No Harm, Do Good, Love God

Jesus says these words in the week before his arrest “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now …. I almost can feel the anxiety of Jesus: he has so much still to say, and so little time to say it
Remember the world Jesus came to: 
the faith of the people had become a matter of rules and obedience. Obey the rules – define the rules – clarify the rules – until there were codes explaining them and teachers of the law who had the professional task of teaching the rules. And the gatekeepers who would decide who was in and who was out – who could be allowed into the temple, and who had to be kept out. 
And a whole class of people who were excluded: the am-haarez… poor people
Sick people
Foreigners
And the faith of the children of Israel was governed by keeping the rules: Some have said that the people had to remember 613 rules.

And Jesus was aware of this. And there came a moment when he was asked: of all the commandments – what are the most important: 
So here is his answer –“Love God and Love your neighbour” 
Jesus said there is only one thing – love! 
 The disciples warmed to his message
The crowds flocked to hear him – because it was a refreshing message of hope. Here is someone who had Good News… the ability to be loved by God – despite the rules.

But the difficult realization that Jesus was not going to be around forever:
How would people remain hopeful – and not lapse back into the legal swamp that had persuaded people that God hated them. 
And Jesus says – you will not be left alone: you will have my   
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, . 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 
Do not worry – because you will keep hearing my message of God’s love: the Spirit of God will love you from the inside out. 

Sadly – human nature being what it is: the followers of Jesus were tempted to fall back into the way of rules: 300 years after Jesus a Council of Nicaea was convened by the Emperor Constantine – gathered all the church leaders – guess what he wanted them to do? draw up rules to decide who is in and who is out – and he sent his soldiers to kill those who did not agree with his council’s rules…. 

And many Christian leaders fled into the deserts of North Africa and Syria. The Holy Spirit reminded these Desert Fathers and Mothers that they needed to rediscover the two basic commandments – Love God and Love One Another.

Again in the 1500’s the church of Jesus found itself debating who was saved – and the Pope ruled that those who paid money to the church could be saved. 
Again the Holy Spirit raised up a courageous priest called Martin Luther who said: the only thing required was faith in the love of God. 
And in the 1800’s, when the church in England was drowning in rules, the Holy Spirit warmed the heart of a courageous Priest called John Wesley: 

and he began a revival movement which became known as “The Methodists”. Central to their teachings was this one idea:  all people could know the love of God: whether you knew the church rules or not – your heart could be warmed by the Holy Spirit, reminding you that you are a beloved chid of God.

This Methodist movement has avoided writing its own Creed – or emphasising its own set of rules: Instead we have Three Simple Rules: 
Being a Methodist means: 
Do Good
Do No Harm
Stay in Love with God

Have just come back from our Dakotas Annual Conference: 
I am grateful for the way the Holy Spirit raised up leaders in our conference who continue to remind us that the best rules are the rules of love.
I point to Pastor Howard Grinager – who models love to everyone
I think of Pastor Clay Lundberg – who was given an award by the youth leaders in the Conference for the love and support he shows to young people
I am grateful for the Bishops: Bishop Ough and Bishop Deb – who could have enforced rules – but chose instead to lead the Conference with love and compassionate

And so today I remind us that the Holy Spirit keeps reminding us that we only need two rules – love God and Love our neighbour. And it is my hope that this church would continue this tradition: that we become known as a place of welcome and acceptance. 
Let me pull this together: I want to offer Good News, a Challenge, and a Promise

Good News: everyone is welcome to worship in our family. You do not need to achieve a level of holiness before you enter the doors:
Open hearts, Open Minds Open doors.

Challenge: The same welcome you receive is extended to anyone else who walks through the door – and sometimes this is difficult – because people might walk through the door we do not like / or agree with.

The Promise: that the Spirit of God is with us - He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

We receive the love of God – but God’s Spirit does not leave it there – we are changed
Our hearts are softened
We learn compassion and kindness – and this overflows into the way we treat other people. 
The promise is that the Love of God holds us all: