Grace, Love and Compassion James Shepherd

Heavenly Father, we thank you so much that we get to gather here this morning,

that we have been set free by your wonderful gospel.

Through your son's death and resurrection, we might have life and salvation in him.

And we thank you that right now we have the privilege and the joy to hear from your word.

And so we pray that what you have to teach us this morning,

we would take in and we would go back out into our world, onto our front line,

and live faithfully for you.

And we pray this in your son's precious name. Amen.

We exist in a world that loves to love.

We use the word love to describe just about anything that gives us any slight sort of affection or joy.

You might have people say, I love my car.

I love my bike.

I love my iPhone.

I love pizza.

I love, I love, I love.

We use the word I love so frequently and so much that we kind of forget what it means.

We're a world that loves to love.

Love is one of the most dominant themes in books, TV shows, and movies.

We love stories about love, especially when love is victorious,

because they are stories that tap into an innate desire to be loved and to love.

For us to love and be loved is to celebrate being accepted, included,

to feel value and worth, to be part of something that feels right and to feel good.

The problem is, as a society, we don't always agree upon what is good and what is right,

and therefore what is ultimately loving.

A very clear and recent example of this has been Malcolm Turnbull's call for an independent review of the Safe Schools program.

This program is accused of trying to influence the thinking of young children to accept LGBTI views as the norm,

even if it contradicts the values and views these children have themselves,

or the values and views their parents have taught them.

There are many ways the program has been accused of being unsafe for some,

but we don't have time to go into it.

But what I want to point out is that it's very clear that there is a profound concern on both sides for the safety of our children.

But there is a clear divide about how best to make a program that keeps these kids safe.

We are divided as a community as to how to love these kids best,

and we've seen both sides accuse the other side of being unloving.

During Bill Shorten's press conference,

Cory Bernardi came out and called him a homophobe.

Sorry, Bill Shorten called Cory Bernardi a homophobe,

and Bernardi and others believe that the program is about brainwashing our kids

towards a socialist Marxist agenda, if you will.

Those who oppose the program are called unloving and homophodes,

and they are accused of persecuting those who are for the safe school program.

And those who are for the program are called unloving and intolerant.

They are accused of extremism, liberalism, and brainwashing.

The thing is that both sides claim and desire to love these kids.

Both want safe schools for kids.

Both sides completely, though, disagree about what that looks like.

And therefore, both sides accuse the other of being unloving.

We're in a world that loves to love.

But in reality, our world loves conditionally.

That is, we love because.

Because you make me feel good.

Because you agree with the way I think.

Because you act and speak like me.

Because your views don't stop me from having my views and doing what I want.

Anything that might be perceived as a threat or an attack on someone's freedom, autonomy, beliefs,

does not and cannot be loving.

Now, how have Christians responded?

You may have heard of a church called Westboro Baptist Church.

A very vocal church in America that is well known for promoting how much God hates sinners,

which is, for them, everyone except them.

They have a strong message of hate.

They are not at all interested in loving those who disagree with them.

And they don't view any other Christian action, apart from their own, as loving.

They picket funerals of soldiers.

Their signs say, God hates gays.

God hates you.

And in their eyes, their signs are supposed to be loving somehow towards you.

Go figure.

Their response to the world is to remain in their holy huddle and judge.

And by judging, they presume they think they are loving.

Whilst Westboro Baptist is an extreme example of this,

there are still a number of Christians and churches

who think the best response to this kind of world is to not take part in it,

to not engage in it,

to remain in their little holy huddle,

to love each other,

but not to love those who are outside their congregation,

to love those who are outside their holy huddle.

They view that their responsibility is to hide away until Jesus returns

and just take care of each other.

Now, at the other end of the spectrum,

there are churches and Christians

who have abandoned biblical principle and truths

in order to love those who otherwise disagree with them.

In their mind, you can't love and accept outsiders

without doing away of old, archaic dogma.

They justify this by concluding simplistically

that the whole Bible is about love.

And if one thing is remaining in our society,

that is love.

So therefore, the priority of our lives as Christians

is to love above all else.

So therefore, some Christians have begun denying

core beliefs of our faith,

like the Trinity,

the bodily resurrection of Jesus,

his death for our sins,

is even his own deity.

