Beginning With The End in Mind

When setting out on the journey before us it is important to know where you are going. As the saying goes: If you don’t know your destination how will you know when you arrive?

The compass for the Christian life is found in the Great Commandment. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

You will recognize that we begin each Sunday Eucharist by remembering this commandment. It reminds us of the telos, the goal or aim, of the Christian life. This is our compass when we are unsure of the way. We are to love God and love neighbor.

This declaration of Christ is a call to radical transformation. One can imagine that those present would be shaken to hear that entrance into eternal life was not first about adherence to the Law, the result of learning, or having the right lineage, but rather a radical giving of oneself to loving God and others. Love is ultimate for those belonging to God, while obedience and good works are the overflow of a heart given in love to God. Obedience to the Law can be accomplished without ever giving one’s self in love to God.

This type of adherence to the Law would not lead to eternal life, but rather the death of legalism. The lawyer, in the passage, is the personification of this kind of person, one who knows the Law. He has even rightly summarized the Law, yet it seems that his heart is not moved to love God and others.

The lawyer fails to understand the call of Christ as he continues in following verses to justify himself for not loving others, rather than receiving Christ’s call. It seems that seduction of rule keeping, which often results in pride, has been a trap for all who would follow Christ. This story shows us that course has never been acceptable, as God wants a transformed heart set on loving Him and others. This same malady is seen in the Church today as we teach bible studies, learn theology, and offer an endless menu of programs, all while failing to see the transformation of our cities and culture.

Thus, it is my heart to see all at Christ Church grow more deeply in love with God as we come to know Him through His word, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and our experiences of His faithfulness to us. When you love someone, you will also love those they love. When I married Kim, I married her whole family. I love her people because they are now my people. Likewise, our growing love for God will lead us to love those He loves. (Remember, God loves the world so much He gave His only Son.) When we receive forgiveness, grace, faith, and many other blessings we naturally want to share those with our community. Love always overflows.

So where are we heading? We are on the trail of learning how to love God the Father as Jesus did and to live out the love of God for others. I am looking forward to the journey before us!

Father Keith