Faithful reading with Jesus
My thoughts from last week, which I note I forgot to post last week.
For many church goers God’s
Law is not understood as a good thing. When we read it we just see
judgementalism and legalism which seems to undermine the freedom and life in
Christ and we desire and experience. This week three of our four readings are
blatantly about God’s Law. Whether we want to or not, we are forced to explore
what we think we understand by God’s Law and how we read it.
Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem
(each of the 22 stanzas begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet)
written in homage to the Torah, or Law, developing the readers understanding of
the significance of the law for those who fear God. They would agree with the
writer of Deuteronomy that living according to the Law is the only way to
experience life as God offers it.
Last weeks Gospel reading
from the Sermon on the Mount finished with Jesus saying 17 "Do not think
that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish
but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not
one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is
accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these
commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the
kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great
in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds
that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 5: 17-19) An alternative translation of this is “Don't think that my
teachings replace or reduce the law and the prophets. And don't think you can
skip the details. Details count. But something more than the details is also
needed. You must align your whole self with what God desires - that is what
those in Heaven are like.” Clearly the Law is important. But how are we
to read it?
This takes us back to the
First Testament reading from Deuteronomy which describes God’s law as the means
to life. Howard Wallace describes it as “the free gift of a passage into
abundant life.” He goes on to suggest that “the law is given not as the last
word in the story of God’s covenant relationship with the people. The last word
is the people’s response to the invitation to life (Deut 30:15-16). To enter
into that covenant relationship requires a decision on the part of the people,
a decision to cast one’s lot with the law and way of God, or to be followers
and servants of ‘other gods’ (v. 17)……(in our modern terms) work, reputation,
prosperity, security, safety, or comfort etc. It is also not a decision that
can be avoided in any way. …. It is a decision that we all make, through
decision or indecision.” He goes on to suggest that, “the life that is on
offer is not conformity to the will of a slave master. God released the people
from that in Egypt long ago. The life that is on offer has to do with the
ethics and morals that govern our actions and choices, with our quest for
justice and fairness in human affairs, especially toward the poor and weak,
with our honour for parents and the elderly in society, with our concern for
God’s creation, with just and honest leadership of the community, respect for
neighbours etc. etc. All of these things and many more are the concerns of the
law in Deuteronomy. The choice set before the people in chapter 30 is a choice
to pursue such matters for in them will life as gifted by God be found. A life
lived with concern for such matters is what Deuteronomy talks about as a good
and blessed life…. In Christian terms we are talking about the matter of
discipleship …. Our discipleship of Christ is likewise a matter of choice and
adherence to God’s way as evident in Jesus. Our choice of God’s way is not
always easy as Jesus’ life clearly shows. It can encounter opposition as well
as inner struggles of peacemaking and reconciliation (see Matt 5:21-26). But it
is the life that God offers. It is one in which death in its many forms is
denied.”
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