Much of the Anglican Church outside of Sydney

is moving in towards this direction.

With examples such as Reverend Rod Bauer up at Gosford,

who is constantly making headlines

about being pro-gay marriage,

and also doesn't believe that Jesus died for our sins.

Even one of our previous Anglican primates of Australia,

he didn't believe in the resurrection of Jesus.

Christians head in this direction

in order to make outsiders feel loved.

They are not just going against their own conscience

in order to fit in.

They truly believe,

these guys truly believe,

that love is the central aim of the Christian faith.

And then everything else in the Scripture

is relative towards achieving that aim,

towards love.

We exist in a world that loves to love.

But I think it's fair to say

we struggle to actually love each other,

even Christians.

How do we love people

without acting like self-righteous jerks

remaining in our holy huddles?

Or how do we love people

without abandoning all biblical principle

and eventually inspiring out of control

into something that doesn't even look like Christianity?

How do we love those who disagree with us?

How do we love those who don't want to love us back?

When we go to work on Monday,

or what do you do tomorrow?

How are we going to love those on our front line?

How are we going to live and love

in a world that struggles to love?

We're in a series called

Fruitfulness on the Front Line.

The whole point of this series

is to show that our faith

extends beyond the Sunday gathering,

extends beyond our Christian gatherings

throughout the week.

That there is no such thing

as a secular, sacred divide,

but that we are called to live for Christ,

to worship Him in our daily lives

with whatever it is

we've been called to do throughout the week.

And because Jesus' death and resurrection

not only saves us from our sins,

but inaugurates the reconciliation

of all things to come,

it's making all things new

and perfecting all things,

including our work,

we can then enjoy knowing

that what we do each and every single day

in our workplace,

in our homes,

in our schools,

where we volunteer,

has immense dignity.

And it's not a waste of time.

Indeed, our duty is to work

and involve ourselves in this world,

to engage with the world,

reflecting the proper order

of God's creation as we do it,

and therefore showing the world

our wonderful and great God

that we serve,

who made us to work

and to rule over this creation,

this good creation,

giving the world

a taste of what it's like

to be known by God

and what the new creation

will look like

that is to come.

One of the things

our world is so desperately

in need of tasting

is love.

Not love in the way

the world loves,

but love in the way

Christ loves.

And this morning,

we're going to see how we are called

to love in such a way

on our front line,

to give our world

that is thirsty

and hungry

a taste

of true love.

We're going to see

what it looks like

and how we're able to do it.

So firstly,

what does Christ's love

look like

in this world?

The parable of the Good Samaritan

read out before us

is to show us

what God demands

of those who follow Him.

Jesus' aim

is to point out

that the central calling

of our life

is to love God

and to love our neighbor.

This is the pattern

of life

that the law talks about.

It is to love.

But the extent

to which we are called

to love

is immensely challenging.

Jesus tells the parable

in order to show

that our neighbor

from time to time

may be someone

we least expect.

In fact,

it might be

our worst enemy.

We're going to read out

that parable once more.

So please open your Bibles again

from verse 30.

A man was going down

from Jerusalem to Jericho

and he fell among robbers

who stripped him

and beat him

and departed,

leaving him half dead.

Now by chance

a priest was going down

that road

and when he saw him

he passed by

on the other side.

So likewise a Levite,

when he came to the place

and saw him pass by

on that other side.

But a Samaritan,

as he journeyed,

came to where he was

and when he saw him

he had compassion.

He went to him

and bound up his wounds,

pouring on oil and wine.

Then he set him

on his own animal

and brought him

to an inn

and took care of him.

This is an incredible parable.

Jesus flips

our expectation

upside down.

The idea of Samaritan

exemplifying what it was

to love your neighbor

is completely unexpected.

The fact that the Samaritan

outshone the exemplary Jews,

the priest and the Levite,

is absolutely insulting

towards the Jews.

To give you some context,

the Samaritans and Jews

hated each other.

They hated each other.

Samaritans were considered

fake Jews from the north

who had mixed up

with other races.

They were considered dirty,

considered unclean,

like pork for the Jews.

They were equated

with the dirty pork.

Jews hated the Samaritans.

They were absolutely racist

towards them.

