It's the Law

For all my sisters and brothers who advocate a strict adherence to the Law (and Order)... Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:28-34...


From Deuteronomy through all history, Love has been the Law for those who worship the One God.
It is the COMMAND of God.
It is God's IMPERATIVE.


"There is no other commandment greater than these" ...


That we LOVE GOD with all our HEART, SOUL, MIND and STRENGTH...
That we LOVE NEIGHBOR as SELF...


More important than offerings and sacrifices (tithes, penance), even Worship or Praise.


The word is Agape in Greek.
Active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable, according to Jesus (Matthew 22:34-40, Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25:31-46). 


We love God by loving those who God loves - actively committing to their well-being.


It is not just suggested or expected.  It is THE COMMAND of Jesus.


With all our heart,
With all our soul,
With all our mind,
With all our strength... all of our selves engaged in, focused and committed to living this Love...


We are COMMANDED to love others, commit to their well-being (even stranger and enemy) just like we love our selves!


With our words and actions. 
By keeping our mouths shut at times and in what we don't do.


By how we interact in society, do our work, engage in politics and economics and raise our children.


We are COMMANDED to love God with all we have and love our Neighbor as we love our selves.
We are COMMANDED to not want or allow any lack or harm come to them anymore than we would want or allow that for ourselves.
We are COMMANDED to do what we can to enhance their well-being in life, even as if it affects our own well-being (and it does).


The immigrants at our border, who God loves.
Our black and brown sisters and brothers, who God loves.
The poor, the sick, the disabled, all children, LGBTQ folk and people of all faiths within our land and across the world.


For if we do not, we are rejecting, hurting, discriminating against, abusing, exploiting JESUS.
For if we do not, we are slapping JESUS in the face with our blatant apostasy (walking away, abandoning) of Jesus' Way..and are "FAR from the Kingdom of God."


So, it really is this simple -


If we Worship, Praise, Tithe, Pray, exhibit spiritual gifts, live pure and holy lives according to some deeply "religious" code but do not actively live AGAPE LOVE with ALL PEOPLE, IT ALL MEANS NOTHING.
(see I Corinthians 13)


Truly, we live by THIS Law or we die by THIS Law, according to Jesus, who many of you claim as Savior and Lord, and who is the Judge of the living and the dead.


So, how are we doing at living within the Law?


Pastor Jamie