A Thought

“Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.  Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others so [by example], shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:17-20

Having been a somewhat interested observer in a recent conversation in which hatefulness and spite were dominant amidst talk of being “saved”, it occurred to me either that person is clueless about exactly what Jesus is talking about in this passage – OR – entire churches are spiritually (or willfully) deaf to the reality of the Law in New Testament theology, depending on one or two verses attributed to St. Paul but more often completely out of their appropriate context.  I think of those who tried to stand toe-to-toe with Jesus by proclaiming Abraham as their father (John 8:39) as their means of self-justification even as they had evil intentions against Jesus.

In light of 40+ years of the Church in America falling apart, it becomes more and more apparent that the Church is falling apart because the Church is falling away.  It is not about whether the Catholics or Baptists or Methodists believe “right” things; it is entirely about ‘righteousness” in our acts in union with our words in the name of Christ’s Holy Church.  New Testament theology allows us to depend on the “righteousness of Christ” while we remove Christ’s command to be “more righteous” from our own language.  Jesus’ words are plain: “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven”.  “By … NO … MEANS”.  Pretty ominous for those who depend on a profession of faith spoken years ago but have long since forgotten what it was supposed to mean.

It is not about whether we are saved by grace through faith or by faith perfected in works.  It is entirely about being “just”, being “righteous”.  It is about living the life Christ commands the Church to live so that our “light may shine … and glorify your Father in heaven”.  We cannot do this with cheap words about having been “saved” because clearly more and more persons are rejecting what we say because they can more clearly see what we do!

If the Church (that is, you and I) cannot “be” what we “say” in the eyes of non-believers, it is a stretch to call ourselves “disciples” and expect favor from our Lord who commands of His people a much higher standard.  The Law is clear, Jesus amplifies that clarity, and the Holy Spirit surely did not tell St. Paul to “never mind”!  

Blessings,

Michael