As you may have guessed by now,
I have a THING about Agape Love...
Not an obsession... more like a fixation...
I believe Agape Love is the central principle
of Jesus' Kingdom Values...
It is at the heart of most of Jesus' teachings
and examples of how His followers are to live in the world...
Matthew 22:34-40 The Great Commandment(s)
Luke 10:25-37 The same, with the Good Samaritan teaching that
clarifies stranger and enemy as neighbor
John 13:34-35 Higher commitment to love as Jesus loved
And Paul followed suit...
I Corinthians 13 "The Love Chapter"
This has been read at almost every wedding you have ever attended,
although the love named is not "eros" but "Agape" love and intended
for ALL in society to live
"askeimoneuo" is to behave dishonestly or disgracefully, which Agape
Love does not allow
likewise "adeekeea" is not acceptable (injustice)
Galatians 5:16-26 "The desires of the flesh/fruit of the Spirit"
Selfish ambition "aireethaya", envy "Fthonos", self indulgence "komos",
immorality "poruaya", idolatry "aydololatria" and anger "thoomos" are
not helpful to the community...
Agape Love, joy "kara", peace "ayrainai", patience "makrothumia",
kindness "kreistoteis", generosity "agathosunay" and meekness "prautays"
are helpful to those in community and lifted up as what the Spirit produces
in us when we live according to the principles of Jesus in the world around
us...
Philippians 2:1-11 "Definition of Jesus' Agape Love"
selfish ambition "aireethaya" is out again
conceit "kenodockseea" is also out
humility "tapaynofrosunay" is part of it (being humble)
encouragement "paramootheeon"
affection "splagknoon"
compassion "oykteermoss"
What was in the mind of Jesus? Himself? No. Us.
What are we supposed to have in mind? Our selves? No. Others, just as
Jesus had us in mind... so, we are to have the same mind... for other...
and, just for kicks...
I John 4:16-21
If I claim to love God and don't love others, I am a liar.
These are committed actions on behalf of the other... clearly what
Jesus, Paul and the writer of I John believe are faithful behaviors
for those who follow Jesus.
So, where is TAKE CARE OF NUMBER ONE?
THE POOR NEED TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES?
GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES?
I DESERVE TO KEEP ALL I HAVE FOR MYSELF?
WHY SHOULD I HAVE LESS SO SOMEONE ELSE CAN HAVE MORE?
IT'S NOT PERSONAL, ONLY BUSINESS?
RELIGION AND POLITICS SHOULDN'T MIX?
BENEFIT THE WEALTHY. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE POOR PEOPLE.
ME AND JESUS, ME AND JESUS, ME AND JESUS?
A person cannot follow Jesus AND do anything to hurt the poor, vulnerable or stranger in the land.
A person cannot follow Jesus AND ignore the poor, most vulnerable or stranger in the land.
A person cannot follow Jesus AND benefit a few "have's", at the expense of "have nots".
A person cannot follow Jesus AND buy goods, knowing that people are exploited or unemployed
so that he/she can have what he/she wants and at a good price.
A person cannot follow Jesus AND blatantly lie about anyone who would help "the least of these".
A person cannot follow Jesus AND support a philosophy, ideology or leader who would hurt "the least
of these".
A person cannot follow Jesus AND treat some with gross injustice and place others above scrutiny.
A person cannot follow Jesus AND exploit an economic or political system that unfairly benefits those
who already have wealth and power, while keeping those without it down.
A person cannot follow Jesus AND blame the victims of such a system, while promoting it.
A person cannot follow Jesus AND pollute, destroy or waste the creation in which others live.
A person cannot follow Jesus AND live out of greed for wealth or lust for power.
A person cannot follow Jesus AND do any of those things, because that is NOT where Jesus is leading
anyone.
Do a RADICAL THING this Lent... starting on Ash Wednesday this week and for the 40 days of Lent, read the 4 Gospels and focus on what Jesus taught and exemplified, especially His IMPERATIVE statements (do this, don't do that)... it is a SHORT read... then, read Acts and see how the 1st Century believers worked to follow what Jesus taught and exemplified... in how they were community...
It is time to deny self, take up the Cross and follow JESUS.
Pastor Jamie
Monday, February 20, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Tithing and Alms
Deuteronomy 26:12-15
This may be something you will not hear preached by the prosperity preachers.
According to the Law of Moses, our tithes are supposed to be given to a central
storehouse (then, in an agrarian society) and distributed thus...
