Three Simple Rules (1)
Matt 22:37-40
Excerpts taken from the talk (and book) of Bishop Rueben P. Job by the same title
Today we begin a three part series on “Beginning a New Life”
We all begin each New Year by planning to do things differently than we did last year
Some of us make a long list
The good intentions and promises usually last about three weeks
That may be because the plans are too many and too complicated
We make big plans without the ability to follow them to conclusion
Several years ago a meeting of UMC Bishops was addressed by Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher
She began by showing the crowd a large stack of books
These were the current rules, laws, beliefs, etc of the UMC
Then she showed them the 1964 BOD
It was less than ¾ inches thick
She then surprised the leaders of the UMC by asking, “Could the leadership of the UMC be the new “P” word?”
Pharisees
How many ways to sin? > 650
How many commandments to keep? > 650
Like the difference in the US and Texas Constitutions
The US Constitution has been amended < 30 in 240 years
The Texas Constitution has been amended nearly 300 times in 175 years
In our reading today, Jesus says all of the law and prophets can be reduced to three rules
Love God, neighbor and self
How can we reduce the pile of rules to something we can follow?
We will consider next two weeks
We live in fast paced, frenzied and complex world
We feel trapped, we cannot get free
We all long for a way to cut through complexities and turbulence of everyday life
We search for way to overcome divisiveness that separates, disparages, belittles, disrespects, and
Leaves us all wounded and incomplete
We know we are going the wrong way
Ruts so deep only radical change can get us out of our dilemma
Continuing in the old ways is no longer an option
Risks are too high and the results too costly
The new way must be clear and understandable to all
We do not need more rules
We need a clear and simple way of life
After considering our reading today, let us, also, consider our roots
This simple way of living was given to John Wesley in a time much like our own
He took the blueprint, fleshed it out, taught it and passed it down to us
We can take it, teach it and practice it until it becomes a natural way of living for us
This week and next, we will discuss
First, do no harm
Do good
Stay in love with God
First, do no harm – by avoiding evil of any kind, especially that which is most generally practiced (BOD 103)
First part of the physician’s code of ethics
Simple...do no harm
We all know what that means
Will ugly names hurt someone? Don’t
Will sarcasm cause a problem? Don’t
Will adultery hurt someone’s feelings? Don’t
Will stealing hurt someone? Don’t
Not “easy” but “simple”
Won’t use “easy” much this series
Roman 7:15-25 Paul wrote
We want to do good, but cannot
Do not want to do bad, but cannot help it
GOOD NEWS He realized that he had Jesus living in his heart
He did not have to do it
Jesus would do it through him
It is not easy
We need to keep the statement, “Do no Harm” in front of us all of the time
You have it on your paper
Put it on your fridge and mirror
Tape it on your P-U and car
When tempted to do that which is wrong, the thought will flash through your mind
Do no harm
The more you listen and stop what you are going to do, the easier it will become
Do no harm – avoid all evil
If everyone would do this
If everyone would promise to refuse to do anything that would bring harm to anybody
God – neighbor - self
Can you even imagine what our world could be like?
Go, and DO NO HARM
Read more at www.opendoorstochrist.org
Rev. O. K. Neal