You could liken the hate

the Jews had

for Samaritans

with the hate

a white supremacist had

for black people.

It's that insane.

That's how much

they hated Samaritans.

Jesus paints

a very challenging picture

of what it is

to love our neighbor.

It might seem so foreign

in our world

and so backwards

to our culture,

but it's the very picture

we needed painted for us.

Indeed, our world

has begun trying to paint

its own picture

of what it is to love,

to love conditionally,

claiming we don't need God

to know what it is to love.

We can do it ourselves,

but the reality is

we love in a very corrupted way

and this is why

we find this story

incredibly challenging

and shocking.

It turns our version of love

and the way we view love

completely upside down.

The picture Jesus paints

tells us what it is

to truly love your neighbor.

It's to show that love

is unconditional.

It's not conditional love.

It's not because love.

It's love that seeks

their well-being

no matter what.

This parable

is to say that

if you want eternal life,

you must love God

and your neighbor

and your neighbor

could be at times

your worst enemy.

This unconditional love

that Christ calls us

to have for our neighbor

means being able to see

your worst enemy

potentially lying half dead

in front of you

and instead of feeling rage

and bitterness

and anger

and maybe a bit of joy

about their plight

instead you feel

compassion.

Imagine that.

Imagine if that was

your first reaction

to seeing

your worst enemy

lying before you

half dead.

Your first reaction

was to have

compassion

on them.

This is what it means

to love your neighbor.

Not conditional.

Not because type love.

Unconditional.

But the question is

how are we able

to do this?

How are we going to love

our neighbor

when they turn out

to be our enemy?

The reality is

we really can't

if we're honest

because sin

has so corrupted

our world

and has so corrupted

the way that we love

that we don't even know

what it looks like

and truly means

to love unconditionally.

People would be

looking at this story

and going

that is wrong.

That is not right.

That is not loving

for that Samaritan

to love that Jew.

That's foolish.

It's impossible

for us

to be able

to love

our neighbor

in such a way

which is why

when we read this

we're so taken aback

and we want to challenge it.

We don't want it

to be true.

But

the great reality here

that this is not only

a depiction

of how we're

ought to love

this is a depiction

of how God loves us.

Remember

the parable's purpose

is to illustrate

what it is

to love

the Lord your God

with all your heart

mind soul and strength

and to love your neighbor

as yourself.

It's supposed to be

a depiction

of the law of God

and unconditional love

is what characterizes

this law

than it also

would be what

characterizes

God himself.

Our God then

is a God

of unconditional love

and we have seen

this haven't we

through his son.

Romans 5.8

says this

but God demonstrates

his own love

for us

in this

while we were

still sinners

Christ died

for us.

Ephesians 2

says this

all of us

also lived among

them at one time

gratifying the

cravings of our flesh

and following

his desires

and thoughts

like the rest

we were by nature

deserving of wrath

but because of

his great love

for us

God who is rich

in mercy

made us alive

with Christ

even when

we were dead

in transgressions

it is by grace

you have been saved.

When we were

God's enemy

Christ

died

for us

while we were

lying on the road

helpless victims

of our own rebellion

against him

Christ came

and he did not

pass us by

he stopped

and he had

compassion on us.

That word

compassion

is

splagitsomai

in the Greek

and what it means

is for your gut

to actually go out

for you to actually

feel sick

when you see

someone in pain

and who is hurting.

That's the kind

of compassion

that Christ

had for us.

He saved us

from our sins

by taking

our place

on the cross

even though we

were his worst

enemies

he died for us

and through his death

he gave us

new life.

What does the love

of Christ

look like?

It's unconditional.

While you were

his worst enemy

he died for you.

We enjoy

eternal life

and peace

with God

and fellowship

with each other

here this morning

because of

Christ's

unconditional love

for us.

So we then

who have been

brought into

relationship

with God

who experience

the incredible

unconditional love

of God

through his son

and have seen

how good it is

and how right

it is

have the privilege

to reflect

this love

to a world

that is so broken

and a world

that is so corrupted

in the way

it loves.

We don't do this

in our own strength

but we do it

in the strength

of Christ

knowing that we

are deeply loved

by him

set free

in him

resting in his

assurance

of forgiveness

and eternal life

enabled by his

spirit

to love

others

even those

who might be

considered our enemies

who might be

so unlovable

and so hard

to love

but the question is

how does this play out

practically?

