Christ's Law

[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:8d . . If you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

This particular gift relates to sympathy and compassion; which are emotions, i.e.
feelings.

Well; the problem is: we have very little, if any, control over those kinds of
feelings; and I think we too often resent people for touching our soft spot and
tugging at our heart strings, a.k.a. pushing our buttons.

The ability to show kindness is referred to as a gift. I think most folks, given the
option, would prefer the gift of tongues over the gift of kindness because the one is
merely a skill whereas the other makes us sensitive to need; which at times can be
both uncomfortable and inconvenient.

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on
him, how can the love of God be in them?" (1John 3:17)
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:9a . . Don't just pretend that you love others.

The Greek word translated "love" basically pertains to benevolence rather than
affection and/or fondness.

Benevolence is defined as acts of kindness and/or generous gifts.

Pretense is defined as fiction, make-believe, and/or simulation.

Anyway, talk is cheap and, like it's said: Put your money where your mouth is, i.e.
if we sincerely believe that benevolence is a Christian virtue, then we ought to
practice it for real rather than merely giving it our vote of approval.
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:9b . . Hate what is evil.

Hating evil is second nature to God-fearing people; or at least it should be.

"You who love The Lord: hate evil." (Ps 97:10)

"In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless
and upright; he feared God and shunned evil." (Job 1:1)

"The fear of The Lord is to hate evil. Pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the
perverted mouth, I hate." (Prov 8:13)

I think it's fair to say that when somebody hates the same things that God hates,
and loves the same things that God loves; the two of them have the makings of a
meaningful rapport: defined by Webster's as a friendly, harmonious relationship--
especially a relationship characterized by agreement, mutual understanding, or
empathy that makes communication possible and/or easy.

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, The Lord appeared to him and said: I am
God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless." (Gen 17:1)

"If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not
live by the truth." (1John 1:6)

NOTE: Lukewarm is a state between love and hate; for example Rev 3:14-16 where
The Lord expresses his disgust with certain folks' lack of interest relative to his
preferences, viz: they're neither compliant nor non compliant: they just don't care.
He'd much rather those folks take a stand one way or the other rather than be so
cotton-pickin' indifferent.
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:9c . . Cling to what is good.

Good in the world of humanity is typically relative and flexible. For example there
was a time when it was good practice to question vaccines for their effectiveness
and their side effects. That practice became evil during the Covid pandemic.

The Greek word translated "cling" speaks of adherence; and it's pretty much the
same meaning as the Hebrew word in Gen 2:24 relative to a man and his wife.

The word is appropriate in a variety of applications, e.g. join, keep company, team
up, stick to, stick with, bond, unify, become one with, band together, follow, be
faithful to, be loyal to, etc.

The thing is: it's very important for Christians to find out what God thinks is good
rather than going with the flow of one's culture. (Rom 12:2, 1John 3:22)
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:10a . . Love each other with genuine affection

The Greek word translated "love" basically refers to fraternal feelings; which goes
beyond things like courtesy, kindness, consideration, and charity, etc. Those things
exhibit civility which is a non affectionate love; in other words: being nice to people
without necessarily liking them isn't the love we're looking at here.

Rom 12:10a is not an easy command to obey because it requires the emotions of
fondness and affection, i.e. actually liking one's fellow Christians as opposed to only
being nice to them.

Real affection is easy to imitate, but not so easy to duplicate. Going through the
motions is just not the same as feeling the feelings.

* There are people in this world who, by nature, are affection-challenged. They
can't even feel anything for their own children, let alone other people. For them,
parenting is a nightmare rather than a dream come true. Their children are a
burden rather than a blessing. Children ruin those parents' lives instead of
brightening them up and making their lives more worth the living.

However, affection-challenged people aren't defective beyond repair because
Christianity isn't entirely a do-it-yourself religion; it's also a supernatural religion;
viz; part of the plan of salvation is regeneration.

"If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised
Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His spirit, who
lives in you." (Rom 8:11)

"Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day
by day." (2Cor 4:16)

A heads up to affection-challenged people: fraternal love is inconvenient. It will
make you a better human being, but it will also make you pretty uncomfortable at
times too because this love gets into your gut and makes you emotional, sensitive,
compassionate, and sympathetic.
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:10b . . Honor others above yourselves.

Christians infected with narcissistic personality disorder will find that rule difficult, if
not impossible, to obey. NPD is a mental condition characterized by a grandiose
sense of self-importance, a need for excessive admiration, exploitive behavior in
relationships, and a lack of empathy.

Narcissistic people are by nature insufferably arrogant, self-absorbed, indifferent,
and insensitive. They see nothing wrong with their behavior, nor are they attuned
to its impact on others. Were you to confront narcissistic folk with your concerns
about their attitude; be prepared for a counterattack because they'll no doubt
become indignant and defensive; possibly accusing you of selfishness, jealousy,
overreaction, hysteria, and unloving behavior. You see; they're never the problem:
you are.

