The Good We Ought to Do - Addressing the Sin of Omission
There are 613 mitzvot, or commandments, that can be taken from the Old Testament, but these could not keep the Children of Israel from going astray, we see it happen at least 12 times in the Book of Judges. Why? Rules create neither Holiness (Inward-Character) nor Righteousness (Outward-Behavior); rules may keep us on the road (like guard rails) but it will never replace the Redemptive Work of Christ nor the Perfect Guidance of the Holy Spirit. But the Way does not end there … it begins.
Collectively we seem to have a high focus on what are termed the Sin of Commission, that is to do things that we know we ought not do – lying, murder, idolatry, etc. Separation from fleshly pursuits is good and coupled with devotion to God will lead us to a more Holy state – “we are being transformed into the same image (Inward-Character) from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord”. (2 Corinthians 3.18) But what about Righteousness? The Apostle John tells us that, “If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.” (1 John 2.28) ‘Practices’, poieo in the Greek, means to construct, manufacture, make or produce. God’s agape’ (love) is an active love, a love that reaches out; we produce the Fruit of the Spirit. NOTE: In the OT you will find the word chesed, most often translated ‘loving-kindness or mercy, and this word directly correlates with agape’. Therefore, Righteousness is only developed thru action.
“Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.” (James 4.17) This brings us to the Sin of Omission, that is NOT doing things that we know we ought to do. Think of the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus tells us that both a Priest and a Levite chose to “pass by on the other side” rather than provide help to the injured man. Most scholars believe the concern here was that the man was dead and that if the touched the body, then they would no longer be “clean”, thus they would be unable to do ‘service unto God’. However, the hero of the story ends up being a Samaritan – a people who were despised by the Jews, the audience here. The Priest and Levite were acting out of rule-bound duty, the Samaritan,” having seen him was moved by compassion”.
“For I (God) desire chesed, not sacrifice, the (personal experiential – Walking) knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6.6) The World is dying for the lack of active compassion! The Lord Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13.35) In fact, the Parable of the Good Samaritan begins with Jesus answering the question about the greatest Commandment by telling us to ‘love God with your whole self and love your neighbor as yourself. All of the Law and the Prophets originate from these two commandments.” (Paraphrased) Is that how the World sees the Church today? Are God’s People known as the ones to which the broken and the lost run?
Casting Crowns has a song called If We Are the Body, here are a few lines:
But if we are the Body, why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing? Why aren’t His Words teaching?
And if we are the Body, why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a Way? There is a Way.
Each of us have a sphere of influence, no matter how large or small; each of us have opportunities to be the Body of Christ in a World that is crying out for reconciliation with God. We have been given the Ministry of Reconciliation (see 2 Corinthians 5.16-21), “reconciling the World to Himself in Christ” thru the “Message of Reconciliation” which He has given us. ‘Reconciliation’ – to restore to original harmony and reestablish the friendly relationship between two people.
It must be more than saving people from Hell, it must be about establishing God’s Kingdom, His Will, on earth as it is in Heaven. It is about agape’ – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and discipline; these have to be developed inwardly and practiced outwardly. Love God, love people. Micah 6.8 is one of my favorite verses: “He (Jesus ultimately) has demonstrated to us what it is to be good. What does the LORD require of us: to do justice, to (practice) loving-kindness (chesed), and to walk in humility (humble relationship) with Him.”
May the grace and peace, blessing and favor of the Lord Jesus rest upon each of you and the endeavors that God has set your hand to do. – Your fellow Sojourner.