Did Jesus' death end the law, or is it more complex?

Jesus' death and resurrection did fulfill the law, but did not end it. He provides the way, and the way costs us dearly. "Take up your cross and follow me", "Let the dead bury their own dead", "Whoever puts their had to the plow and turns back is not fit for the kingdom of God", "Be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect" leave little room to say that his act is the end of our responsibility. The fulfilled law still applies, we just know more about its living richness.

However, the fulfilled law has the same words, but new meanings: those of love. With each law, we must study it in great depth, with its literary and cultural contexts intact, its linguistic complexities acknowledged, and its meaning in our very different world, and then we must ask "How is this loving, how can I be loving with this, where is love in this?" Then, we must pray, because there is a new guide -The Holy Spirit- who can teach us the lessons of the new times, the path of love, the path of justice. Then, and ONLY then, can we even approach the full meaning of The Way of Jesus Christ. And we cannot do it alone. We must do it in Community. ANd the community must be able to move when The Spirit moves, because if the source of life moves, and you fail to follow, you die.

Joe DeCaro wrote:

I've heard the same thought (translated)from Rev. Moon who claims to complete the process of salvation begun by Jesus, but it's not nearly worded as well as your excellent post.

Jesus either fullfilled the law or He didn't, period; otherwise it sounds like something out of Vatican I, or even Galantianism, i.e., Jesus "plus".

and MiddleWay replied:

Following your logic you can do whatever you please, you are already covered...

So I go to the Bible, and Thayer's Greek Definitions:

G4137
πληρόω
plēroō
Thayer Definition:
1) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full
1a) to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally
1a1) I abound, I am liberally supplied
2) to render full, i.e. to complete
2a) to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim
2b) to consummate: a number
2b1) to make complete in every particular, to render perfect
2b2) to carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out, (some undertaking)
2c) to carry into effect, bring to realisation, realise
2c1) of matters of duty: to perform, execute
2c2) of sayings, promises, prophecies, to bring to pass, ratify, accomplish
2c3) to fulfil, i.e. to cause God’s will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God’s promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfilment
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G4134
Citing in TDNT: 6:286, 867

This is the translation note for the Greek word Matthew uses in Ch. 5 v. 17 that is translated most commonly as "fulfill". It includes some very helpful interpretation notes as well. Jesus goes on to talk about

Matt 5:18-22 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.

And so we see unavoidably that Jesus' fulfillment does not free us from the law, but rather raises us up to a new level of responsibility and mature involvement. Paul explains thusly:

Gal 4:1-5 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

We (humanity) were under a paedogogos, a teacher/caretaker, "the law" until we were mature enough to handle the more complex realities. To re-cast Paul's explanation to our modern context: when you were a child, your parents had rules. These rules were black and white, simple to follow, simple to see when they were broken. As you got older, those rules changed. They became more complex. "Be home by 10" became "Be home at a reasonable time." "Don't hit" became "Defend yourself and others when needed" and "Do as I tell you to" became "Do what is right."

Just the same, God gave us the law to train us in the basics, the simple things we as primitives could handle. They began very very simple: be fruitful and multiply, don't eat from this tree. Then they got a bit more complex: make a sacrifice to God, don't kill. Then still more complex: the 10 Commandments. And more complex still: Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Now we've gotten to the "child" stage. All the laws have been spelled out that can be spelled out, and in their most direct way. Following the letter of these laws will keep us safe, help us grow, and help prepare us for the next level. Then Jesus came, and told us about the next level of complexity in understanding the Way of God. He told us:

Matthew 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

as well as the many many other teachings about love, anger, judging, the Beatitudes, and the like.

The old law was not "wrong", Paul tells us earlier in Galatians, but incomplete and oversimplified: fit for children. Now that Jesus has brought forgiveness and we have gained some maturity, we are ready for the new Law, the greater Law, the more complicated and challenging Law: the Law of Love. A Law that our now adolescent world can handle, or at least begin to. "Adolescent" describes our world very well, don't you think? As we continue to struggle to understand our world, ourselves, and our God, we wrestle with these new laws, learning the deeper truths within and behind the old laws. And someday, when Christ comes again, we will be mature: adult children of God as we were meant to be.

In Christ,
~Warren

The Closet or Old Habits Die Hard

As you may know, I am "officially" all the way out of the closet, to both my family and my church.
You may not know, however, that this is rather more complicated than it sounds.

Anyone can tell you that after keeping something secret from people, or even just certain people, beginning to reveal that secret hardly "rolls off the tongue" no matter how much you would prefer otherwise. The well-ingrained instinct to smile and nod, make non-committal noises, or even outright lies leaps first to both our thoughts and actions. Before the conscious mind ever gets to interject, the habitual behaviors have already occurred, the old lie continued, the truth concealed once more, the friend deceived unnecessarily.

It's easier when you know it's coming, and it's easier one-on-one, but today was neither. While the choir was waiting to process into church, we often whisper to each other about our past week's activities while the children get their time with the priest before the service starts and they head off to Sunday school. After I mentioned being the only male in a certain group of friends in a different circle of my life, an older soprano (and a wonderful person I'm proud to call "friend") said "Ah! Well, that's not so bad, right?" conspiratorially laughing at the otherwise normal suggestion of my good fortune to be surrounded by women.

Full Stop.

So why's this so important? So she thinks I'm straight, and has every reason to think so: big deal. My sexuality doesn't effect her, right? Even if it did matter, I can always bring it up some other time, right?