The Levites (Priests) (to receive 10% of the tithes gathered only), so tell your pastor when
he/she talks about some law about tithing, that according to the same law, he/she
gets only 10% of the tithes gathered for his/her salary... and no more... total package,
including benefits... (they didn't have that then, so it is included)
The Sojourner (resident aliens) - there are lots of passages in the Law and Prophets
about taking care of those who are aliens sojourning in the land... you know, the
people we are hunting down in some states now to deport... we are supposed to give
them justice and part of our tithes ... also see Exodus 23:9, Deut. 24:17-22
Orphans, widows... the most vulnerable in our society... those who are not cared
for by their own families...
to make provision for those in need, according to the Law of Moses, the Prophets
and, oh yes, JESUS...
Now, this is a commandment for the whole nation...
How are WE doing with this in the church? in the nation?
We begrudge the poor, blame the poor, target the poor, exploit the poor, keep them
poor...
I believe that God is not pleased...
Pastor Jamie
This may be something you will not hear preached by the prosperity preachers.
According to the Law of Moses, our tithes are supposed to be given to a central
storehouse (then, in an agrarian society) and distributed thus...
The Levites (Priests) (to receive 10% of the tithes gathered only), so tell your pastor when
he/she talks about some law about tithing, that according to the same law, he/she
gets only 10% of the tithes gathered for his/her salary... and no more... total package,
including benefits... (they didn't have that then, so it is included)
The Sojourner (resident aliens) - there are lots of passages in the Law and Prophets
about taking care of those who are aliens sojourning in the land... you know, the
people we are hunting down in some states now to deport... we are supposed to give
them justice and part of our tithes ... also see Exodus 23:9, Deut. 24:17-22
Orphans, widows... the most vulnerable in our society... those who are not cared
for by their own families...
to make provision for those in need, according to the Law of Moses, the Prophets
and, oh yes, JESUS...
Now, this is a commandment for the whole nation...
How are WE doing with this in the church? in the nation?
We begrudge the poor, blame the poor, target the poor, exploit the poor, keep them
poor...
I believe that God is not pleased...
Pastor Jamie
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The Law Jesus fulfills
You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow's garment in pledge; but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this... Deuteronomy 24:17-18 (Exodus 23:9)
Luke 10:25-37
If there is a poor person in any of your towns within the land which the Lord gave you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother (sister), but you shall open your hand to him (her), and lend him (her) sufficient for his (her) need, whatever it may be. Take heed lest there be a base thought in your heart... You shall give freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give... for the poor will never cease from the land, therefore I command you, open wide your hand to your brother (sister) to the needy and to the poor in the land... Deuteronomy 15:7-11
Matthew 25:31-46
This is for the WHOLE NATION... just as "the nations" will be gathered at the judgment... how we treat the aliens in our nation and the poor in our nation has EVERYTHING to do with how we are following Jesus...
If our elected officials reflect our will as a nation, should followers of Jesus not demand that they follow the Law of Agape Love? Should we not want our nation to reflect THESE values?
(these are, of course, but a small sample of such passages and do not include what prophets like Isaiah, Amos and Micah reflect)...
I strive to submit to Jesus' will and follow Jesus' way in the world... in ALL aspects of life...
Pastor Jamie - People of the Way of Jesus
Luke 10:25-37
If there is a poor person in any of your towns within the land which the Lord gave you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother (sister), but you shall open your hand to him (her), and lend him (her) sufficient for his (her) need, whatever it may be. Take heed lest there be a base thought in your heart... You shall give freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give... for the poor will never cease from the land, therefore I command you, open wide your hand to your brother (sister) to the needy and to the poor in the land... Deuteronomy 15:7-11
Matthew 25:31-46
This is for the WHOLE NATION... just as "the nations" will be gathered at the judgment... how we treat the aliens in our nation and the poor in our nation has EVERYTHING to do with how we are following Jesus...
If our elected officials reflect our will as a nation, should followers of Jesus not demand that they follow the Law of Agape Love? Should we not want our nation to reflect THESE values?
(these are, of course, but a small sample of such passages and do not include what prophets like Isaiah, Amos and Micah reflect)...
I strive to submit to Jesus' will and follow Jesus' way in the world... in ALL aspects of life...
Pastor Jamie - People of the Way of Jesus
Monday, February 6, 2012
Do you get this?
