Salvation Does Not Come from the Law

Salvation Does Not Come from the Law 

• Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20; Philippians 3:4b-14 

“Lady Justice” is the personification of institutional justice, attributed to the Roman Caesar Augustus. Since the 1600’s the female character is usually portrayed with a scale, and a sword, and wears a blindfold. The blindfold is intended to represent a lack of bias. In theory, true justice performs equally for the poor and the rich, and has an impersonal passion for the facts. 

The first five books of the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible are called “The Law.” The authorship of these books are attributed to the authority of Moses. In conservative speak, the Law of Moses reaches its ultimate height in the 10 Commandments - cue the dramatic music and flash pictures of Charlton Heston in costume. 

The 10 commandments, historically carved in stone for a people with the most rudimentary of language skills, are often interpreted as a call to personal piety. In fact, the commandments are issued to the community. It is unlikely the concept of an individual being pious in contrast with the society was within the imagination of ancient people. 

Human justice invokes the posture of; IF you are convicted of doing A, the consequence will be in the range of B to D. Justice in the eyes of God is more like love and forgiveness. And who could blindfold God? But I am getting ahead of myself. 

Now just between you and me, I prefer the story of the call of Moses, especially the “give and take” at the Burning Bush, to be a more inspiring invitation into relationship with the immortal God of creation. It is God sending the faithful to rescue the faithful community. But that is just me. 

What I want to do with this introduction is highlight the contrast I want to make. The rush to make the Law of God - look and follow the order of human justice, is a disservice to our good and generous God. 

There is plenty of language in our hymns and prayers that sound like the Bible is The Word of God. It has a comfortable ring to it. The gospel of John makes the claim that Jesus the Christ is the actual Word of God. And all of this “word” stuff is a word play on the opening of Genesis, where God “speaks” creation into being. The Word of God then, is the power of the almighty, making all things out of the creative mind and commands of God. 

The ringing words of the gospel of John’s introduction, “In the beginning was the word, and word was with God” opens John’s testimony to the significance of the life and teaching of Jesus the Christ. The “God Is Still Speaking,” tagline of the United Church of Christ, voices our contention that the Bible is not the final word of God to creation - nor the final word of creation. 

So if God is still alive, then God is still speaking - speaking words of love to and for Creation. As followers of Jesus, we seek to live out those words of love in the world God called good, just as Jesus did. Just as Jesus did, we speak words of love and comfort to those at the margins of society. 

Just as Jesus did, we seek to prophecy against the powerful who believe that: there is not enough to go around; we cannot feed the poor; we cannot educate the young; we cannot have justice for all; but there is always enough for making war, and imprisoning whoever frightens us. 

I have already told you that when I hear the words “Law and Order” in society today, I want to ask, who is protecting their own privilege and advantage over whom? When the televangelists invoke the Law of God, I wonder the same thing. Who are they picking on now, and what is in it for them?  

Paul is eloquent on this point in today’s excerpt from Philippians. He makes it clear, nobody was ever a better Pharisee than he was. The Pharisees took great pride in making a show of identifying and meeting the myriad laws prescribed in the “Law of Moses.” Like a military officer’s dress uniform, or a Boy Scout on the day he is promoted to Eagle Scout, the Pharisees had badges of honor and elaborate “costumes” for special prayerful occasions.  

And Paul pulls no punches as he identifies his own background, his dedication to imposing a fastidious understanding of the law, that made him a mean protagonist and persecutor of those who would follow “The Way” of the Christ. Sisters and brothers, I fear that this mentality is still alive. 

As a teen I lived through the open brutality of the Civil Rights movement. I saw how the federal government was needed to uphold the dignity of black lives, especially in the south, but later in Los Angeles and Detroit. 

I remember a terrible year where progressive leaders were assassinated, one by one, and I feared that the union was going to go up in flames. I graduated High School only months and 20 miles away from the 1968 Democratic National Convention, that showcased the violent reaction to a nation gone deaf to the cries against war and oppression. 

I remember how this movement created the model for activism necessary to promote women’s rights, and the present and ongoing struggle to defend those whose gender identity and attractions are more fluid than the simple binary, an “either / or” that obscures the beauty of diversity present in a thousand ways in our lives. I know how these experiences have framed my understanding of injustice. 

