Jesus continued on in the sermon, fulfilling the Law of Moses by applying the spirit of the Law, God's intent for God's people, for living with one another.
"An eye for an eye" was about restraint in administering justice, instead of unrestrained vengeance when someone has wronged a person. One was only allowed to exact punishment equal to the suffering produced by the offense. It was a start. But even with this, as brother Gandhi pointed out so long ago, to live by this would eventually render the whole world blind and toothless. If we are to follow Jesus, we live by Kingdom values, especially in the face of great offense committed at the hand of the occupying empire, we are called to show even MORE restraint, defiant restraint.
When the elitists offend you, do not strike back. Instead, defiantly turn the other cheek to demoralize them, forcing them to see their action against you as being unjust.
When the person you owe demands the coat you (traditional) put up for collateral, give them your clothing as well, to defiantly expose the wrongness of a system that would exact such a hardship.
When a Roman soldier forces you to carry his equipment for a mile (the legal limit on conscripted labor from the occupied), defiantly carry it two miles to shame him and the system that oppresses.
And in the Kingdom, we recognize the losses of those who live under the occupying empire. We recognize that the unjust political and economic system has rendered some without means in jobs, some sick without treatment, some unable to compete due to a lack of equal education, some forced to work for sub-living wages. If you have means, give to them. Loan to those who need to borrow from you under the harsh economic conditions that threaten the survival of many, and loan without interest. Defy the worldly empire values of status, power over others, wealth at the expense of others, status based on dubious social standards and only giving of oneself for personal gain in the end. These are not Kingdom values. People of the Way of Jesus do not live these values. Instead, we live in defiance of them, and do not participate in the system that lifts them up.
Agape Love is not about feelings. It is unconditional and self-sacrificial by nature. Why? Because it is not based on merit or getting a return. It is based on need - the needs of individuals to receive it, and the need for all in society to live by it. In this part of God's Kingdom, we are called to live by Kingdom values, despite what those around us do. So, Agape (active commitment on behalf of the other, especially the most vulnerable and even stranger and enemy) is not about the subject of the love at all. It is not about being nice or doing nice because of fondness felt for the other. It is an active commitment to work on the behalf of the other regardless of feelings, because it is needed and builds a better world.
This flies in the face of worldly empire values that demand merit-based interaction. It defies a system based on rewarding those who benefit us and punishing those who do not. The Greco-Roman elitist system was based on position and power, and people got more of both by doing nice things to others who would then reward them. Jesus turns this on its head with a different value - what if we were actively committed to one another's well-being regardless of what we got out of it? Then everyone would have their needs met and would have well-being, completeness and wholeness. Those are Kingdom values. God loves and benefits all within the creation, the righteous and unrighteous. Oh, and GOD decides who that is, by the way. We are to benefit one another actively because we need that from others, they need it from us and the world needs it from all of us. Even the most reviled in society do nice things when they think they can get something back for it. That system is void of true value. Actively committing on behalf of only those who are nice to us does not transform the world - it participates in the worldly systems that have created inequities from hatred, greed and self-centeredness. If we are followers of Jesus, we live by a different standard - a different value. If we would be perfect (teleioi - mature in faith, right in conduct, complete and whole) in Jesus' eyes, then we will love even stranger and enemy by actively committing to their well-being. Then we are acting as children of God the Father.
In an age of empire values based on false merit and entitlement, and on privilege there is a powerful message here for those who would claim to follow Jesus. In an age in which the church has taught many to seek being "(more) blessed and highly favored" above others, and live "self-righteousness" through purity and holiness, and seek monetary prosperity as if that is a Kingdom value, Jesus turns things upside down as fulfiller of the Law and Prophets. Jesus' Agape Love and Grace represent a different standard and a different code by which to live. They represent Kingdom values. We, as people who would follow Jesus are called to live by what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, as we have that in the best record available - the Gospels. Perfection according to Kingdom values is not wealth, status or power. Those are worldly empire values, and they lead to some having more than they need while others go without, to some having power over others and abusing that power for personal gain while others remain powerless, and to some flaunting their position as elites to stroke their own egos while others are humiliated and live in need, marginalized from community. In humility, people of Jesus deny self and live Agape Love so that all may have ENOUGH - completeness, wholeness and well-being. God loves all humanity and is the God of all humanity. God demands it. We cannot follow Jesus AND live worldly empire values.
Pastor Jamie
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