Romans 13:8-14: Love Fulfills The Law, I Fulfill The Law

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. - Romans 13:8-14

"Love does no harm to a neighbor: Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Jesus said, "I have not come to abolish them [the law and prophets] but to fulfill them." (Matthew 5:17b) "Love" fulfills the law. "I [Jesus]" fulfill the law. Therefore Jesus is love. Pretty basic syllogism. 

Just like driving laws. There are lots of ways of driving that comply with all posted speed limits but still fall afoul of the Basic Speed Law of driving: "You may never drive faster than is safe for the current road conditions." That's a negative law. 

But I think that love is not simply refraining the bad to a neighbor, but also involves doing good to a neighbor. For example: "It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Cor. 13:7) 

Paul wants to point out that the Law--all the rules and commands--so heavily praised by Psalm 119 and elsewhere--are not an end goal-some sort of checklist that, once completed, gets us on God's good side. Rather they are as a means and a guide to an end--loving our neighbor. 

Am I looking for an excuse to "not harm" but also "not help"?

1 Peter 3:8-12: The Echo Chamber of Recrimination

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."  - 1 Peter 3:8-12

Sometimes we think that we learn the proper response by watching what is done to us. For example, when I want to know what my wife considers loving in conversation, I watch what she says to me and then try to echo that tone back to her, both for encouragement and censure. Except that this doesn't work. I'm not sure exactly why, but I think it may be that if we try this approach with each other we end up with the amplification of an echo chamber and both our ears hurt.

Peter says the same here: don't repay evil with evil and insult with insult. That is: the way we learn to respond should not be learned from the way that we are spoken or or acted toward? Why? Because it an echo chamber which rapidly spirals down into the anti-fruit of the spirit: hate, anger, malice, rage and slander. The way that you cancel out a certain sound is by introducing another sound the is exactly out of phase with it. I think that the same is true of response to the bad: a response of blessing is 180 degrees out of phase from the original evil and cancels out and leaves peace. If we repay good for evil, it changes the conversation from one that escalates to one that de-escalates. When Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers..." (Matt. 5:9) I think this is what he had in mind and why Peter says that we "may inherit a blessing." What is the blessing that Jesus mentions? That we might be called children of God. That's a blessing I want.

Romans 13:1-10: How Love is Like Paying Taxes

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.  For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. - Romans 13:1-10

Unpopular laws, corrupt leaders and unreasonable taxes are often cited as reasons why people don't follow their leaders in government. Certainly the Roman empire had been no friend to Christians, with bouts of official and unofficial persecution since before Jesus' time. In Paul's recent memory, all of the Jews (and the Christians with them) had been kicked out of Rome and only recently allowed back.

But Paul (along with Peter) followed a line of thinking that can be traced back to Jeremiah when it comes to living in an unsympathetic and sometimes outright hostile civic environment. It says that God has set up government for his purposes-even if that government is made up of crooked and evil mean and women. It is their job to reward good behavior and punish evil behavior and God holds them accountable. Jeremiah told his fellow citizens, forced to relocate to Babylon, ...seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. (Jer. 29:7) 

It appears that Paul's audience particularly objected to paying taxes to the Roman government and giving respect before the various Roman officials. Again, Jesus had given clear guidance on this, saying Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's. 

But then Paul takes that a step further: what if we thought of the taxes and the respect in the same way we thought about loving other people? What if we only loved people who we thought loveable or lovely, would that be truly love? Would we really be fulfilling the law of God? No. Love is proved when it is shown even to the unlovely. Again, Jesus' words guide us, If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? (Matthew 5:46)

Submitting yourself is hard. Loving other people is hard. Truthfully, paying taxes is a lot easier than loving some people. In doing the former, maybe I am being trained in the latter.

Amos 5:13 "Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil."