In January I travelled on a “Peacekeeper’s Tour of the Holy Land.” It was organized and lead by Richard Blackburn of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, where I have taken several classes over the years on better understanding myself, and Mediating Conflicts. 

We were able to meet with a variety of people on the ground, dedicated to promoting peace between the Palestinians and the State of Israel. The Fellowship and Extension Boards have offered to host a Pot Luck and travelogue where I will show some pictures from this trip on a Sunday afternoon in January. 

I was amazed at what little I knew or understood of the oppressive nature of the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. I spent several days in the West Bank, in order to see firsthand how Israel treats the Palestinians. 

More than simply becoming angry with Israel for its inhumanity, I was stunned by the model of institutional injustice that is so pervasive in the country, and how the model is being replicated by conservative movements throughout the western world. The “Law and Order” defense is employed so automatically, that the people of Israel are blind to the racism inherent in the posture. 

Paul understood the application of institutionalized power of “Law and Order” because he lived it. It ran in his blood, or so he believed. He thought that his passionate devotion to the law was what made him close to God. After Paul was confronted on the road to Damascus by the Risen Christ, he saw that all of that was”rubbish.” He had misunderstood the use of the law, and had promoted the misuse of the law. The law is not a source of life. 

Judge Roy Moore has become the Republican nominee for the US Senate from Alabama. It is a familiar name. Wikipedia states the facts: Moore was elected to the position of Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in 2001, but removed from his position in November 2003 by the Alabama Court of the Judiciary for refusing to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments - commissioned by Moore - from the Alabama Judicial Building, despite orders to do so by a federal court. 

Moore was again elected Chief Justice in 2013, but was suspended in May 2016, for directing probate judges to continue to enforce the state's ban on same-sex marriage despite the fact that it had been deemed unconstitutional. Following an unsuccessful appeal, Moore resigned in April 2017.      

Judge Moore believes a narrow application of “Law and Order” is a useful tool in protecting and promoting the sense of social order that makes him comfortable. Since he is able to win popular elections, there is no reason for him to repent or rethink his position. To say that Judge Roy feels like he is honoring God, is an understatement. 

A part of the human condition, is to promote divisions in mankind, a thousand ways to say, “us and them.” This hunger to see things in a simple binary; right or wrong; is what Richard Rohr would say is evidence of the sin of separation. Rohr says believing there is a distance between us and God, believing that we are separate from each other, means that we have missed the big picture. 

The big picture, is that God is love. We are included in that love. The presence of God within us does not vary, only our perception of that presence, and our willingness to live as God’s love within us directs us. If we would draw close to God, we would draw closer to each other. 

Every bit of name calling, promotes the sin of separation. Every time we use the law of God to clobber others, we are promoting the sin of separation. You may rightly wonder, “Well then Pastor Chuck, what is the law for?” 

The law is a guide. It tries to make plain, how simple human activities can distract us from the love of God. In different hands, in different situations, at different times, we can preach and wax eloquent about the use of the law to identify the sins of others. Only a prophet dare use the law to draw attention to the sins of their own community. 

The law of God should point out to us that the stuff of everyday life can be an expression of God’s love, or a promotion of separation from God’s love. You want a simple binary, try that one. Love one another, or recognize you are living in sin. 

The 10 commandments were written on stone tablets, stone that did not survive and are not available to view. The 10 commandments point out that simple human activities can distract ordinary people from the love of God and love for one another. 

When we make boundaries and rules for our kids, they thrive, because they know they are loved and it matters to us that they are safe. 

When humans obsess over making rules for others, it’s an indication that our relationships are failing. We are not telling each other what matters to us and why, or, we have become so worried about our stuff that we stopped caring for our people. Human Law is a way to make standards impersonal. But love cannot be impersonal. Lady Justice should peak from under her blindfold, and see who has their cheating hand on her scale. 

God speaks words of love, and love comes into the world. Jesus comes into the world, to seek out those on the margins, and include them in God’s love. As followers of Christ, guided by the Law, we continue the effort to let the love of God direct our hearts, and our tongues, and our hands. 

The salvation of God is born of love, and nurtured in community. Let us not forget, we live in Morton, and Community is our first name. Amen.