Worship One…Love All
This weekend, we’ll be looking at our mission statement, “Worship One…Love All.” It’s simple. Nothing groundbreaking here, but so difficult to truly live. It comes from what is known as the Great Commandment. Jesus was asked what the most important of the Old Testament laws was, and our statement comes from His reply. So here are a few questions for us to consider as we stroll through our week. Don’t be afraid to post your comments.
What does worship mean?
What gets in the way of worship?
Can these two statements be seperated from one another, or is this one statement?
“Love All” is a big statement – what does that mean to you?
How should this be reflected (practically) within a community of those who follow Jesus?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
October 17th, 2005 at 10:14 pm
Just for the sake of reference, the Great Commandment Dean refers to is found in Matthew 22:34-40.
October 18th, 2005 at 12:44 pm
1. Worship- I see it as anything we do that is honoring to God. Whether that be singing, an act of kindness, prayer, or maybe even resting.
2.What gets in the way of worship? I do, of course!
3. Hmmm…..let me think about that one, which, may lead me to change my answers to one and two.
4. “Love all”! This has been a challenging thing for me my entire life, although I hadn’t come to realize it so much as I have recently. I think for so long, I have been drawing lines, of who is “in” and who is “out”, with respect to their “Christianity”. Struggling to deal with it every day. Who am I to say who is in or out, on what basis do I make that judgment? I was going to give an example, but for the sake of time, I’ll explain, or try to, Wednesday.
5. Good Question! remember Romans 3:23, oh yeah and no “smashing people”. They are a lot easier to love when you don’t smash them. (sorry, I needed a little laughter)
October 19th, 2005 at 11:03 am
I hesitate to write on a subject that has received such a great deal of attention from some of the foremost scholars of our ranks. Ultimately, I will not have anything to add to the body of commentary. Nevertheless, as profound truths are able to withstand attacks of the dullest minds, I hope the reader will suffer me to express a few of my thoughts on the matter. If nothing else, there is edification in the repetition of these ideas.
After an occasion where Christ had summarily silenced the Sadducees, their sometime enemy, the Pharisees, sent a student of the Torah to question this unschooled son of a carpenter. His interrogation was brief, “What is the greatest commandment?” And in an appropriately condensed response, Jesus uttered a moral synopsis which has echoed through the halls of humanity ever since. Even this young inquisitor was impressed, if only briefly(1).
Jesus was a master of this type of condensed speech, and the potential extrapolations from virtually any of his sayings are inexhaustible. Borrowing from the Apostle John, if Christ’s teachings were fully expounded I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written(2). Hence, for the present discussion, I would like to concentrate on the double simile employed by Christ. Namely, that “the second is like unto [the first]”(3) and to “love thy neighbour as thyself”.
Although Christ was reiterating an idea with which the young Pharisee would have been familiar (a similar version was popularized by Rabbi Hillel around the end of the first century B.C.)(4), he spun it in several ways which would have been shocking. Most notably, He united the Shema(5), which devote Jews quoted twice daily, with a somewhat obscure commandment in Leviticus(6). His audience would have been familiar with both ideas, but to suggest that they were cut of the same cloth would border on blasphemy in their minds. To say that loving God is much the same as loving your neighbor on the surface suggests that your neighbor and God must be very similar. In fact, this is true.
Taking a cue from Jesus, who directed the Pharisees back to Genesis in a preceding story(7), I would like to draw attention to the creation of man. We are told that God “created man in his own image.”(8) When this is inserted into the text of the great commandment, it becomes apparent that loving God would naturally lead to an affinity for that which represents Him. Perhaps, it is similar to the way in which a lover might cherish the photograph of his beloved. Indeed, this comparison may help us to understand the connection more intimately.
Let us suppose that this young lover has been separated from his sweetheart. We should not be surprised to see him staring in silence at her image or flying into a rage if it is lost or damaged. All of this we would likely accept as healthy. It is the same with the chief commandment. All humanity has been torn from its great lover. It is, therefore, natural that we demonstrate profound care for whatever image remains. This image is your neighbor. He or she is as close to a photograph of God that one can expect in this life.
That is why John says it is impossible to love God without loving our neighbor. John also points out that whoever claims to do so is a liar(9). Suppose we happened to see our young suitor stomping on the picture of his beloved, tearing it to shreds, and tossing the remnants in the fire. It would be logical for us to surmise that, regardless of any affection he may have once held for her, he no longer loves her. Even so, our carelessness and violence toward others betrays the absence of a love for the source of the image, God.
