality of politics at that time. But John Newton, one of his mentors, advised him to stay and said, “Congress is your parish!” Then, one great cause caught Wilberforce’s attention, that was the issue of slavery. And he resolved to stand up for truth. In his diary Wilberforce wrote: “So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the [slave] trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for abolition. Let the consequences be what they would: I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition.”[3] Since then, pro-slavery forces targeted him. The opposition became so fierce. People would say, “Wilberforce will be carbonated [broiled] by Indian planters, barbecued by African merchants, and eaten by Guinea captains.” All the bills introduced by Wilberforce were defeated for many years. But Wilberforce never gave up. He made a speech more than 150 times before the Congress. And finally, he heard three days before he died that slavery in the British Empire was abolished. This happened not only because he said the right thing, but he lived as a citizen of heaven. His life was filled with the light and aroma of Christ. People called him “the conscience of England.” Influenced by Wilberforce, about a third of younger congress men became Christians. Wilberforce’s life goal and holy ambition was not just to abolish unjust laws or overturn corrupt government. It was to magnify, glorify King Jesus Christ in his life and to live as his citizen under his leadership.

According to Romans 13, living as a citizen of heaven begins with one step. It is to pay proper taxes. It is to honor those in authority. It is to pray for government authorities. It is to do right and cooperate with them whenever possible. But most of all, we always ought to keep in mind: Christ must be Lord of all, including our political views and our government authorities.

I would like to close with a poem written by Pastor Kim Joon-Kon. At that time, in 1970s the military dictator came into power in South Korea. Most people were afraid of the government, and they were not able to stand up for truth. Pastor Kim was one of the Christian leaders, and he put his holy desire and ambition for the nation into the words of prayer. And later it became a song. As more and more Christians had the same vision, they began to stand up for truth. Some went out to the street to attend civil protest. Some went back to school for the future of the nation. Some went back home to take care of their family. Different forms, but one thing in common: Lordship of Jesus Christ. Christ was their Lord of all. “Yes” for Christ’s sake, and “No” for Christ’s sake. “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Rom 14:8) That’s my prayer for Houlton, our church, and our nation.

May Christ make his home 

in the hearts of all people 

all the spheres of society and culture 

May season for Christ come 

Evergreen, everlasting! 

May your Kingdom come; 

May employers confess Jesus is their owner. 

May employees sing praises to your name. 

At home, at school, at church, at work, at Congress, 

May Christ be Lord of all! 

Let the dew of your youth come to you. 

Let us dream your dreams 

Let us see your visions for all nations 

The gospel in one hand, love in the other, 

May we never rest until the season for Christ comes 

In every corner of the world! 

[1] John Piper, “Subjection to God and Subjection to the State, Part 3,” https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/subjection-to-god-and-subjection-to-the-state-part-3
[2] Martin Luther King Jr., “But If Not,” http://notoriousbiggins.blogspot.com/2010/01/but-if-not-sermon-by-martin-luther-king.html
[3] “William Wilberforce,” Christianity Today, http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/activists/william-wilberforce.html

“Three Simple Rules” (Romans 12:9-21) - Romans for Everyone XXI -

What Does Christian Love Look Like?
Today’s passage has piles of short exhortations. It contains about 28 exhortations. How are we supposed to read passages like this? Our liturgist has just read the passage. And what do you remember from those 28 exhortations? What will you remember after you go out from this place? What is Paul’s one-word theme for today’s passage? The answer is “LOVE” – Christian love. Today’s scripture is the answer to the question, “What does Christian love look like in everyday life?” And we may summarize those 28 exhortations into 3 statements with John Wesley’s language:

Do no harm.

Do good.

Stay in love with God.

Do No Harm

The first simple rule is “Do no harm.” In today’s passage, particularly from verses 14 to 21, there are four resounding negative imperatives: “Do not curse” (14), “Do not repay anyone evil for evil” (17), “Do not take revenge” (19), and “Do not be overcome by evil” (21). All these four exhortations say the same thing in different words, that is, “Do no harm.”

On the surface, this first rule looks easy and simple. And we think that we are already practicing it and doing quite a good job. But when this first simple rule is really practiced, it transforms us, it transforms the world around us. For instance, if I am to do no harm, I can no longer gossip. What is gossip? Merriam-Webster defines gossip in this way: “a person who reveals personal or sensational facts” or “rumor or report of a personal nature.” Some people would say that gossip is when you spread rumors that aren’t true. But actually, gossip is more than that: If I talk bad about somebody who’s not present – that’s gossip. If I talk about somebody who’s not present and I share things without that person’s permission – that’s gossip. If I talk about somebody who’s not present and I say anything with a motive of tearing that person down – that’s gossip. What I’m saying might be true, but that doesn’t mean I ought to be saying it.

We may think gossip is just a small sin and can be tolerated as part of our life. But it is actually a serious sin that can destroy the entire community of families, churches, and societies. In the year 2000 the wildfire in Black Hills, South Dakoda, destroyed over 83,000 acres of National Forest land. It cost $9 million dollars to put out the fire. $11 million to plant new trees and repair the roads, and the destroyed timber was valued at $22 million. And it all started with one match. A woman named Janice Stevenson, 46 years old, from Newcastle, Wyoming, was driving through the forest. She stopped to look at something, and she lit a cigarette. She dropped the match, got back in her car and went on her way. And before long, 83,000 acres of beautiful forest were destroyed by one little match.[1] The Bible says, “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness” (James 3:5b-6a). Let us stop gossiping. Let us not tell anyone else’s story either in person, or on the phone, or on social media unless it builds up those involved and the body of Christ.

