Promises Made

2 February 2020

Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12

John Wesley once wrote, “The love of God in Christ alone feeds His children; but even they are to be guided as well as fed”.  In fact, Wesley believed preaching about Divine Love could be counter-productive unless the Divine Law is emphasized.  Even well-intentioned preaching on the love of God could veer toward a dangerous sentimentalism and result in the feeding of the disease of sin rather than effecting its cure. (William Arnett, Professor of Christian Doctrine, Asbury Theological Seminary).

In that spirit, then, I submit what one of my instructors emphasized.  When we think of “commandment”, we must go beyond the Ten, get past the concept of “rules” or “legalism”, and learn to appreciate the entire Law of Moses.  Then when we roll into the New Testament, we must consider that every word which comes forth from the mouth of The Lord’s Messiah – who has said, “The Word you hear is not Mine, but is from the Father who sent Me” (John 14:24) -has the force of those same “commandments” which are affirmed and validated – not added to or taken from - in the Scriptures of the New Testament.

As our Sunday evening study group continues to slog through Paul’s Letter to the Romans, we are experiencing the perceived tension between Law and Grace, especially as Paul seems to jump from one foot to another: “the Law is good and holy and just – BUT – we are not under law but under grace”.  Yet, in Wesley’s theology, we cannot be true to One if we neglect the Other.  That is, it is as dangerous to preach Grace without Law as it is to preach Law without Grace.

Though it may seem Paul contradicts himself, there is a consistency we often overlook – especially when we quote Romans out of context.  The penalty for sin – disobedience to the Divine Law - according to that Law is death.  When Christ Himself was put to death, that penalty was paid. 

Yet nowhere in Paul’s letters is it ever stated, or even alluded to, that the Law itself died.  The Eternal Word of the Eternal God cannot die.  This fundamental Truth cannot be overemphasized as we remember the One who is “the Word which became flesh”, as declared by John’s Gospel; the One who clearly stated He “did not come to do away with the Law or the prophets”.

Thinking about the Beatitudes in the context of Law and Grace, I wonder if we may need to consider these assurances are much more than distant promises to come for those who suffer.  Note the transition from verse 6 to verse 7 (Matthew 5).  In the first few verses, Jesus refers to those who are “poor in spirit”, “who mourn”, “who are meek”, and “who hunger and thirst for righteousness”.  For these, the blessings to come are Promises Made.  But do we have to die before these Promises are realized?  Heaven forbid!

When we move into verse 7, the emphasis seems to shift from those who “suffer” to those who are “merciful”, who are “pure in heart”, and who are “peacemakers”.  That is, we move from Promises Made to those who suffer and into Promises Kept by those called to address that suffering.  Even still, it should not escape our notice that Jesus then assures those who will stick their necks out; i.e., “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven”.

None of this is to say Jesus is not referring to that Day of The Lord when the Glory of the Eternal Kingdom will be finally and fully restored; not at all.  But if it is true that the Gospel is as much about here-and-now as it is about what-is-to-come – and it must be if it is the Living Word - we are challenged to look at these beatitudes much more carefully and to consider them as much Promises Made by Him as they are Promises to be Kept by His own people.

The “dangerous sentimentalism” Wesley had referred to, which often comes by preaching what we think of as “Gospel” – that is, all Good News all the time for “me” – comes when we give ourselves permission to excuse ourselves from the sufferings of others.  That is, while we may acknowledge the Promises Made to be as good for others as they are for us, we do not consider often enough that delivering on these Promises is the whole of what it means to be the Body of Christ – which is the Church.  It is the Law of The Lord summed up in, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”.  It is the Law of The Lord proclaimed in the Gospel of The Lord!

“Dangerous sentimentalism” is arrogantly proclaiming “only God knows my heart” while Jesus clearly states, “From the mouth comes the abundance of the heart”, and “You will know them by their fruits”.  Our hearts for The Lord are revealed in our works of mercy and piety (worship) as the Divine Heart is concealed by our lack of mercy and piety.  It is the proclamation that while my cup is full, you need to get your own.

“Dangerous sentimentalism” declares justification without sanctification, forgiveness without repentance, baptism without church discipline (order and accountability), grace without discipleship (that is, life apart from Christ), grace without the Law; all dismissing our need to “go on to perfection”.  In the realm of the Beatitudes, it declares and embraces only for oneself Promises Made but denies Promises must be Kept by those who are redeemed, who are called to and equipped for works of mercy, who claim to be called by His Name. 

“Dangerous sentimentalism” is the death of the Methodist movement – which is a people - while trying to breathe life into the Methodist institution – which is little more than a human hierarchy contained in and by lifeless buildings.  It is Talking the Talk while demanding and expecting others to Walk the Walk.

Promises Made by The Lord and kept by those who are called by His Name is our assurance that the Gospel of The Lord lives now and will endure long after we have breathed our last.  It is disciples making disciples who are also equipped to make disciples themselves.  It is the Commission of The Lord entrusted to His people.  It is the Law.  It is the Gospel.  It is Christ.  Amen.