Well, yes... and yet... still no. The problem isn't so much the information, it's the omission of it. She's a great person, and I'm sure would have no problem with my orientation in any way. By not having told her, and the others in my church, I have lied to them. True, it may be in a small way in the grand scheme of things, but it's still there. I have lied through omission, not correcting people when they assume my straightness, permitting them to misunderstand me when one word would have brought them into closer relationship with me. I really do not care one rat's ass whisker if some random schmo on the street knows that I like guys, but these are my friends. These are people with whom I sing and worship at least twice a week. These are people that I care about, and they care about me, people I've been trying very hard to build community with. And in that kind of community, there aren't secrets. Ok there are secrets, and plenty of them, and plenty more things that just don't matter... but this does matter. It matters to me to be understood correctly, to feel that the person I am being in this community is the real me. It matters to them, as sexual orientation is a major issue in the greater church today. And that moves it out from the category with "how often my sister and I fought as kids" or "my favorite color" or "how messy my apartment is" and into the category of "things you ought to know about me, because they effect large portions of my life, and my life and yours are connected in this community".

And so, when I don't say something, when I don't correct someone when the opportunity presents itself, I am putting up a barrier between us: I am saying "I am ashamed of this", I am saying "I don't want to be known by you", I am saying "we are not in full community". And that is sin, against myself, and against them, and against God who said we should be in community with one another in love.

And so coming out to my fellow Christians has been with the intent of finally bringing down that wall between us. A wall that only the most perceptive of them might ever even know is there, but is there nonetheless. A wall that I build higher and stronger every time I let it remain, brick by brick, increasing the likelihood of injury when it does come down.

When I responded to that soprano, that's exactly what I did. I smiled and nodded, laughing accordingly, letting her believe her sentiment had meaning for me. And I couldn't take it back. By the time I realized that there had been my chance to grow in relationship with her and the few others within earshot, it was gone and I had lied again, when I had promised myself not to do that anymore. *thwip, splat* the bricklayer places another brick... *thwip, splat*... *thwip, splat*
I couln't then pipe up, the moment was gone and speaking up then would have made it so awkward and have accomplished less than it ought to. *thwip, splat*

But it's ok, I suppose, because I will be given another chance, soon I hope.

*thwip, splat*


In Christ,
~Warren

Eating Chinese Food (Coming out to Gram)

Eating Chinese food

Making small talk

Grandma orders spicy food

‘cause the townie ladies never do

Gram, I have something to tell you

no that’s not right

I order the seafood dish

‘cause I’m on a diet

Gram, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you…

no, that’s too long

We talk about the weather

She asks about my other sister

and I tell her she’s getting hitched next year

Gram, I like guys!

no… that’s just crazy

We talk about my father

and yes he’s still a loser

Gram, I’d like to invite my boyfriend over

no, I don’t have one of those

We get our food

We talk about how good the restaurant is

and I sip my much needed glass of wine

Gram, I had another reason for coming up to visit you…

no, she’s eating now

I look at my plate and take another bite

I take another sip of wine

Gram, I don’t know how to tell you this…

no, that’s just way too true

We talk about me

I get up and go to the bathroom

more to calm down than to get relief

Gram, there’s something else I wanted to talk about…

no, that’s too awkward

She mentions how messy my car is

and I say it’s usually much worse

Gram, I…

no, she’s talking again

She says I need a girlfriend to clean for me

wow, she’s old fashioned

This is it, this is my opening

Actually… I need a boyfriend, Gram

I’m gay.

I already knew honey,

and I love you anyway.

Argument for Christian Homosexual Marriage

Argument for Homosexual Marriage:

1. There are no unambiguous condemnations of homosexuality in Scripture
1. And no condemnations at all of loving, committed homosexual relationships.
2. Though marriage is described in terms of heterosexual relationships, those descriptions are not innately exclusive to heterosexuality.
1. Marriage is clearly indicated as the only holy context for sexual activity between people.
2. There is no direct establishment of homosexual marriage.
3. The definition of marriage both in Scripture and society has always been an evolving, emerging one.
3. Science tells us that sexual orientation cannot be meaningfully altered,
1. and that attempting to do so is not merely ineffective, but harmful.
2. Though it is within God’s power to change any aspect of a person, it is the experience of homosexual Christians that God does not choose to do this in most (and perhaps all) cases.
4. Believing Christian homosexuals do not feel called to lives of celibacy.
1. Some do; this refers to the fact that there is a majority (or any at all) who do not.
5. Jesus tells us that the basis of all of Scripture and its Laws is love.
6. By 3., it is unloving to ask homosexuals to attempt to change their orientation.
7. In relation to 4., it is unloving to ask homosexuals not called by God to celibacy to be so.
8. Because of 5., we must interpret all Scripture in such a manner that love is clearly the cause and goal of the interpretation.
1. "Love your neighbor as yourself" means that, in cases that one does not have personal experience, one must put oneself in the others' places to understand how "love" might be expressed to "you, the other".
9. By 6., 7., and 8., we cannot ask homosexuals to change, nor to be celibate against their sense of God's calling.
10. By 9., and 1., we must conclude that there is a Godly place for and active, loving, committed homosexual relationships.
By 10., and 2a., and despite 2b., we must conclude that the Godly place for homosexual relationships is in (homosexual) marriage.