Hometown
Pt. 2 - Loopholes
Introduction
Apathy. The word is defined as and literally means "without feeling". Little or no concern. From the Greek it perhaps carries the most revealing and what should be the most frightening definition for us today . . . Without passion! We have been confronted with the fact that is absolutely unacceptable to call ourselves Passion and not live up to the standards that this name demands. We must uproot and abolish apathy in our personal and corporate lives.
It is obvious that apathy is at epidemic levels and perhaps one of the greatest issues of our day. However, it is also obvious that apathy is not a new malady. This is an old and reoccurring sickness. Jesus came face to face with apathy on regular basis. There are two very specific and similar conversations that pulled the covers back on the deep seated apathy that existed in the hearts and lives of the church people of His day.
Text: Matthew 22:34-40
When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?” Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”
The religious leaders of the day. Those who were supposed to be the closest to God. Those who were supposed to be earnest in their desire to know God and to make Him known rather than asking out of sincere motives or for the purpose of acting on the given answer ask for the purpose of tricking Jesus. They ask Jesus to summarize the law in hopes that He would speak against the law and therefore be punished by death. Jesus outflanked them and in doing so in His answer He provides an equation for following our Father in obedience. He says that we must love God with everything that we have and that that type of love will manifest itself into action towards our fellow man whom He calls our neighbor. Then He applies a measurable standard to that action. We are to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.
Jesus doesn't even call us to the the highest standard that He could have. He could have said love your neighbor as much as God loves them. No He says love them as much as you love yourself. In that brief confrontation, Jesus attacks apathy. He let's these religious folks know that loving God isn't the only obligation of the believer. Instead our love for God is the launching pad into doing something tangible for our neighbor. How important is this to Jesus? Of all the tenants of the law. Of all the divine revelation He could have shared. With His knowledge of the Father's heart He declares that our love for our neighbor is second only to loving God himself. That is serious stuff! So serious that He goes so far as to say that all the other commandments and law hinge on these two things.
The second conversation brings the apathy into clearer view. These religious leaders had no desire to help those in need. They were awash in apathy.
Text: Luke 10:25-29
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Looking for a loophole he asked, "Who is my neighbor?"
Jesus once again confronted by religious of the day answers the same way. He points to the two things that lead us to right standing with God. Lo and behold the second is still the same. Love your neighbor. Then this religious leader in an attempt to justify himself as one version says or to find a loophole as the other version says asks this question . . . Who is my neighbor? This question spawns the story of the Good Samaritan.
Some simple thoughts...
1. And not or!
The folks of that day didn't like the answer Jesus gave as to how to meet the requirements of the law and how to find eternal life. The truth is neither do we. Jesus' response requires our worship to turn into walk! Jesus' response requires our weeping to turn into work! We don't mind the "Loving God" part because we ward off any evaluation because of the inherently personal aspect of worship. When that worship is supposed to flesh out into touching people it is no longer possible to remain private. Worship to a large degree can be dictated (at least we think) and determined by our own terms - I worship when I want, for as long as I want, however, when we begin to add the neighbor aspect of the equation it gets messy, it inserts inconvenience, it wrecks our nice neat lifestyle and calendar. So, let me do my one hour of dressed up, boxed up, duty of worship but don't place any demand on the rest of my time or resources.
Listen to Jesus' response to this mindset.
Matthew 23:23 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required.
Jesus is saying love God and serve people. Not love God or serve people. He isn't saying serve people or love God. It is and! Love and serve!
2. We are loopy for loopholes.
We need to quit calling them loopholes and start calling them loopholds. Looking for loopholes leads to strongholds. This man in the account looks to justify himself. He literally uses his involvement and knowledge of God as a means to justify himself. To excuse himself from caring. To excuse himself for helping. To obtain a pass from compassion. How many of us know a lot about God but nothing about the hurt that He desires to mobilize us to heal.
Any time we post "off limits" signs around an area of our lives to keep God out in reality all we have done is established a homestead for Satan to control. A way out for us does nothing more than give the enemy a way in!
Who is my neighbor? What a horrible question to ask! He knew that if he couldn't identify a neighbor that he couldn't be held accountable for his neighbor. He could have played the "If I had known I would have responded" card. You mean to tell me you don't have the ability to access the need around you? You are so insulated that you don't have the ability to recognize need around you? Are you so calloused that you are now unable to recognize need? Have we given ourselves permission to find a way out of identifying our neighbor?
It is interesting to me that 2000 years later we still ask the same question and have the same tendencies. We see the hungry and the question is "Where is the government?" We see the sick and ask "Where are the doctors?" We see the broken and ask "Where are the counselors?" We see the homeless and ask "Where are their families?" We see the abandoned and ask "Where are the agencies?" I think we need to see those people and ask these questions . . . "Where are the Christians? Where is the church? Where is Passion? Where are you?" We are loopy for loopholes. We look for ways out. I'm too old. I have done my part. I can't afford it. I don't have any time. I have no talent. I am too hurt. I am too shy. I am too tired. Loopholes become the foothold for apathy.
3. We don't choose; we are chosen!
We don't get to choose our neighbor. Our neighbor chooses us.
See a need and fill it! We cannot look the other way or we literally ignore our assignment. Your neighbor isn't about geography - those on my block - your neighbor is about your sensitivity and availability. Looking the other way leads to walking away! When a need is seen you are in that moment selected!
One version of Matthew 23 says you should have done the former without forgetting the later. In other words . . . The equation is two parts . . . Love God and Love Others. We tend to focus on one part and forget the other. You cannot get the right answer without both parts of the equation being in place. Not only must we weep we must walk and we must worship.
I want you to love God with passion. I also want you to serve people with passion.
So we are going to give you the means to do that on an ongoing basis. We are chosen! It is not good enough to do this 2 Sundays each year. We are looking for a consistent means to address the needs of our community. So I am excited to announce this. Many of you know we have a house right here . . . We are deciding to forgo the rent we could get and take a step of faith to help. This week we are asking you to do two things to break apathy . . . Volunteer (sign up) and Karen will get together and talk about how to help organize, set up, and staff the house. Second you will see some days listed when we are asking you to bring good used clothing, baby clothes, new diapers, new wet wipes, canned goods and used furniture to the house. If you need something picked up let me know (asking you to be wise about this - pick up stuff you literally can't do yourself). Once Karen and those of you who volunteer get us all set up and ready we will do a dedication time together and then open our doors. All year long you can serve there. All year long you can bring clothing, food, and furniture.
