Useless Love

Are you aware of how black and white our thinking is?

Door is open and it is also closed.

We tend to think in concrete terms of right and wrong.

If something is not right it has to be wrong.

There are times we must hold ideas in tension with the other alternate idea. Use and instead if but

Light is in waves also particles

God made all of heaven and yet he becomes part of his creation even to become subject to us.

A very misunderstood passage of scripture.

Matt. 6:48

F. F. Bruce “Mark Twain spoke for many when he said that the things in the Bible that bothered him were not those that he did not understand but those that he did. “

This statement is both hard to explain and hard to do.

Nine words top the list of the hard saying of Jesus

Seems irrational and impossible

Must be kidding

Must mean something else

He can’t possibly think we could achieve this perfection

Does he want us to just try knowing we can’t?

Keep us humble somewhat moral in the process

This is absolutely foolish

No one is going to mindlessly try to do the impossible

No way to look at it metaphorically either.

That is why it’s so disturbing.

Does not stand alone.

Context – series of questions real estate - location

Matt. 5:46

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?
Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?
Do not even pagans do that?

Love that is nothing more than what the tax collectors and pagans do is useless love.

Everyone expects at least that.

We expect that as a good parent you would give your life for your child.

What the world doesn’t expect is what God is known for doing.

Giving his life for the undeserving and rebellious

Those that are unworthy.

To better understand this passage

Take a closer look at the word perfect

In its context it is both reasonable and possible

I. Perfect love is mature

Barclay discusses the meaning of the word teleos or perfect

Noting that a man who reaches full-grown stature is teleos in comparison to a child – mature

A student who graduates with a mature knowledge is teleos in contrast to a student just starting in school

Essential to understand that perfect does not mean flawless but full-grown

After spending a weekend at a very moving religious rally

Young man came home with a renewed passion to be perfect in every aspect of his life

It seems the presenters had pounded this young man with enough fear and shame to bring him to a place of conviction

And they gave him very little insight as to how to actually work toward perfection

When asked what he was doing toward that endeavour

Quickly responded

-stopped watching TV

- torched my music – impure thoughts

Left the friends that bring me down.

Everything he mentioned seemed like a good idea

But his response totally misses the point of perfection

In the biblical sense

Perfection isn’t what you abstain from or avoid as much as it is what you embrace

Perfect love is not about something you don’t do

But is something you actively do.

His teacher was unsuccessful in getting through to him as clearly as the others had about perfection.

Handed him a bottle of water

Look at the ingredients and tell me what is not in that water.

Paused thoughtfully,

Smiled and sat back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling shaking his head said,

“I think I get it. When something is considered pure, it actually means having only one ingredient.”

Jesus’ call to perfect love is a journey to something you do, not something you don’t do.

A believer who is mature is one

that acts graciously,

gives generously,

thinks compassionately,

and prays faithfully for the person who is hard to pray for.

NEB “There must be no limit to your goodness as your heavenly Fathers’ goodness knows no bounds.”

Vs. 45

II. Perfect love is Effective (Mature)

Something is teleos or perfect if it realises the purpose for which it is planned.

We are perfect when we realize the purpose for which we are created

Loose screw

Screw driver that fits – perfect

May not be your favourite color

Handle may not fit your hand well

Tip may be dull

Function and effective

At the end of life’s journey

People may regret the course of their life

Sense they had a greater purpose to live for than the one they chose

Others may have specific regrets about misdeeds or missed opportunities

But have peace about how their life- served a purpose that was noble

Consider Paul

Final moments – not flawless by any means

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Tim. 4:7

Eph. 1:12-14

God’s ultimate purpose vs. 12, 14.

III. Perfect love is remarkable (Mature, Effective)

According to Jesus ordinary human love is expected

Extra ordinary love is distinct and can come only from godlike behaviour.

Matt. 5:43-47

The word for “Love” in this passage does not convey friendship, affection, or passion

“unconquerable benevolence”

Invincible good will – to seek their highest good no matter who they are or what they do to us” – Barclay

(matthew p. 173)

Jesus never asks us to love our enemies in the same way we love our parents, friends, or mates.

Agape love extends grace and good will to people who don’t deserve it and in many cases are not even asking for it.

Jesus says it’s easy to die for your own child – basic

Feature of being created in the image of God.

So how does God’s glorious face shine through you in ways that mark you as a child of heaven?

In 1995 a remarkable event took place:

Burma, Myanmar, 50 years earlier could never been imagined

Bridge over Kwai River

WWII the Japanese army had forced Allied prisoners of war from Britain, Australia and Netherlands to build a railroad.

Horrible atrocities were committed

16,000 Allied POW’s died

Death railway

After the war a former Japanese army officer named

Nagase Takashi

Personal campaign to urge his government to admit the atrocities committed

After many years of effort

This was the result of his crusade

Brief ceremony – 1995

Infamous bridge

On one side

50 Japanese, 5 war veterans, Mr. Takashi

18 school teachers from Japan carried 200 letters written by children expressing sadness for what had happened during the war.