Perhaps the use of the word “image” brings to mind the second of the Ten Commandments(10). This is as it should be. While loving our neighbor is like loving God, it is not the same. If the young man in our example were to set up a shrine for the photograph, if he were to lay the image on his pillow and talk to it each night before falling into slumber, we would be correct in assuming that his affection was diseased. This type of behavior does not honor his lover, it does not demonstrate his love for her. In fact, it displaces his true love and suggests a need for a visit to the psychiatrist. Likewise, a devotion to our neighbor which displaces God has become idolatry.
As for the second simile, Christ here offers a very practical method of measuring love for our neighbor. If he had simply stated, “Love thy neighbour!” we should be quite perplexed. It would lead to the deformed doctrine which is promoted by those who fail to complete the precept with “as thyself.” In this case, it would not be surprising to see a push toward forgiveness untempered by judgment, laws which negate legislation, and eventual anarchy. After all, the ideas of consequence and punishment often run contrary to our concept of love. However, when we consider how it is that we actually love ourselves, a very different picture emerges.
When I do, say, or think something that is inappropriate or profane, I find that it is a most natural thing to become displeased with my deeds, words, or thoughts. This does not indicate that I have ceased to love myself. On the contrary, if I had no regard for the undesirable aspects of my behavior, if I had no interest in improving myself, then have I begun to lose this love for myself. Even so, a desire to help correct the problems which afflict our neighbor is a manifestation of our love for him. Obviously, this desire is as prone to a host of perversions as any other. But it is entirely possible to at once love him and hate that which besets him. In reality, it seems to me, it is impossible to love him otherwise.
Let’s return one final time to our young man and his photograph. If we hear him complain about the picture having a double exposure or poor focus, we would be foolish to conclude that he was complaining about the appearance of his beloved. His disgust is actually the opposite. He will continue to cherish the photograph while despising those aspects which distort its representation. And, given the opportunity, he will gladly take any steps to remove the blemishes. So is our love for God which detests the things which have marred His image.
I fear that I have complicated an extremely simple concept; simple to say, yet almost impossible to consistently apply. I will, therefore, close with an observation meant to offer hope to those who desire to keep this commandment. Christ has made the statute as practical as possible. In effect, He says “Love God with all of your being. If that’s too difficult to picture, love your neighbor, for he is created in the image of God. If you don’t know how to do that, just look at the way you love yourself.” He brings the command down to earth in the final sentence. Every noun and pronoun in this sentence is in the singular form. That is, Christ does not here ask us to love all of humanity. He asks us to direct our love toward whoever happens to be our neighbor at the moment. I think it is obvious that the former is impossible except, perhaps, in some philosophical sense. But the latter is within our reach, even though it sometimes requires significant exertion. I suspect that this practice, like any other, will become easier with repetition. Start small; love your neighbor as yourself. Who is your neighbor? That was another young Pharisee’s follow-up question, and Christ does a much better job of answering it that I ever could(11).
Endnotes:
(1) Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34
(2) John 21:25
(3) Matthew 22:39. Compare Romans 13:9-10 and Galatians 15:14 where Paul further condenses the commandment to “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
(4) “What is hateful to thee, do not to another. That is the whole law and all else is explanation.” (b. Shabbat 31a; cf. Avot deRabbi Natan 2:26)
(5) Taken from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 the text of the Shema begins as follows: Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart.
(6) Leviticus 19:18
(7) Matthew 19:3-9
(8) Genesis 1:26-27
(9) I John 4:20-21
(10)Exodus 20:3
(11)Luke 10:25-37
October 19th, 2005 at 2:26 pm
Shanon,
How come I have a hunch that this only took you about 15 minutes to write?!
I like the idea that we love others because they are an image, or photograph, of the God we love so much. A new way of looking at it for me, but one I like very much.
A failure to love others is a failure to love the image of God that is a part of them.
October 19th, 2005 at 9:12 pm
WOW Shannon
Thanks for your thoughts! Your words caused me to look at how I love all……or lack thereof to do so.
