18 Jan 07 Things That Matter

My post today (and yesterday) are thoughts I’ve been developing as part of my Bible Study 201 class.  These thoughts lay the necessary foundation to understand how I view and interpret scripture.  These thoughts shape the discussion so that my students understand my journey of spiritual formation. 

We can all agree, I would hope, that there are things that matter.  By default, then, this means that there are things that do not matter.

The problem usually arrives when we try to decide the things that matter.  That is, as a matter of fact, exactly the problem.  The problem occurs when WE try to decide the things that matter.

We make, as those before us have, decisions regarding those biblical directives that should be followed today and those that should not.

In so doing, we affirm the truth that some things matter and some things do not matter.

Those who bear the name of Jesus Christ and seek to represent Christ in any age must seek to promote and practice those things that Christ deemed important.

Matthew 23:23 (NCV) "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of everything you earn - even your mint, dill, and cumin.  But you don’t obey the really important teachings of the law - justice, mercy, and being loyal. These are the things you should do, as well as those other things.

The Pharisees believed that righteousness could be achieved through ritual and perfect obedience to the law of Moses.  Everyone, including Moses, knew that perfect obedience to the law was impossible.

To complicate matters an Oral Tradition was handed down from generation to generation on how one should interpret and apply the written law.  This produced a religious system that viewed the tithing of herbs to be as important as the way others were treated.  This produced a system of belief that promoted the tithing of herbs at the expense of justice, mercy, and loyalty.

Jesus said that justice, mercy and being loyal were “the really important teachings of the law” (some translations say weightier matters).  Jesus meant that some things are more important than others.

Imagine thinking that you could dismiss justice, mercy and being loyal as long as you gave God 10% of your Chia Pet.  Not exactly the spiritual position in which I would like to be found.

Jesus does not invalidate a tithe of herbs.  God accepts any gift offered in faith and love.  Jesus does say what matters most is for us to be about those things that matter most.

The teachings contained within the entire canon of the law and the prophets, Jesus said, could be contained in two dynamic principles.

Matthew 22:35-40 (NCV) One Pharisee, who was an expert on the law of Moses, asked Jesus this question to test him:  "Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?"  Jesus answered, "’Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and most important command.  And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’  All the law and the writings of the prophets depend on these two commands."

The person who loves God with everything and loves others with equity pursues justice, mercy and being fair. 

Promoting justice, extending mercy and being fair become the hallmarks of relationships rooted in what matters most.

Interesting how most church fights, most dissension, most disagreement begin in the realm of things that really don’t matter.