On the other side were representatives of the Allied soldiers

Two soldiers from Britain who declared the business of 50 years ago finished at last

A young woman from Australia –come to deliver for her father (died) – his forgiveness

A son of a POW who came to deliver the same message

73 year old Australian David Barrett

Said he made the pilgrimage because he felt that to continue hating would destroy him

The two groups began walking the narrow planks of the black iron bridge

Toward one another

When they met in the center

Shook hands, embraced, and shed tears

Yuko Ikebuchi, a schoolteacher,

Handed the letters from the Japanese children to the veterans and in tears turned and ran without a word.

This story captures the face of God in an unmistakable and remarkable way

Perfect

Perhaps what Jesus is saying in this passage is that people will never be more perfect than when they extend unwarranted good will and benevolence.

We might resemble God in many ways,

But loving our enemies conveys the face of God with vivid clarity

Look at your kids and see the resemblance of their parents.

So it is with us

We are perfect,

Most like our heavenly Father when we take the same high road in the way we relate to our enemies

Jesus would also add, “by this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (john 13:35)

Is it reasonable to expect people to love their enemies?

Stephen Olford tells the story of Peter Miller

Lived in Pennsylvania

Enjoyed a friendship with George Washington

Also in his town lived Michael Whitman

An evil minded sort who did all he could to oppose and humiliate Pastor Miller

Michael is arrested for treason – sentenced to die

Peter Miller – 70 miles on foot to Philadelphia to plead for the life of the traitor

No Peter, I cannot grant you the life of your friend, said General Washington.

“My friend,” exclaimed the old preacher. “He is the bitterest enemy I have.”

“what?” cried Washington. “You’ve walked 70 miles to save the life of an enemy?” That puts the matter in a different light. I’ll grant your pardon.

Peter Miller took Michael Whitman back home to Pennsylvania no longer an enemy but a friend.

No act deepens the impact of the Christian faith more.

If this kind of love for enemies were not possible,

The story of Calvary would have long been forgotten and erased from history

What keeps the story of Christ alive were ordinary believers who acted like God to their enemies

This is what fosters even more to believe in God and the risen Christ

It is true that only those who have drunk deeply at the well of grace could possibly love their enemies

When we consider how God forgives us

We become first hand believers in the power of grace

That’s the only way this kind of love makes sense

Yes it is possible for follower’s of Christ to demonstrate this love.

Sergei Kourdakov – leader of a secret KGB police force in the Soviet Union

Elite squad of youth terrorized Christians

Who met secretly for prayer and Bible Study

Sergei had grown up an orphan in children’s homes operated by the state.

Proved himself to be a model communist

Brilliant leader

Devoted to the communist cause

Soon is promoted to this elite police squad

They raided homes of believers

Trend that troubled him

Told only old, ignorant people subscribed to the Christian faith

Each raid he noticed more young people present

Intrigued by their poise and courage

His confusion turned to anger.

They stormed a house full of young believers

Beat and mocked them

Sergei watched as Victor, the biggest and strongest man

Lifted a young woman above his head and threw her against the wall

As she fell to the ground in a crumbled heap

Sergei laughed, “I bet the idea of God went flying out of her head.”

A few days later raided another house – she was there again

Sergei couldn’t believe it – in his anger, beat her himself

Back at the station he studied the names of the Christians

Increasing numbers of young people

Natasha – she too – member of the Communist Youth League

Question – What had happened to her that has caused her to become a believer in God?

Brought her in for questioning

Frightened

Courageously answered all the questions

Conveyed her forgiveness to her oppressors

Tried to share her faith in God

Sergei dismissed her

Confident he would never see her again.

One week later

Another raid

Found Natasha praying with the other young believers

Victor stood between her and the men

Waving his club “don’t touch her

She has something we don’t have.”

Sergei motioned for her to escape out a side door

But her faith never escaped his mind

Sergei is deeply moved

She did have something

Been horribly beaten

Warned and threatened

Gone through unbelievable suffering

Here she is again

Even tough Victor has been moved

Sergei wants to run after her and ask what she has

But she is gone

This abnormal, other worldly kind of love and devotion haunts him

Eventually he jumps ship into the icy waters off the coast of Canada

Knowing his chances for survival are slim

But chose to attempt to swim to a place where he might find freedom and that kind of love he saw in the Christians he persecuted

Miraculously he makes it to Canada

Immediately goes in search of believers

To answer his questions

He not only finds Christ

And testified to this faith in God throughout Canada – 60’s

In the closing lines of his book – The Persecutor

“And finally to Natasha, whom I beat terribly and who was willing to be beaten a third time for her faith, I want to say, Natasha, largely because of you, my life is now changed and I am a fellow believer in Christ with you. I have a new life before me. God has forgiven me; I hope you can also. Thank You Natasha, wherever you hare. I will never, never forget you.”

Perfect love is mature,

Perfect love is effective

Perfect love is remarkable.

IV. Perfect love is unforgettable.

When we demonstrate love for our enemies and those hard to love

We couldn’t be more perfect.

It is reasonable and well within you this week

To be like your Father in heaven

You may not be flawless

But you can be perfect

I CHALLENGE YOU

Step out this week

Write that letter of grace

Say those words of forgiveness

Pray that prayer for someone who is hard to pray for

As you do

You will resemble God

People will see his eyes,

hear his voice

and sense his touch

through your life