Dear "Christian" Politicians, Corporate Execs, Bankers, Stockbrokers, church leaders and citizens of
America -
Do you get that Jesus COMMANDED that we love not only God with all we have in Agape Love, but that JUST LIKE IT is to be our Agape Love for Neighbor AS SELF? Do you get that it's a COMMAND (Luke 10:25-37)? Do you get that Jesus loves those who are poor and vulnerable? Do you get that it means you should no more want to see neighbor (stranger and enemy) go without what he/she needs or be hurt than you would want that for yourself? Do you realize that it has EVERYTHING to do with the policies you write, jobs you slash, exploitation you practice, the candidates you vote for, the buying practices you maintain, attitudes you hold and greed you live by that hurts so many people in our country and in the world? Do you get that it directly goes AGAINST the COMMANDMENT OF JESUS?
Do you get that Jesus, fulfiller of the Law and Prophets, judge of the world who will come back, EXPECTS us to feed the hungry, satisfy the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked and visit the sick and imprisoned (Matthew 25:31-46)? Do you get that when we help them, Jesus considers it us helping Jesus? Do you get that when we refuse them, we are refusing Jesus? Do you get that the Judge of all says that at His judgment the sheep will be those who have done this and the goats will be the ones who have not? Do you get that you do not want to be considered one of the goats then, because your salvation is, at least in part, at least according to Jesus, about how you have or have not done these things?
Do you understand that what you give is what you will get? Do you grasp the fact that if you judge others, you will be judged? Do you comprehend that Jesus wants mercy and not sacrifice when dealing with others who sin, and that Jesus wants us to treat strangers and enemies as you want to be treated? Do you fathom the magnitude of not putting your treasure in earthly riches, but rather in Grace and Love? Do you know that those you hurt, whether directly or indirectly, are children of God, and therefore your brothers and sisters? Do you get that we are ALL accountable for how we treat others, and especially "the least of these my brothers and sisters"?
Are you capable of grasping all this?
By the fruits you bear, you are known by Jesus.
Who you are is reflected in what you do.
I say this to you out of love... Agape Love... committed action on your behalf as people I am commanded to love... for your sake... "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in The Good News (of Jesus)." (The first Imperative Statement in the first written Gospel -
Mark 1:14,15)
Yes, it really is that simple. It is hard to do, maybe because of how far from Jesus' way even those considered "Christians" have come, but simple to understand.
Now would be good.
People whom God loves are hurting, and God hears their cries.
Pastor Jamie
America -
Do you get that Jesus COMMANDED that we love not only God with all we have in Agape Love, but that JUST LIKE IT is to be our Agape Love for Neighbor AS SELF? Do you get that it's a COMMAND (Luke 10:25-37)? Do you get that Jesus loves those who are poor and vulnerable? Do you get that it means you should no more want to see neighbor (stranger and enemy) go without what he/she needs or be hurt than you would want that for yourself? Do you realize that it has EVERYTHING to do with the policies you write, jobs you slash, exploitation you practice, the candidates you vote for, the buying practices you maintain, attitudes you hold and greed you live by that hurts so many people in our country and in the world? Do you get that it directly goes AGAINST the COMMANDMENT OF JESUS?
Do you get that Jesus, fulfiller of the Law and Prophets, judge of the world who will come back, EXPECTS us to feed the hungry, satisfy the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked and visit the sick and imprisoned (Matthew 25:31-46)? Do you get that when we help them, Jesus considers it us helping Jesus? Do you get that when we refuse them, we are refusing Jesus? Do you get that the Judge of all says that at His judgment the sheep will be those who have done this and the goats will be the ones who have not? Do you get that you do not want to be considered one of the goats then, because your salvation is, at least in part, at least according to Jesus, about how you have or have not done these things?
Do you understand that what you give is what you will get? Do you grasp the fact that if you judge others, you will be judged? Do you comprehend that Jesus wants mercy and not sacrifice when dealing with others who sin, and that Jesus wants us to treat strangers and enemies as you want to be treated? Do you fathom the magnitude of not putting your treasure in earthly riches, but rather in Grace and Love? Do you know that those you hurt, whether directly or indirectly, are children of God, and therefore your brothers and sisters? Do you get that we are ALL accountable for how we treat others, and especially "the least of these my brothers and sisters"?
Are you capable of grasping all this?
By the fruits you bear, you are known by Jesus.
Who you are is reflected in what you do.
I say this to you out of love... Agape Love... committed action on your behalf as people I am commanded to love... for your sake... "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in The Good News (of Jesus)." (The first Imperative Statement in the first written Gospel -
Mark 1:14,15)
Yes, it really is that simple. It is hard to do, maybe because of how far from Jesus' way even those considered "Christians" have come, but simple to understand.
Now would be good.
People whom God loves are hurting, and God hears their cries.
Pastor Jamie
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