No Sex in Heaven?

When I was a young Christian bursting with procreative vigor, I was profoundly disappointed to find out that Jesus taught in Matthew 22:23-33 that there is neither marriage nor giving in marriage in the resurrection. I believed that one of life’s greatest delights would be denied us in heaven and was extremely disillusioned. Yet, it’s obvious that reproduction belongs to our mortal life not our eternity. God’s intent for sex from the beginning was a man and a woman in an exclusive, life-long relationship. That quarantine guarantees the necessary protection for a family and the healthiest environment for nurturing the next generation. It is a deep bond with potential for the greatest human joy, yet surely what awaits us in eternity is even greater pleasure. Heavenly relationships will not be something less than marriage, but more. After all, our delight won’t be limited by a physical body, but we will be like the angels in heaven. That’s what Jesus said.

Summing up the Faith

There are many lesser rules and human traditions which divide the Christian Church but one great and wonderful rule which unites us all. It was outlined by Jesus in Matthew 22:34-46. The Bible contains many excellent summaries of right religion. Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Do what is just and right (Isaiah 56:1). Seek God and live (Amos 5:4). Live by faithfulness (Habakkuk 2:4). They are articles of faith. Jesus chose a couple of other Old Testament statements to summarize the faith. One was from Deuteronomy (6:5) about loving God and the other was from Leviticus (19:18) about loving our neighbor. These commandments were not even specifically from the Ten Commandments, though they are there in principle. They unite all of Christianity under one statement of belief.

How Love God

Do we “give our heart to the Lord”? Instead of pop sayings, let’s see what Jesus said (Matthew 22:37). We love the Lord with our entire heart, soul and mind. This is the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:5), the central creed of both Judaism and Christianity. What that actually means is that we love God with all that we are and have. Is love "all we need"? Jesus said that differently too. Some forms of Christianity emphasize the heart and avoid the mind. Some varieties of Christianity are emotionless with very little heart. Some kinds of Christianity emphasize outward show but neglect the inner soul. Jesus summarized the entire Old Testament law as hanging from love. He also delineated that love as not just being empty emotionalism, but a love that includes everything in our lives: heart, soul and mind.

How Love Neighbor

The command to love our neighbor as ourselves strikes at the root of human failure (Matthew 22:39). The seed of society’s evils is love for self and reckless disregard for others. It is also very shortsighted, because ultimately love of others returns long lasting recurring benefits to us and is therefore an act of self love. We were designed to naturally love ourselves. We want food, shelter, protection, health and happiness. As we appropriately bless others, crime and other evils should decrease. All this is impossible unless we first love God with all of our being. If there is no God and if we don't love him, we may as well act just like the animals, where survival of the fittest counts. Instead of acting like vicious animals, devouring and destroying, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves.

The Messiah Riddle

Jesus asked some religious leaders whose son the Messiah was. His answer is called the Messiah Riddle (Matthew 22:41-46). The expression "son of David" was familiar. Jesus descended from King David. The religious leaders answered that the Messiah was the son David. Jesus knew their lack of belief and that they thought of the Messiah as a mere man. He asked them why David referred to his son or descendant as "my Lord." That passage reads, "The Lord (God) said to my Lord (my son)" (Psalm 110:1). Why would a father call his son, my Lord? Because that son, the Messiah is divine. But, Jesus did not always answer a riddle. Instead he asked, Since David called the Messiah my Lord, how can the Messiah be his son? No one could answer him. Jesus challenged people to think.

Universal Principle

Raising Children To
Love Their Neighbors

Every major religion has a version of the golden rule (Matthew 22:34-46). Perhaps it is so important that God inspired it in other world religions even if they have not yet come to know their Savior Jesus. Judaism, Islam, Jainism, Confucianism, Hinduism and Buddhism are some of them. It is as if this principle is so basic and fundamental that God did not want to leave any creed or religion with an excuse for not knowing it (Romans 1:19-21). Even atheists who claim that they don’t believe in God admit its fundamental importance. Some people may object that God has nothing to do with religions other than Christianity. But let’s think about it. If God also believes and follows the principle of loving his neighbor, why would he not want to spread such an important universal principle universally?

What Kind of Love

Think: The Life of
the Mind and
the Love of God

What kind of love does God expect from us? Is it the emotional love of a romance novel? Is it the sentimental love of popular songs? The word love in the ancient Hebrew scripture that Jesus quoted (Deuteronomy 6:5) and in the New Testament Greek of Matthew 22:34-46 were both similar to the same word in English. The word love needs a context to define it further. The context of the Great Commandments defines that love as something involving all of a person’s life: heart, soul and mind. It is an emotional love, but also an intelligent and practical love. It was a love defined in terms of a practical covenant relationship. If we look at the context of the Old Testament text, loving God by doing things for him was part of the evidence of that love.