 

John 12:23-28: My Life's Purpose is Not Me

There was a period in each of our childrens' lives where their favorite sentence was one word: "Why?" Many times, in exasperation, our favorite reply was also one word: "Because." Later, when we were a little more clever and a lot more tired, it expanded to two words: "Why not?"

Obviously these were not satisfactory answers are just obfuscation to buy us a few moments respite before "Why?" resumed. Honestly, we labored to answer with as much honesty and thoroughness as we could, but they stretched our imagination and creativity.

Why? Why not? Really fundamental questions. It was Gottfried Leibniz who queried, "Why is there something rather than nothing?" Why? Why not? Or to bring it to a more personal level, "Why me rather than not me?" Would the universe care or even notice if there were one fewer sentient being alive, or would it simply carry on as before? Really, I'd like to know if I make a difference.

Even Christians ask these questions. Theology doesn't remove the issue, just transfers the locus to God. Follow me here: If God does whatever he purposes, and none can prevent his purposes from being accomplished (cf. Isaiah 55:11), then why bother with me? Does God really care what I do (if he can bypass me) and, if so, what next?

These issues can seem theoretical. But knowing the "Why?" helps making choices. Which job? Which friends? Which hobbies? Which thoughts? Which risks?

Jesus spoke about his purpose in several places in the four biographies in the Bible. Sometimes he spoke about what it was: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10) Other times he spoke about what it was not: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." (Matthew 5:17)

Jesus understood his purpose. This allowed Jesus to select among the courses of action available to him. This allowed Jesus to line up his life with God's bigger purpose.

So, over the next few blog articles, I'm going to look at Jesus' purpose, as he described it. Then I'm going to figure out how to imitate him, as best I can.

The first thing I learned is: My Life's Purpose is Not Me. Here is what Jesus said:

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” - John 12:27-28

Jesus is arriving at an appointment scheduled in God's plan. He held within his power the ability to steer a course away from pain, betrayal and shame (see Matthew 26:53). The full consequences of both alternatives were before him and he felt them both keenly. His soul was troubled by the decision.

In the end, though, what moved Jesus? What was the target for his life's trajectory? His purpose was to risk his own life to build the reputation (the 'glory') of God. "Father, glorify your name." His life was not about his self; it was about the Father. His life was spent making God look good and furthering God's purpose.

What do we usually do here when it comes to purpose? Be the best you can be. Pursue what you love. Make an impact on the world. Be happy. Survive Monday. These purposes revolve around self. Left in default mode, my purposes reset to my self. My interests. My passions. My fulfillment. My enjoyment. My impact.

But Jesus' purposes revolved around God the Father. He consciously rejects the "save me" and accepts the "your name" That choice had consequences and he knew it. "He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die." (vs. 33). But consequences of any other choice he could make it were worse: "Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (vs. 25)

The second thing I learned is: My Life's Is Best Risked On God's Goodness. If you look closely, Jesus defined what he meant by "this hour" back in verse 23: Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Jesus often used the phrase "Son of Man" when speaking about himself. Read it again. Wait, you say, "Aren't we talking about building up the Father's glory? But Jesus is saying he [Jesus] will be glorified. What's up?" Good question. When Jesus fulfilled his purpose by setting aside any personal agenda, Jesus showcased God. Then God the Father chose to spotlight Jesus! Paul says it this way: ...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place...to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:8-11) Jesus gave it all away, trusting God would give it back. So must I. That's a risk I must be willing to take.

The third (and final) thing I learned is: My Life Is Best Invested With God. "Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." (vs. 24) The seed that clings to life, yields one plant. The seed that dies, produces many. There is no other life path which offers the scale of guaranteed return as a life risked for him. Reverend George Mackay, missionary in northern Taiwan, famously said, "Rather burn out than rust out."

Time to stop playing it safe. My step today, as on many other days, is to take my life, my family, my bank account, my job, my goals and my reputation and offer them to God. If I am honest, it is gut wrenching. But my life is not about protecting these for me, but spending them for God.