God's Answer to Cancer/Cancel Culture

 How Should We Then Live?

God’s Answer to the “Cancer Culture” Behavior

 

November 28, 2020

Larry R Evans

 

Introduction

 

I was on my way to South Africa for a series of meetings.  The plane stopped in Senegal, West Africa to pick up a few additional passengers. It was at that time that I met my new seatmate.  He was a tall, thin, black, physics professor from the University of Senegal. We had a great conversation during which time I learned, as could be expected by someone from Senegal, that he was a Muslim. There are a number of points that Muslims and Adventists have in common, so I focused our attention on those common beliefs.  Physics and astronomy often go hand-in-hand and as I recall I he may have been a professor of astronomy as well. I remember asking him some questions about astronomy and specifically about the mysterious “black hole” in the universe. That led to the discussion about Allah as the Creator. We both shared the wonders of our common God. As the plane was nearing the time to land, he said to me, “When I got on the plane, I hoped to find a ‘brother.’ I found one, and you are that brother.” I replied with a “thank you” and assured him that I also saw him as a “brother.” It was a very special moment in time for both of us.

 

I’ve had other conversations while traveling with complete strangers and many times the conversation led to a discussion about the wonders of God. When that happened, the whole aura around us changed. Something changes when we focus on God.  I am reminded of a statement made by Ellen White, 

Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, “Behold your God.” The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character, they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them. COL 415.5

Today’s study is not about the Islamic faith, nor is it specifically about God.  It is about brotherly love and how when it is practiced as a light in a darkened world.  However, if God is not at the center of “brotherly love” it is not a sustainable love.

A False Foundation

 

Today’s Bible study guide (the quarterly) shares an insightful illustration:

A rabbi who looked into the eyes of the young men sitting in his classroom asked, 

 

“Students, when does one know when the night is ended, and the day has begun?”

 

Several of the students cautiously raised their hands. “Rabbi,” one asked, “is it when you can tell the difference between a fig tree and an olive tree?”

 

“No.”

 

Another student raised his hand: “Rabbi, is it when you can tell the difference between a sheep and a goat?”

 

After listening to a host of answers, the rabbi announced, “Students, one knows the night has ended and the day has begun when you can look at the face never before seen and recognize the stranger as a brother.”

 

That is an important insight, but I also have a question for you.  “How does that happen?  What makes it possible to call a stranger a brother when that brother may represent something with which you strongly disagree?

There must be some kind of foundation, a basic world view, if such a radical perspective is to take hold. Two weeks ago, in this class, we shared some perspectives on worship.  I believe that was one of the most important lessons I’ve taught, at least for me.  We stepped back a little and saw some basic historic principles at play today that could distort and even mock true worship.  I think we need to step back today and see the foundation for the brotherly love. Is it enough to just to say, “love one another?” How and in what way?

 

Francis Schaeffer illustrates an important point by describing a little Roman bridge that was built centuries ago to support the weight of people walking across it.  Today, should a semitruck drive across the same bridge, it would surely collapse. Schaeffer’s point is that unless we have some absolutes, the right foundation for facing added stress caused by economic, social, or political disorder, our faith will collapse, or we will fall for a faith substitute.  What a year 2020 has been! For many it has been a major strain in some physically, mentally, and/or spiritually.  There has been a serious increase in both domestic violence increased and in the number of suicides.

 

As a historian, Schaeffer points out, “Rome did not fall because of external forces such as the invasion by the barbarians. Rome had no sufficient inward base; the barbarians only completed the breakdown—and Rome gradually became a ruin.” Could that also be said of many homes?

 

Isn’t that what the Bible is saying from Genesis to Revelation!  Isn’t that why the Lord keeps saying as he does in Psalm 81:8,

Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—

if you would only listen to me, Israel!

You shall have no foreign god among you;

you shall not worship any god other than me.

I am the LORD your God,

who brought you up out of Egypt.

Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

“But my people would not listen to me;

Isn’t that why the Lord was so adamantly opposed to idolatry in whatever form it took. Substitutes present a false security and do not provide help in the time of crisis. They lead away from the help needed leaving us with a damaged relationship with God and with one another.

 

The Good Samaritan

 

With this in mind, let’s look at the familiar story of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-27.  However, before we do, it would be helpful if we reviewed the context of the parable.  Usually when we hear the name of the parable, we assume the lesson it teaches is obvious: we should be more caring and merciful to others. There is certainly nothing wrong with this! Indeed, we should be.  However, the parable is part of a larger story line of thought. To understand the parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10 we need to begin our study in Luke 9.