Loving God with our Minds

Love Your God with
All Your Mind:
The Role of Reason in
the Life of the Soul

“Oh I love God and Sunday School but I hate theology,” said the individual, not even aware that Sunday School is theology. Any study of God is theology. “We don’t need doctrine; we just need love,” taught another, unaware that what they just said was a doctrine or teaching and that love is the principle doctrine. The anti-intellectual bias in some corners of the Church actually contradicts the Bible, because in Matthew 22:34-46 Jesus taught us to love God with our minds. Many of the errors to be found in the Church insult God by blaming it on his inspiration, when in reality people may just be too mentally lazy to study matters deeper than a shallow point of view. To be ashamed of our minds is to be ashamed of God. Jesus encouraged loving God with our intellect.

Loving God with our Hearts

Desiring God's Will:
Aligning Our Hearts with
the Heart of God

How do we love God with our hearts (Matthew 22:34-46)? If we lust after that which is not ours to have, then how can we love God in our hearts? So that makes us all guilty right? Yes, but do we go to God in prayer asking for forgiveness for evil thoughts in our hearts? Do we then fill our hearts with what is good? What about our attitudes of heart? Are we thankful to God with our whole heart for his forgiveness and other of his abundant blessings? Are we also thankful for his will when that will includes suffering? Do we fill our hearts with the things of God? Do we fill our hearts with praise and singing? Do we ask for help from the Holy Spirit who fills our hearts with his love (Romans 5:5)?

Loving God with our Souls

The Soul's Quest for God

How do we love God with our souls (Matthew 22:34-46)? The word soul in English is an ambiguous word used to translate words in the original languages meaning a variety of things like life, creature or spirit. In this passage the Greek word is psyche which can also be translated as breath or spirit. In Psalm 42 the descendants of Korah composed a song of love to God, describing the soul thirsting for God like a deer panting for water. This passionate spiritual desire is something that we often ignore with our daily distractions. If we love God with our souls, then we will not want to miss assembling weekly with others who also love God. It behooves us to take time to love God with our souls in prayer, Bible reading and meditating on the things of heaven.

Most Important Legal Principle

Dissident Discipleship:
A Spirituality of Self-Surrender,
Love of God,
and Love of Neighbor

What is the most important legal principle in our lands? In the United States constitution perhaps the words, “We the people” summarize the most important statutory rule. British law which guarantees equality for all contradicts itself by guaranteeing prerogatives of the royal family above others. The Chinese constitution clarifies a citizen’s fundamental rights and duties. The European Constitution guarantees human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and a free market. When asked what was the most important part of the law (Matthew 22:34-46) Jesus enumerated two: the most important is love of God and the second most important is love of neighbor. British law makes our royal neighbor’s prerogatives more than our own. God’s law makes all people equal in our responsibility to love one another as ourselves. Nobody may be loved more or less than ourselves. God makes us equals.

Answering Rigid Opponents

Breaking the Bondage
of Legalism

Opposition to Jesus came from a number of quarters. It came from the political supporters of Herod, the Pharisees, Sadducees, chief Priests, elders and teachers of the law. After numerous confrontations Jesus answered his rigid opponents by reciting the most important law (Matthew 22:34-46). Which one of the over 600 laws in the Hebrew Bible was the greatest? Jesus broke the rules frequently, because as the author of those rules, he never intended that they be obeyed in the letter, but by the principle behind them. Just like many rookie cops, those in opposition to Jesus kept a rigid letter-of-the-law approach and were blind to the fact that a rule does not apply in every situation, that there are many exceptions. How do we determine when a rule does not apply? By understanding the greatest rule of all, love.

The Lord Said to My Lord

Messiah,
the Healer of the Sick:
A Study of Jesus As
the Son of David in
the Gospel of Matthew

One of the great riddles of Jesus’ sayings is that found in Matthew 22:34-46. He was again being confronted by those who loved the law more than God, and sacrifice more than mercy (Hosea 6:6). People who love the letter of the law cannot love God and their neighbors because the letter kills (2 Corinthians 3:6). So, to such people Jesus asked, What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he? They replied, The son of David. Then Jesus put forth a riddle, Why did David call the Messiah “my Lord”? If he is a son, why did David write, The Lord [God] said to my Lord [the Messiah]? How can the Messiah be his son if he calls him my Lord? They could not answer the obvious: the Messiah is the Son of God.