When I first came into the Pathways community I was a seriously wounded church worker. The LAST thing I wanted to do was “love” my abusers and all who participated in the situation.Now I have to rethink and look at how I “love” and “if” I love. But that is really not an option….is it? God says we are to love our neighbors. That is a direct command. And if I am to live my life honoring God than I need to follow that command.
Thanks Shannon. You have made me THINK….and I wanted to escape that part of my healing.
Jan
October 20th, 2005 at 8:39 am
I believe we have hit on why God’s heart is always said to be close to the poor and oppressed. The role of justice, within the Christian ethic, has largely been forgotten. It has been replaced with “niceness”. Somewhere we have to recapture what it means to “love all”. I don’t think that being nice or being polite to all quite captures what Jesus had in mind here.
Jan, your last line is really strong and important. There is healing in loving others, in spite of past circumstance. Jesus obviously knew that. It points to the “fullness of life” that Jesus intended for His creation. Withholding love hurts ourselves and only creates further scarring.
October 20th, 2005 at 6:30 pm
I can’t turn the TV on without hearing about catastrophes, refugees, worldly offences and defenses.
I normally don’t watch much T.V in the way of over the air/cable broadcast until as of late. I find myself scheduling time in front of the old one-eyed demon to watch the hurricane updates.
As terrible as they are, they do have some appeal to my flesh.
I have to admit that it’s rather fascinating in a sick way, in the same way as watching buildings go down in New York City.
All the more fascinated am I though with our Comforter working His way through the unbelief of this world, I wish I had the restraint and wisdom to let what the world calls “major events” pass without much thought or concern.
I guess I’m only human and it is in this that I am reminded not to overly concern myself in these events, but rather, remember that there is work to be done.
There are unbelievers that need to know they don’t have to be in fear of catastrophes in the shape of terrorist attacks and hurricanes, but respect (fear) the judgment all mankind will one day face.
Here is a reminder: Jesus sweated blood before his crucifixion.
Not because he was afraid of what man was set out to do, but what His Father was set out to do. Jesus prayed that that the terrible cup might somehow pass him by.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Matthew 26:38-39
38Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”
39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Mark 14:34-36
34And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.”
35And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by.
36And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.”
Luke 22:42-44
42saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
43Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.
44And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
He died for us and felt the full Cup of Wrath from The Father Creator.
Now we don’t throw the wrath of God in the face of non-believers, but when times come, and they do, it is a good reminder to the saved in Christ that separation from God is far worse than separation from the worldly cares and desires. So in all the abovementioned my point is that we should take diligences in sealing ourselves with acknowledgment and respect of our salvation through the separation of the world. Do our actions separate us from the world?
i could quote the seperations from the goats and sheep but I thoought i’d take us to the begining: Genesis
New American Standard Bible
Genesis 1:4
God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:6
Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”
Genesis 1:14
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;
The eyes of the world are upon us. Do our fruits appear as their fruits?
God bless!
Lance
October 21st, 2005 at 3:33 am
It’s a true statement to aspire to every moment of everyday. Keep it simple. Let our actions speak louder than our words. Let our actions showcase our faith. I am reminded of what Paul said. in Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
Amen! In Him, Dave
October 21st, 2005 at 10:14 am
I believe that Worship is life. When we try to separate the two, that’s when struggle begins. If Jesus is in us, He encompasses who we are. We have died to ourselves and we are a new creation in Him. As that transformation takes place, we have a choice. We can either walk in the newness of life, or we can waddle back and forth between the old and the new. Sometimes waddling is comfortable. Have you ever seen a pregnant woman waddle? My assumption is that it is seemingly easier to do so. Walking requires more strength, which can be painful under the circumstances, and we may struggle to grasp that strength at times, which brings us back to Worship as Life.
If Worship becomes who we are, then we won’t have to order our love for one another… I have heard many say that we need to love God first, our spouse second, then our kids, our family, others, etc… However, I believe that God sees it differently. God loves us, He births that love in us, and then love is possible… period. I don’t think there is an order to it. I think it is just love. Even though our family is precious and we want that to take priority, God may call us to love at times when that requires family to come 2nd, or maybe even further down that man-made line. If we stick to our man-made order, we most likely will miss out on the blessing of loving others, and in turn, miss out on teaching our family to love others. If we always love in the order that makes the most sense to us, there is no room for others when God would like to bless us by allowing us to meet a need in others.
