The Second General Rule reads in part: "By doing good; by being in every kind merciful ... as they have opportunity, doing good of every sort, and, as far as possible, to all ..."
Jesus said, "I say to you that listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you" (Luke 6:27-28).
Bishop Rueben Job writes: "That is, doing good is not limited to those like me or those who like me. Doing good is directed at everyone, even those who do not fit my category of 'worthy' to receive any good ..." (pg 37).
The admonition to do no harm, but do good did not stop with Jesus - praise God. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse ... as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:14, 18). This will not be easy as you can imagine. It seems we all have our prejudices. Some folks, especially those of the World War II era, despise Germans and others feel that Japanese deserve none of their "good deeds." We have derogatory nicknames for almost every race, nationality, religion, and cultural group. But we are designed to do good! Jesus said, "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good [deeds] and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Regardless of what another nation(ality) has done to you or your family, you are intended and expected to do good. Try it; you just might like it!
Bishop Rueben Job writes: "These first two rules are important and bring immediate results; but without the third rule, the first two become increasingly impossible" (pg 48).
Until next time, practice the first two rules and let me know what "immediate results" you experience.
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Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
1 of 3 Simple Rules
On Wednesday evenings we have been studying Bishop Rueben Job's book Three Simple Rules. The rules are: Do no harm; do good; stay in love with God. They are a paraphrasing of Wesley's General Rules of Methodist Societies.
Bishop Job wrote: "To do no harm means that I will be on guard so that all my actions and even my silence will not add injury to another of God's children or to any part of God's creation" (pg 31). At first glance, this General Rule of the Methodist Society did indeed seem simple - do no harm. But after pondering the boundaries of the rule I realized that I must constantly be aware of my actions, words, and "even my silence" to keep from doing NO harm.
I have lived by the rules of conduct and generally accepted standards of our culture for so long that when I tried to abide by one simple rule I encountered challenge. I was not challenged so much by others but my own since of right or wrong. To obey and live by the rule means that I must learn to live by Jesus' standards rather than society's standards (which seem to change often).
Jesus' standards sometimes seem so contrary to our ways that we must seriously consider practicing what we read in the Gospels. For example, Jesus said, "... unless your righteousness surpasses that of the ... teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). Now to be obedient to Jesus' standards, then I must be righteous in my actions.
Jesus also said, "I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment [condemnation or damnation]" (Matthew 5:22). Woe to me because I have been angry many times, like when other drivers don't do what I think they should. Or like when the server at the fast food restaurant was rude. The rule is "DO NO HARM." It is not "do no harm unless somebody does it to you first." That is a challenge!
As Bishop Job wrote, "when I commit myself to this way, I must see each person as a child of God - a recipient of love ... undeserved - just like myself" (pg 31). Maybe, just maybe, as I try to do no harm, then I will live more and more like Jesus. That is my prayer.
Bishop Job wrote: "To do no harm means that I will be on guard so that all my actions and even my silence will not add injury to another of God's children or to any part of God's creation" (pg 31). At first glance, this General Rule of the Methodist Society did indeed seem simple - do no harm. But after pondering the boundaries of the rule I realized that I must constantly be aware of my actions, words, and "even my silence" to keep from doing NO harm.
I have lived by the rules of conduct and generally accepted standards of our culture for so long that when I tried to abide by one simple rule I encountered challenge. I was not challenged so much by others but my own since of right or wrong. To obey and live by the rule means that I must learn to live by Jesus' standards rather than society's standards (which seem to change often).
Jesus' standards sometimes seem so contrary to our ways that we must seriously consider practicing what we read in the Gospels. For example, Jesus said, "... unless your righteousness surpasses that of the ... teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). Now to be obedient to Jesus' standards, then I must be righteous in my actions.
Jesus also said, "I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment [condemnation or damnation]" (Matthew 5:22). Woe to me because I have been angry many times, like when other drivers don't do what I think they should. Or like when the server at the fast food restaurant was rude. The rule is "DO NO HARM." It is not "do no harm unless somebody does it to you first." That is a challenge!
As Bishop Job wrote, "when I commit myself to this way, I must see each person as a child of God - a recipient of love ... undeserved - just like myself" (pg 31). Maybe, just maybe, as I try to do no harm, then I will live more and more like Jesus. That is my prayer.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Fruitful Congregations
At Primrose United Methodist Church today we start a study called Radical Hospitality. It comes from Bishop Robert Schnase's book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. In the book he quotes Jesus saying, "Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:40).
Bishop Schnase defines hospitality as "seeing people as Jesus sees them and seeing Jesus in the people God brings before us" (pg 13). "Christian hospitality refers to the active desire to invite, welcome, receive and care for those who are strangers so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ" (pg 11).
So, if we are going to be hospitable (and maybe entertain angels unawares), what are we going to do?
I think first we must consider the needs and place of others. That is, where is the "not-yet-Christians" in his or her spiritual journey? What does he or she know about how we worship God?
I think that many members of congregations feel like the "church" should meet the needs (and maybe wants) of its members. And that may fit into Jesus' that "just as you did [what you did] to one of the least of these who are my family members, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:40, my paraphrase). Church folk sometimes think they are members of a family of faith when they join a congregation. That's why they want to call each other "brother" or "sister" and sing "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family ..." What those church folk often forget is that the family is supposed to grow. Jesus commissioned his disciples (members of his family) to "go and make disciples" (more family members) and teach them (Matthew 28:19). To accomplish that goal or mission of disciple-making, we must practice RADICAL hospitality. Therefore, we church folk practicing RADICAL hospitality "pray, plan, and work to invite others and ... to support them in their faith journey."
Bishop Schnase defines hospitality as "seeing people as Jesus sees them and seeing Jesus in the people God brings before us" (pg 13). "Christian hospitality refers to the active desire to invite, welcome, receive and care for those who are strangers so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ" (pg 11).
So, if we are going to be hospitable (and maybe entertain angels unawares), what are we going to do?
I think first we must consider the needs and place of others. That is, where is the "not-yet-Christians" in his or her spiritual journey? What does he or she know about how we worship God?
I think that many members of congregations feel like the "church" should meet the needs (and maybe wants) of its members. And that may fit into Jesus' that "just as you did [what you did] to one of the least of these who are my family members, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:40, my paraphrase). Church folk sometimes think they are members of a family of faith when they join a congregation. That's why they want to call each other "brother" or "sister" and sing "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family ..." What those church folk often forget is that the family is supposed to grow. Jesus commissioned his disciples (members of his family) to "go and make disciples" (more family members) and teach them (Matthew 28:19). To accomplish that goal or mission of disciple-making, we must practice RADICAL hospitality. Therefore, we church folk practicing RADICAL hospitality "pray, plan, and work to invite others and ... to support them in their faith journey."
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