I JOHN 5:1-6

[5:1] Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

[2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

[3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

[4] For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

[5] Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

They say that rules are made to be broken.  I saw that several years ago when my father did something really shameful.  I suppose I better explain.   It was Thanksgiving Day and I was basting the turkey in the kitchen over at the parsonage.  When the door bell rang I looked out the window and saw my parent’s car.  That brought a smile to my face because I hadn’t seen them in a while.  The smile quickly turned to a frown though when I opened the door and discovered that my father had done something that was completely unacceptable and unforgiveable.  It was so objectionable I almost didn’t let him let him into the house. I was horrified because my father was standing there on  Thanksgiving Day and he wasn’t wearing a tie. Now that may not seem like a big deal to you but for me it was a major sin.  That’s because when I was growing up there was a simple rule. When you sat down to the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day you had to be wearing a suit and tie.  Over the years the rule was relaxed a little so that eventually it was acceptable to wear a sweater and tie. What my father did that day though was completely unacceptable!  I quickly realized that I needed the help of a higher authority.  “Mother,” I said indignantly, “He’s not wearing a tie.  You let him get away with that?”  My mother just shrugged her shoulders.  “I know,” she said.  “I tried.”

Apparently, rules ARE made to be broken.  The person who came up with that saying must have been someone who didn’t like to be told what to do which, I suppose, includes just about all of us. After all parents will tell you that children don’t like being told what to do.  Teenagers also don’t like being told what to do.   Author Mark Twain knew that which is why he had an unusual approach when it came to raising teenagers.  He once said, “When a kid turns 13, stick him in a barrel, nail the lid shut, and feed him through the knot hole. When he turns 16, plug the knot hole.”

Children and teenagers don’t like to be told what to do.  Adults also don’t like to be told what to do.  How about you?  In a way that’s a silly question.  One of the reasons we’re Congregationalists is because we don’t like people telling us what to do.

So, why is it hard sometimes to follow the rules?  Why is it hard sometimes to be obedient? The answer to that question can be found in the words that John wrote to Christians back in the first century.  In his letter John suggests that there’s another way to look at obedience.  We see obedience in terms of power.  The person who has the power makes the rules and the person who doesn’t have the power is supposed to follow the rules.  Not only that but if you don’t follow the rules the person who has the power will tell you that you have to be punished for your disobedience.

For example, if you drive too fast you may look in your rearview mirror and see some flashing blue lights.  If you’re a teenager and you stay out too late you may end up being grounded for a couple of weeks.  And don’t forget all those commandments that you find in the Old Testament.  Thou shalt not steal.  Thou shalt not bear false witness.  Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.  Honor your mother and your father. Believe it or not there are 626 commandments in the Old Testament and the message behind all those commandments is simple.  For most people it means that God has the power and if you don’t obey those rules you’re going to be in big trouble.

Yes, we usually look at obedience in terms of power.  Long, long ago a congregation saw that in a church that was far, far away. It seems that the pastor and the organist weren’t getting along.  They obviously didn’t have a saintly organist like we have here.  Anyway, the dispute was over choosing the hymns for the Sunday morning service.   The organist felt that it was his prerogative and he resented the intrusion onto his turf.  So one day, after the pastor gave a sermon on the importance of being committed to God the organist responded by playing “I Shall Not Be Moved.”  The next week the pastor preached on tithing and why it’s important to support the work of the Lord.  The organist responded by playing, “Jesus Paid It All.”   The next week the pastor preached on the sin of gossiping.  The organist responded by playing, “I Love to Tell The Story.”  By now the pastor was fit to be tie and he announced to the congregation that he was thinking of resigning.  The organist responded by playing, “Oh Why Not Tonight?”   Well, the next Sunday the minister did in fact resign.  He told the congregation that Jesus was the one who led him there and Jesus was the one who was now leading him away.  The organist responded by playing, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.”

Obedience becomes a problem when you look at it in terms of power. John makes it clear in his letter though that there’s another way of looking at obedience.  John didn’t look at obedience in terms of power.  John looked at obedience in terms of love.  You can see that in his letter when he writes, “…love God and obey his commandments.”  Notice that he didn’t say, “Fear God and obey his commandments.”  He says, “…love God and obey his commandments.” Those are his exact words and he’s right.  He’s absolutely right.

Just as parents make rules because they love their children God’s commandments come from a deep and abiding love for us.   Jesus was also obedient and did God’s will because of his deep and abiding love for us.   That’s why he went to the Cross.  That’s why the Apostle Paul writes these words in his Letter to the Philippians: “And being found in human form, (Jesus) humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

When you look at obedience in terms of love it changes everything.  Obedience that is based on power leaves you feeling like someone is trying to knock you down all the time.  Obedience that is based on love leaves you feeling like you’re being lifted up to a better way of living.  You also begin to realize that when you break a rule someone usually ends up with a broken heart.  

It happens all the time.  A mother’s heart gets broken when her son breaks a rule and it gets him into all kinds of trouble.   A husband’s heart gets broken when he discovers that his wife has been unfaithful to him.  It could even be your heart that gets broken or maybe you’re the one who breaks the rule and ends up breaking someone else’s heart.

Even God’s heart gets broken sometimes.  It happens when your life begins to fall apart because you decided to do your own thing instead of following God’s commandment.

Obedience can be based on power but the best kind of obedience is the obedience that comes from a loving heart.  I saw that about ten years ago and once again it’s a memory that brings my father to the center of the stage.  When I was growing up, like most kids, I resented my father’s rules. I saw things differently though years later when I found myself sitting in a courtroom.  I was there for a law suit that involved my brother and an insurance company.  I was asked by my brother’s lawyer to testify.  He wanted me to talk about how our parents raised us. At one point I got a little choked up.  I said that I had a great deal of respect for the way our parents raised us.  Our parents taught us the 3 R’s.  Reverence for God. Respect for others and responsibility for yourself.   I then went on to say that while I didn’t like my father’s rules when I was growing up I now realized that he was usually right.  Well, my brother won the trial.  A little while later I was standing in a hallway with my brother, his lawyer and our parents.  All of a sudden my father turned to the lawyer and asked, “How do I get a transcript of the trial?”  The request puzzled everyone and the lawyer finally said, “Why do you want a transcript of the trial?”  At that point my father pointed toward me and said, “Because...he just said under oath that I was right.”

When you’re spiritually immature, obedience is all about power.  When you spiritually become an adult you realize that true obedience is really all about love.   Amen.

Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes

May 13, 2012 – Mother’s Day