Forging True Love

S

(Romans 6:17) But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have now become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.

O

Forget doctrine as we've learned it. This "form of teaching" (didache) Paul described (also translated "doctrine") isn't the frighteningly dry stuff that first comes to mind. First, it's a mold such as what liquid metal is poured into to cast a coin, a tool, a sword, or a statue. Second, it's a commonly understood standard against which people can measure compliance or competence--a yardstick or a scale. Third, and specifically how Paul used it, didache was the teaching style Jesus used. Instead of teaching intellectual systems of philosophy, Jesus did things that demonstrated love. He went to the cross. He gave Himself. He laid His life down. He rose again and ascended on high... and He punctuated His deeds with simple, clarifying explanations. That is the original form of doctrine.

A (Personal)

I want to "become obedient from my heart to this form of teaching, which has been entrusted to me just as Jesus entrusted it to His first disciples." The Gospel they preached was essentially the facts of what God the Father, His son, and the Holy Spirit did for us and has been doing in us. The disciples punctuated these facts with their own acts of obedience with accompanying simple explanations. Powerful. Convincing. Memorable. Much easier to understand and follow and love than a system of abstract, hard-to-apply rules and principles. Much easier to adapt into any culture or individual circumstance. The catch is that it requires, therefore, much more heart-hearing obedience and personal relationship with King Jesus.

A (Psychological)

Are systems of logic and ethics and theology necessary? Sure, they still serve a limited purpose when people fail to be obedient to the relational doctrine Paul described to the Romans. That's why psychiatrists and psychologists (as well as other mental heath workers, pastors, etc.) have found it necessary to band together and agree to abide by strict codes of ethics. It became obviously necessary by observing the too-frequent, gross fallibilities of people who should have known--and done--better. Otherwise smart people misused their power and influence to exploit vulnerable people for their inappropriate personal benefits. The old Hebrew prophets knew that was unfortunately a common trait of leaders (Ezekiel 34). The more we find ourselves disappointed by people (including ourselves) failing to live up to ethical codes, whichever ones they might be, the more appealing the Good News of Jesus Christ appears in contrast.

P

Jesus, You are indeed the perfect template for my soul, but You're much more than merely a perfect intellectual system. The Gospel--the Good News of who You are and what You've done--is a perfectly complete motive for change. Only by knowing You as my sacrifice and my Savior do I find enough heat of passion to melt my hard heart. Continue, Lord, to soften my heart so I become increasingly pliable to Your Spirit and redeemable into Your likeness.