As I was watching a recent series on the National Geographic channel about
geniuses; it became readily apparent to me that people in the genius category
crave recognition. Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso are two very good examples.
Their contributions to art and science were secondary to their ambitions for
greatness. I wouldn't say that all geniuses are like that of course, but apparently
the desire for greatness is not uncommon among the gifted genre.

I should think that most alpha achievers would have trouble complying with Rom
12:10b too. I mean. why be a winner if not to feel superior to everyone else? The
alpha achiever's motto is: It's not enough to succeed: everyone else must fail.

Feelings of value are important to everyone's sense of well being, but the narcissist
and the alpha achiever sincerely believe only themselves to be of any real value. In
their mind's eye, those inferior to themselves are of little worth, i.e. expendable
and/or a dime a dozen. (cf. Est 6:6, Matt 27:26, Mark 12:38 39, and 3John 1:9)
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:11a . . Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit

According to its use in Matt 25:26-27, the Greek word for "slothful" indicates failure
to honor one's fiduciary responsibilities.

In other words: when people have put their trust in you, in whatever capacity or
circumstance: do not disappoint them, nor (God forbid) make lame excuses for
failing to deliver on your commitments.

"fervent in spirit" sort of means on fire-- i.e. earnestly dedicated and/or committed
--which is just the opposite of half-hearted, lukewarm and/or stone-walling and
procrastination.
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:12a . . Be glad for all God is planning for you.

Christians unsure of their afterlife destination cannot, in all honesty and a good
conscience, comply with that one. For all they know, God has outer darkness
planned for them. That's not something to be glad about.

There are obvious benefits to a permanent association with God; most especially
resurrection to a superior body and perpetual youth. But those aren't the end-all.

Humanity was given the blessing of fertility specifically for the purpose of
populating the earth and subduing it. Well; the angels' purpose and way of life is
very different. They're an organization of celestial beings engaged in a variety of
capacities other than populating, conquering, and/or colonizing.

Folks who make the cut won't be returning to their familiar way of life, pairing up
with spouses like before (Matt 22:30). Instead, they too, like the angels, will be
organized to engage in a variety of capacities other than populating, conquering,
and/or colonizing; and they will be kept very busy getting things done in accord
with God's expectations in a new and improved cosmos.

"It is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we are
speaking." (Heb 2:5)
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:12b . . Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.

Troubles are often made bearable by a confidant; someone with whom we can
safely share every aspect of our emotional distress.

God is of course the first choice for that purpose because He not only has a
sympathetic ear but is also able to sufficiently strengthen His own during their
troubles to prevent them from jumping off a bridge or drowning themselves in the
bathtub.

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have
a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one
who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Let us
then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Heb 4:14-16)

The Greek word translated "confidence" basically means all out-spokenness, i.e.
frank, blunt, and/or candid. In other words: in our hour of desperation, we should
not address God with a rote prayer, instead; we ought to speak from our heart.
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:13a . . Share with God's people who are in need.

The Jews are God's people in accordance with an unconditional covenant that He
made with Abraham. (Gen 17:7-8)

NOTE: Nazi Germany was very nearly 99% Christian. Had they all complied with
Rom 12:13a, the effects of the Holocaust would've no doubt been greatly reduced.
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:13b . . Practice hospitality.

Webster's defines hospitable as:

1_ given to generous and cordial reception of guests

2_ promising or suggesting generous and cordial welcome

3_ offering a pleasant or sustaining environment.

In other words; a hospitable person is civil, courteous, thoughtful, easy on one's
nerves, helpful, non threatening, non confrontational, non militant, non reactive,
non defensive, approachable, accommodating, and relaxing to be with.
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:14 . . Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

The Greek word for "persecute" basically means to pursue; i.e. to hound. In other
words; a persecuting personality is one whose mission in life is to ruin somebody's
day at every opportunity.

The Greek word for "curse" is from a Greek word meaning to execrate.

Bless is from a Greek word that basically means to invoke a benediction, e.g.

"Good Morning."

"Live long and prosper."

"Have a nice day."

"Good Luck!"

"Bon Voyage!"

"Buen Camino." (Spanish: Pleasant Journey)

"Nya:weh" (Seneca: Thank You)

"Happy Holidays."
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:15 . .When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share
their sorrow.

It's surprising the number of Christians that I've encountered, even Sunday school
teachers, who honestly believe that feelings have no role whatsoever in the practice
of Christianity. As a result, they go about the business of their spiritual life as
insensitive mannequins: cold, academic, and metallic; sort of like the Tin
Woodsman of the Wizard of Oz who, without a heart, couldn't feel the passionate
emotions he once felt for the love of his life. Without a heart; the poor, pitiful man
is barely a sentient being.
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:16a . . Live in harmony with each other.

It isn't necessary to be in 100% agreement with others on everything in order to
comply with that command. But it is necessary to practice courtesy, tolerance,
patience, and tact, i.e. make every effort to avoid feuding, one-upmanship, and
debating. The opposite of harmony is dissonance, which can be defined as a
mingling of sounds that strike the ear harshly, e.g. sour notes.

For some people, every disagreement is an act of war to be won at any cost. That's
not harmony, that's militant. It's far and away better for Christians to be diplomatic
rather than be right all the time.