Dogmatism & Ignorance

The Struggle
Against Dogmatism

When Jesus asked his opponents whose son the Messiah was (Matthew 22:34-46) they answered with orthodox dogmatism, correct but ignorant of Christ. When churches spoon feed us with ready made answers that leave out thinking, they do us disservice. They do not allow us to love God with our minds. What thinking formed the teachings of the Church? Good theology schools teach the various views of doctrines along with strengths and weaknesses of each view. One professor taught that doctrine was a 2,000 year long discussion and that discussion is not over yet. Too often we approach church doctrine as if there is no more discussion. We dare not use our minds. Jesus’ challenge to his opponents was to use their minds. If the Messiah is the son of David, how could David refer to him as Lord?

Honda & Jesus

Honda: The Boy Who
Dreamed of Cars

Soichiro Honda the founder of Honda Motor Company wanted to build piston rings. He went to engineering school to help him. Once he found the answer he needed, he quit. His teachers wanted him to continue and graduate. He told them that he knew all he needed for his business and did not want to waste time on useless studies. Honda Motor Company eventually became a resounding success. Education is good, but when an education takes one away from the central focus it becomes useless. His whole focus then was to build piston rings, not become a general engineer. Even experts in the Bible can miss the most important things (Matthew 22:34-46). When church institutions lose their focus on Jesus’ teachings, but get lost in the law, vain traditions of men or popular false gospels, they too become useless.

Jesus as a Threat

The Jesus
I Never Knew

What was the purpose of the Pharisees tempting Jesus (as the original language shows) with a trick question (Matthew 22:34)? Would Psychologists say that such vehement opposition comes from inner turmoil caused by a perceived threat? Was it perhaps similar to the motives that caused atrocities such as the Spanish Inquisition in which the Church was complicit? When the Church teaches dogmatically what Jesus taught his Apostles it carries Jesus’ authority. When the Church teaches dogmatically things that neither Jesus nor the Apostles taught, is it operating much like the Pharisees and Sadducees? How can the dogmas of a magisterium or doctrinal committee be declared infallible and inerrant teachings unless they agree with what was taught by Jesus? If he was physically present on earth today, would many church authorities accept him or also perceive Jesus as a threat?

What Liberal Commie Pinko said that?

Teacher: What is the most important command of all?

Evangelical Evie: Don't go dancing or play cards.

Catholic Cathy: The communion bread is Jesus. He said, This is my body.

Pentecostal Penelope: Tongues is the thang to show others that you’ve been filled.

Orthodox Orville: You gotta do the ancient thing. Modern stuff is unorthodox.

Fundamentalist Firfie: You gotta obey all the rules made by the elders.

Methodist Metcalf: Don't touch a drop of that demon alcohol or you're bound for hell.

Baptist Babette: You gotta be immersed. If you ain't dunked, you ain't really baptized.

Anglican Angus: Apostolic succession is the key. You've got to have the lineage.

Teacher: What if I told you that love was the real deal?

Class: Love???????????? What liberal Commie pinko said that?

Teacher: Jesus. (Matthew 22:34-46)

Class: oh...

Outspoken Jesus

How outspoken ought we to be? We all struggle with this issue. Should we speak our mind or hold our tongues? Some societies are very outspoken but tactless; others are tactful but filled with pretense and fake civility. Is civility always an act of love, or is it occasionally very unloving to suppress the truth under a veil of phony politeness? If someone flattered you with insincere words designed to trap you, how would you answer them? Beginning in Matthew 22:15, the Pharisees tried to sweet-talk Jesus by calling him an honest and impartial man. What would you have said? Would you have given a courteous reply or an outspoken one? Jesus was forthright in his answer. He did not mince words, nor get entangled in polite pretense. His reply was, “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trick me?”

A False Dichotomy

A false dilemma is a predicament that implies that there are only two choices. It is also called a false dichotomy, suggesting that we may only choose from two answers. The two choices may not be mutually exclusive. They may both be right or wrong at times. Politics may pretend there is no alternative or that truth is only on one side. Not every choice between two alternatives is a false one. Both choices may be right, both wrong, or one right and the other wrong. In Matthew 22:17 the Pharisees’ disciples tried to trick Jesus by putting forth a false dichotomy – pay taxes to Caesar or not. The lesson for us is that the truth in a false dilemma sometimes lies in a third option: Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God.

Duties of Citizenship

What is our duty to country? Is it right to mix Christianity and national idolatry! Would God want us to make an idol of country? What is the balance? Why does love for country so often seem to automatically extend to bigotry, jingoism, and xenophobia? What ought to be a Christian approach to national duty? In Matthew 22:21 Jesus was asked if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar. His answer came in the context of idolatrous Roman Emperor Worship. To the Jews Caesar’s image on a coin was very offensive. Yet, paying Caesar his paltry tax was a rather insignificant claim in comparison to God’s claim. God required their entire lives. That is the difference. So, when it comes to duty to country, Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.