Nipate
Forum => Controversial => Topic started by: GeeMail on October 27, 2014, 02:35:52 PM
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http://www.absg.adventist.org/2014/4Q/TE/PDFs/ETQ414_05.pdf
Love and the Law
Sabbath afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: James 2:1–13; Mark 2:16; Lev.
19:17, 18; Rom. 13:8–10; John 12:48.
Memory Text:
“For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown
no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment”
(James 2:13, NASB).
We know the story well; the question is, How well has it sunk in?
First a priest, then a Levite, going from Jerusalem to Jericho,
encountered a man lying half dead in the road. Though both
just finished their religious duties, neither was, apparently, able to link
those duties with any sense of obligation to the injured soul, and so
each kept walking. Finally, a Samaritan, a half-pagan, happened by,
took pity on the man, bandaged his wounds, and paid for his stay at an
inn where he could recover. He also promised to pay the innkeeper for
anything else the man might need (see Luke 10:30–37).
Jesus told that story in response to a question by a lawyer about
eternal life. Rather than tell the lawyer, “Try harder!” or “Do more!”
Jesus painted a picture of love in action. That is, we are to love even in
potentially dangerous or unpleasant circumstances, and we are to love
even those we don’t like.
Though it’s not easy, and often goes against our nature, true love
involves a substantial amount of risk and calls us to tear down barriers
that separate us as people, both outside and (especially) inside the church.
This week we’ll see what James has to say about this crucial truth.
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The Man in Gold
Read James 2:1–4. It is, among other things, a study in contrasts.
One person is rich, well dressed, and, apparently, important, while the
other is poor, shabbily dressed, and, apparently, a nobody. One receives
the utmost courtesy, the other disdain. One is offered a comfortable,
prominent seat; the other is told to stand off to the side or find a place
on the floor.
The description is not a very pretty one, especially because it is
depicted (potentially, at least) as happening in a worship service!
The Greek word for “gathering” or “assembly” in verse 2 is
synagoge, probably an early reference to a Jewish-Christian Sabbath service,
many of which would have taken place in private homes
(see Acts 18:7, 8).
In the Greco-Roman culture of the first century, one’s public image
and position were all important. Those with wealth, education, or
political influence were expected to use these assets to enhance their
reputation and benefit their personal interests. Any large gift to public or religious projects obligated the receiver to reciprocate to the
giver in some way. Kindness was repaid with loyalty and generosity
with public appreciation. The few upper-class people who attended
Christian services expected privileged treatment. To ignore these
expectations would have brought disgrace on the church. A failure
to be “politically correct” or to reject societal values was a recipe for
offense and a cause for division.
Read
Mark 2:16 and Luke 11:43. What societal expectations are
involved? How do they conflict with the principles of the gospel?
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It is not a sin to be poor or rich, but one barometer of our Christian
experience is how we treat people who are different from us in age,
wealth, education, and even religious convictions. We tend to give
more respect to those we perceive as “above” us on the social ladder
and less respect to those “below.” We must remember that it is easy to
get pulled into convention even though God calls us to be different
(see Rom. 12:2).
Let’s face it: we might not be as open and as crass about it as
James depicted, but are we not all easily susceptible to playing
favorites? How can we learn to recognize this problem in ourselves and, ultimately, deal with it?