 

In Luke 9 we find Jesus sending messengers ahead to get things ready for Him in a Samaritan village. When they arrived, the people were not receptive at all!  In fact, it appears the response was one of rejection. (Lk 9:53) The disciples were angry! So angry that they wanted to call fire down upon them.  (v.54) Now that’s is anger!  Of course, it would be nice to think they were angry for Christ’s sake, but were they? There was a longstanding prejudice between the Samaritans and the Jews, and this was likely what led to the apparent confrontation. The disciples left feeling Jesus had been disrespected. They wanted revenge. However, when they told Jesus, He responded by explaining that there is often a cost to following Him. Even the foxes and birds have a home but not so with “the Son of Man” (v.58). My disciples, Jesus was saying, “Don’t be surprised and don’t let it detour the mission I’ve given you.”  

 

After this episode, Luke tells of the commitment by the disciples assuring Jesus they would follow Him wherever He went. Do you see how the story is developing?  [Rejected by a Samaritan village; the injustice upsets the disciples; they express their commitment to be with Jesus in the face of rejection by others! And the story continues.] 

 

Now, Jesus tells them not to look back.  Keep pressing forward (Lk 9:62). Following this He sends out the 72 that He appointed (Luke 10) because there is a harvest waiting.  Sure enough, they “returned with joy.” What a response they had. Success at last! Even the demons were submissive to them. The Bible says that when Jesus heard this, He was “full of joy through the Holy Spirit” (Lk. 10:21).  However, it was not because of the success the disciples had in overthrowing the demons. Something more important than “power” filled the Savior’s heart with joy.  Those sent out experienced the Presence of the Father in their ministry. Jesus was seeing the fruit of His mission at work! This assurance could change the world and this brought joy to Jesus!

 

However, the mentoring process wasn’t over.  A very important character trait was needed to developed by the disciples.  Luke 10 reveals a very important principle must be incorporated into their ministry and Luke interjects here.

 

After the success story with the overthrow of the demons, we learn of a meeting Jesus had with an expert in the law.   “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

 

The answer give by Jesus is simple and straightforward,

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

The conversation leads to the pivotal question, “If I am to love my neighbor, then ‘Who is my neighbor?’” Jesus answers with the story of the Good Samaritan

The road from Jerusalem descends 3,000 feet in 17 miles on the way to Jericho.  It is a dangerous and tough journey. One traveler didn’t fare well.  He was attacked, stripped, beaten, robbed and left for dead. Two religious leaders came onto the same road and saw him lying there in a desperate condition. They couldn’t tell if he were dead or not and the only way of telling would be to touch him.  Doing so, however, would cause them to become ceremonially unclean.  So they went around him and proceeded on their way.  No doubt those listening expected the next person to be a lay person, but it was not only a lay person but a Samaritan. The same group that had rejected Jesus earlier.  The Samaritan village rejected Jesus because of the longstanding prejudice between them and the Jews yet Jesus presented the Samaritan as a caring person. I’m sure you are aware of what the he did to help the hurting person. He clearly “Loved his neighbor as himself.”

 

So, my question is this, who is the neighbor in the story and why is Jesus telling this story? In practice should neighbor be a noun or a verb (“neighboring”)?

 

Of whom was Isaiah speaking when he “prophesied,”

He was despised and rejected by mankind,

a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces

he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. (Isa 53:3)

Ellen White makes it clear: “The Samaritan represents Christ.” (COL:381). In one short story Jesus not only taught us about how we should relate to those in need, but He also told of how He never stopped loving and caring despite the rejection by those whom He came to help, to heal, to encourage, to bring hope He was being rejected.  

 

Luke could have stopped there but he didn’t. All would-be disciples need to keep reading.

 

 

That Which Cannot Be Taken Away

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10: 38-42)

 

As painful as rejection may feel, the one central theme developed by Luke and all Bible writers over and over again is that Jesus cares, that He gave of Himself for each one.  No inconvenience or hardship is greater than His love for us. 

 

It is then out of gratitude that “brotherly love” replaces revenge even when personal rights are ignored. we are The one who was helped by the good Samaritan, the one who was filled with prejudice, was saved by the one whom he had previously rejected.  No wonder Paul was able to draw a parallel and say, 

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom.5:8)

Conclusion -- Salt and Light

How should we then live in a world filled with prejudices, revenge and hatred—a world darkened by sin? Jesus explained it using salt and light. 

 

It is easy to allow paragraph the artificial headings in our Bibles to interrupt a story line.  Once such instance following the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 (“Salt and Light”).  Verse 11 and 12 say, 

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

[“Salt and Light”—No Break in Thought Intended]

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

When Jesus said that we are to let our light shine and that our saltiness remains, He taught that we do so even in the lire’s context of misrepresentations, persecution and hardships. Jesus then closed with these words,

 

” . . .Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (v. 16)

 

“Neighboring” (caring for those in need) and revealing Jesus, our “Good Samaritan,” is seen clearest during times of rejection angry-revengeful actions is one way of “glorifying our Father in Heaven.”

 

“How Should We Then Live?” The answer?  . . . As Jesus would—by shining in the darkness!