Therefore, one of the practical ways to live out the first simple rule, “Do no harm” in our daily living is to examine ourselves and confront the sin of gossip in our own lives, and stop gossiping in any circumstances. This is the act of disarming, laying aside our weapons and desires to do harm. We all have desires to win other people to our side, especially when we think it is not fair. In this process we often gossip, manipulate, speak only half-truths. But when we resolve to do no harm, we can no longer gossip about the conflict. We can no longer manipulate the facts of the conflict. We can no longer speak badly about those involved in the conflict. It does demand self-denial and a radical trust in God’s character, intervention, and guidance. The Lord says, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay” (19). Only when we trust this promise of God, we are then able to disarm ourselves and leave it to God without bitterness.

Do Good

However, the Christian love is much more than just “Do no harm.” Each of Paul’s four negative imperatives is followed by a positive counterpart. In other words, we are not to curse, but to bless (14); we are not to retaliate, but to do what is right and to live at peace (17-18); we are not to take avenge; but to leave this to God, and meanwhile to love our enemies (19-20); and we are not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good (21). Again, these four positive exhortations can be summarized in the following statement: “Do good.”

It does sound simple and crystal clear, but where do we begin? Do good to whom? Today’s passage clearly tells us that we must do good to our enemies (17-21) as well as our friends (9-16). Why do we ought to do good and love our enemies? Because it is the only way to overcome evil. And because it is the only way to transform our enemies into our friends. J.R.R. Tolkien gives us a picture of this dynamic in The Lord of the Rings. Any good person who used the ring of the evil lord, Sauron, to put him down would become evil in the process. Tim Keller rightly comments in this way: “This meant that “victory,” if pursued (or even achieved) in the wrong way, would be utterly hollow— it would in fact be a defeat, because in becoming evil to beat evil, the ring-wearer would have allowed evil to win.”[2] Evil multiplies evil. Violence multiplies violence. Hate begets hate. This is the chain reaction of evil. Dr. King proclaims this truth in a powerful way: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”[3] And he continues in his sermon “Loving Your Enemies”: “Do to us what you will, and we shall continue to love you… Throw us in jail, and we shall still love you. Send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our community at the midnight hour and beat us and leave us half dead, and we shall still love you… One day we shall win freedom, but not only for ourselves. We shall so appeal to your heart and conscience that we shall win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory.”[4]

So where do we begin? Ideally, it would be great if we don’t have any enemies. But for some reason we do have our natural enemies who are different from us, who don’t like us and even hate us. And if we really pursue the narrow path and a godly life, we meet those who will persecute us (cf. 2 Tim 3:12). How do we do good to them? Our Lord Jesus tells us the first step to loving our enemies. It is to pray for them. Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you!” (Matt 5:44) Not just once, twice, or occasionally, but day by day and on a regular basis. Not just pray in general, but pray specifically for their salvation, for their families, for their physical strength, for their spiritual health and growth, for their God-given vision and purpose of life. Then, we will be true daughters and sons of our heavenly Father who is merciful, compassionate and forgiving to everyone: the good and bad, the nice and nasty (cf. 5:45).

Stay in Love with God

These first two rules – “Do no harm” and “Do good” – are important. But without the third rule, they become the righteousness of a Pharisee. The third rule is “Stay in love with God,” which is the foundation to all of life. When we keep falling in love with God, we are enlivened, sustained, strengthened, and transformed.

In his sermon “Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, V” John Wesley said, “Thus to do no harm, to do good, to attend the ordinances of God (the righteousness of a Pharisee) are all external; whereas, on the contrary, poverty of spirit, mourning, meekness, hunger and thirst after righteousness, the love of our neighbor, and purity of heart (the righteousness of a Christian) are all internal. And even peacemaking (or doing good) and suffering for righteousness’ sake, stand entitled to the blessings annexed to them only as they imply these inward dispositions, as they spring from, exercise, and confirm them.”[5] In other words, the external righteousness of the first two rules must be accompanied by an inward transformation of heart, which is from a vital relationship with God. Otherwise it is what Wesley would call “the righteousness of a Pharisee.” Paul brings us back to verses 1-2: “Be transformed first by the renewal of your minds,” and then, you will be able to do no harm and do good according to the will of God.

Paul exhorts us, “Let love be without hypocrisy” (9; NASB, NKJV). “Let love be genuine” (ESV). How can we love unlovely people whom we do not like, and yet still be genuine and sincere? It is unrealistic. It is actually impossible with our own strength. It is possible only when we come to the cross. At the cross, our hearts are softened, renewed, and transformed. At the cross, we see Jesus who was tortured and killed for me – unlovely, unattractive sinner, in order to make me lovely and attractive. So now as we serve unattractive, difficult people, we find a repentance growing within us. “Oh, Lord! I am the worst! But you gave up your life for me! Give me strength to love this person!” This is Christian love.

Charles Wesley once said that he would willingly give up all of his 6000 hymns to have written this one, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” This hymn invites us to come to the cross daily. May our minds be renewed as we come to the cross by faith! May our hearts be transformed as we look to Jesus and embrace the meaning of his sacrifice!

When I survey the wondrous cross,

on which the Prince of Glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,

sorrow and love flow mingled down.

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

that were an offering far two small;

love so amazing so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all!

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[1] Dr. Claude Kayler, “3 Simple Rules: Do No Harm,” https://www.mainstreetumc.org/sermons/3-simple-rules-no-harm

[2] Timothy Keller, Romans 8-16 For You: For reading, for feeding, for leading (The Good Book Company, 2014), 113.

[3] Martin Luther King Jr., “Loving Your Enemies,” Strength to Love (Fortress Press, 2010), 47.

[4] Ibid., 50-51.

[5] Albert Outler & Richard Heitzenrater, edited, John Wesley’s Sermons (Abingdon Press, 1991), 219-20.