If Worship is our life, that means that God has given us the unique opportunity to live and function as the one He has created us to be. When we waddle and fight that, love gets squashed and things get muddy. If we wake up each morning and greet our creator in worship, asking the one who is Love how we should go about our day and where we should spend our efforts… we may be absolutely surprised each and ever moment of our day! We may find that one day we must be at our son’s baseball game. Another day, we may find ourselves in a different circumstance where love is required of us, even though our son has a baseball game. This may not seem correct in our man-made order of love, but I do believe that if we raise our children to see worship as life, they will instinctively understand why we are one day at their game and another day somewhere else.
God is love and if we are created in His image and born anew in that love, we become love as well… no order to it, just love. Imagine the possibilities of that love in us if we truly grasp who He has created us to be. My prayer is to walk in love each day, giving glory to the one who is love and has birthed love in me.
His,
Cyndee
October 21st, 2005 at 11:32 am
I was thinking a bit more and I think basically what I was trying to say in the above comment is this… Worship is what we are created for, it is not something we just do on Sundays or Wednesdays, etc. My life is created to be an all encompassing worship to God. The Bible says that we are created to worship Him. So, if God is love, and Jesus is God… Jesus lives in us, then Love lives in us…. Loving others as a way of life, worships God. I think it keeps going from there… There it is.
His,
Cyndee
October 21st, 2005 at 7:20 pm
Grat thoughts Cyndee!!
I loved what you said in the last paragraph of reply #1..no oder to it,just love.
How simple and direct. Yet we,in our humaness,make it so difficult and complicated.Just watch babies and young children with parents and grandparents. Nothing complicated about their love.Simple,Direct,Unconditional and Genuine. Only when we add our “sophistication and intellect ” to the equation does love get messed up.
Worship to me is total emptying of ourselves and total surrender total adoration to the ONE we love the most.And it takes place in our hearts.Then we live out our worship of Him in service to
His children.
Blessings Jan
October 22nd, 2005 at 6:30 pm
My previous comments are in light of (sunday’s sermon 10/16/05)Pomegranates and Mustard Seeds in their relation to “Worship One…Love All”. Sometimes it might hurt to speak the truth and so we put a happy spin on things in fear of a reaction we might get for confessing our love. By the worlds standards Christianity is offensive. It is at this point I clumsily tried to respond to: “Worship One…Love All”. Giving, sharing; sacrifice ourselves daily to that which is Godly. Give time, listen, share, and be humble. How can we love someone we don’t know? Give them our time. Give them our ear. Understand and remember we all fall short of the glory of God. God’s Will might call us to be removed from ours comfort zone (Pomegranates) and offend through the sewing of the Word (Mustard Seeds).
New American Standard Bible
John 3:16″For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Emphasis on Gave.
God gave to all who would believe. I don’t see Jesus picketing for his favorite political agenda or being one of the numbered individuals at the latest “Mayday for Marriage” rally or even a “Promise Keepers” meeting. These are worldly spectacles that in there context might be harmless but do not convey the idea of Christ’s love. Christ’s ministry was never an Us against Them scenarios. Christ lowered himself to be accessible to all who would receive him. The religion of his day did not receive him, but the world welcomed him on a colt. When Christ is lifted up in the form of conventions and worldly substitutions it hides the true work of Christ. Christ is a one on one Savior. He met everyone right where they were as He hung on the cross over 2000 years ago. The world needs to See real Christianity. The world needs to Hear real Christianity. The world does watch Christians, so in all we do remember the little insignificant things via our peripheral acts, our daily walks could shine the light of Christ or reveal the flesh.
New American Standard Bible
Acts 10:28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.
3Acts 10:34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,
Acts 10:35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.
Lance
November 10th, 2005 at 7:49 pm
YOUR FIRST SERVICE WAS TRULY A BLESSING AND WE CANT STOP TELLING OUR CHURCH FRIENDS ABOUT IT.NOW HERE IS THE VERSE THAT HAS COME TO MIND AS YOU GROW AS A BODY SERVING THE LORD.ROMANS 12:10-11…..”BE DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER IN BROTHERLY LOVE. HONOR ONE ANOTHER ABOVE YOURSELVES.NEVER BE LACKING IN ZEAL, BUT KEEP YOUR SPIRITUAL FERVOR, SERVING THE LORD.” THIS IS OUR PRAYER FOR ALL OF YOU. CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN THIS WEEK.
JOE AND GLEE KLOCKE