"For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you
may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling,
jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder."
(2Cor 12:19-20)
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:16b . . Don't be elitist, but willing to associate with people below you.

I'd have to say that those instructions apply only in church where it's understood by
Spirit-led Christians that no one in attendance is somehow better than another. (cf.
Jas 2:1-4)

Church managers should be given a higher degree of respect than pew warmers
because they're in positions of authority and greater responsibility; but all in all,
church is a congregation of redeemed sinners, and that includes the managers; so
we're all equals on that basis. Christ had to undergo just as much suffering,
indignity, and death to redeem church managers as he did for everyone else so God
forbid the hierarchy should exhibit a holier-than-thou attitude. (cf. Matt 23:2-7)
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:16c . . Don't be wise in your own conceit.

Webster's defines "conceit" as excessive self-appreciation of one's own worth or
virtue. In other words we're talking about hubris; which often indicates a loss of
contact with reality and an overestimation of one's own competence,
accomplishments or capabilities.

Conceit is uncivil, untrainable, and intolerable. It truly believes nobody beneath its
dignity could possibly have anything to tell that it doesn't already know; and if it
doesn't already know, then that's because the information possessed by those
beneath its dignity isn't worth knowing.

Those kinds of people will interrupt you right in the middle of your sentence and
begin talking about their own perspective as if your voice is nowhere to be heard in
the whole room. You know why they do that? Because they sincerely believe that
nothing you are in the midst of saying is nearly as important as what they have to
say. In other words: you, and your thoughts, are superfluous.

Conceited folk are generally very picky about their influences too. In other words:
even if somebody is a Spirit-gifted Bible teacher, but are neither published,
accredited, or properly educated, then forget it. That Spirit-gifted somebody is eo
ipso undeserving of conceit's intellectual attention right out of the box.

Conceit is not only stuck on itself; but very critical of others too. I've seen it to
happen time and again that when a Spirit-gifted Bible teacher comes across with a
personality like Elijah's or John the Baptist's that conceit summarily brushes them
off as "unloving" no matter even if they speak as the very voice of God. In other
words; conceit disdains to be taught; rather, conceit seeks to be accommodated.

I think most people in church are aware that conceit is unacceptable.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:3)

Conceit is a psychological disorder, so people can't just turn it off at will. But unless
something radical is done to correct their conceit; people will have to face the sum
of all fears.

"Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall
not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 18:3)
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:17a . . Never reciprocate evil with evil to anyone.

That is a really tough command to follow; for example: when someone makes a
demeaning comment, and/or a sarcastic remark about us, the urge to bounce back
with a rejoinder in kind is very difficult to resist.

Well-to-do families at one time sent their daughters off to finishing school to learn a
variety of social graces. I don't know, maybe they still do; but surely tact and
diplomacy ought to be common social graces among Christians.
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:17b . . Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

The Greek word for "right" is a bit ambiguous. It can mean honorable, decent,
sensible, mature, conforming to social norms of decency and propriety, beautiful,
virtuous, honest, having worth, fitting, and/or appropriate. Those are all good
qualities and should be practiced not only inside church, but outside church too.

Human nature has a way of adjusting to a variety of social environments. For
example: a boy might be gentlemanly and gracious with his best girl while a brutish
punk with his buddies. Thus he "reads the crowd" sort of like the way professional
stand-up comedians do. In other words: he respects what's right when with the
girl, but not when with his buddies.

The boy can get by with that just so long as his two worlds don't collide; like in the
early scenes of the 1978 movie "Grease" starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton
John where a teen-age guy slips back into his bad-boy high school persona only to
be confronted by a girl with whom he was sweet during Summer vacation and
never expected to see again.
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:18 . . If possible, so far as it in your power, be at peace with all men.[font]

NOTE: The Greek word translated "men" is somewhat ambiguous. It mostly refers
to humans of either gender-- male and female --which bounces back to the very
beginning where both genders are labeled Man & Adam (Gen 1:27 & Gen 5:1-2)

Assertive, defensive, demanding, fault-finding, imperious, judgmental,
confrontational, argumentative, bossy, spirited, hard-nosed, implacable, moody,
thin skinned, vindictive, abrasive, spiteful people are not allowed in heaven. Why?
Because heaven is a place of peace (Rom 14:17).

Disagreeable people who fight at the drop of a hat simply don't fit in heaven and
besides, not only would they be a fish out of water; but it wouldn't be fair to the
others to let difficult people in to heaven where they would surely turn it into the
same kind of hellish world to live in that they've made this one.

Of all people, Christians should not be difficult; they should be the easiest to get
along with. (cf. Matt 5:9)
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Rom 12:19 . . Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave it to the wrath of
God, for it is written: Vengeance is mine, I will repay; testifies The Lord.

The focus is upon one's "own" revenge; in other words: what we're talking about
here is evening the score, i.e. payback.

So; if the matter can't be settled legally; then let it go rather than take it upon
yourself to be prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner, viz: a vigilante. Those who
seek justice outside the justice system are no less criminals than the people they
seek to punish.
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