If we can do this

in Christ strength

then what does it

look like practically

to love those

who could be

our worst enemies

who are on our

front line

who are difficult

and hard to love?

So we come to

our second question

how do we live

our lives

on the front line

in such a way

that reflects

the unconditional

love of Christ?

How do we

love those

in our world

who would least

expect it

without compromising

what it is

we believe?

Showing

unconditional love

whilst

continuing

to hold

tightly

and firmly

to the faith

that we confess

to the things

that we believe

in scripture

and not compromising

it or abandoning

it

even though we're

in a world

that wants us

to abandon

those things

how do we do that?

The answer

is not a simple one

I'm sure

you'll be able

to think

of situations

where you

won't know

what to do

exactly

but I think

the best thing

we can do

is model

our Lord

Jesus Christ

himself

as we see

how he loved

in the gospels

and do our best

to follow

his example

in our world

today

and I think

there are two

particular

things

that we see

Christ

model to us

in the gospels

that will help us

to love

our neighbour

whoever

that might be

firstly we see

that Jesus

was not afraid

to associate

with sinners

all throughout

the gospels

Jesus loves

to hang out

with sinners

and those

who are rejected

from the community

and showing them

love and grace

but a particular

story I want to

look at

is in Luke 5

which was our

second reading

Jesus

meets Levi

a tax collector

and he calls

Levi to follow him

Levi then

he's so stoked

about following

Jesus

decides to throw

a massive party

in his honour

and Levi

invites

tax collectors

and other people

along as well

now tax collectors

kind of like

Samaritans

were also hated

by the Jews

because they were

people who worked

for the Roman Empire

who took money

from the Jews

and then took

even more

than they owed

for themselves

they were considered

traitors

of the Jewish people

and so people

again would not

want to be

associated anyway

with these

tax collectors

with these

sinners

and yet here

we have Jesus

once again

hanging out

with these

unlikely people

it would be like

this situation

our Archbishop

Glenn Davies

being invited

to the house

of the Auburn City

Council's mayor

Salim Mahajah

for a party

now you can imagine

what kind of party

that might be like

Jesus goes

and spends time

with these people

with these sinners

associating with them

presumably having

lots of fun

with them

and not afraid

of what the Pharisees

thought

even though

they were questioning

his disciples

about why

he was doing this

and his response

was this

in verse 31

those who are well

need no physician

or doctor

but those who are sick

I have not come

to call the righteous

but sinners

Jesus isn't afraid

to associate

with sinful people

indeed

it's his purpose

for coming

down to earth

to associate

with them

and love them

in order he might

save them

we are not

concerned

we are not

called

to hide away

from the world

to disassociate

ourselves

from the world

and the concerns

of the world

to remain

our own holy huddles

and focus

on each other

no Jesus has called us

to engage

with these people

to love them

to extend

mercy

and grace

even if

they are undeserving

of it

in our own eyes

we do this

because for we have been

saved by grace

for we have been

experiencing

the unconditional love

of God

through his son

if it were our purpose

to just remain

this little holy huddle

right here

and avoid the world

then there would be

no point for us

in being on this earth

but we are here

because it is our privilege

and our joy

to exhibit the love

of Christ

has shown us

to the whole world

as Jesus says

it's not the healthy

who need a doctor

it's the sick

who need

a doctor

and so therefore

there's a particular

need

for us to go out

and love those

who might seem

unlovable

to love those

who no one else

will love

to love

and associate

ourselves

with those

who really

in the eyes

of the world

don't deserve

our love

but we do this

because we see

our world

is in desperate need

of the love

of Christ

and it's through

us

on our front line

we are able

to reflect it

the second thing

we see

that Jesus

exemplifies to us

is that Jesus'

purpose

in being with them

and loving them

was for their salvation

you may have noticed

I left out two words

in that last

quote of Jesus

when he responded

to the Pharisees

the very last two words

are probably the most important

in fully understanding

how Jesus

loves

sinners

and why it is

he's actually

hanging out

with these people

I'll read it again

for us

those who are well

have no need

for a physician

but those who are sick

I have not come

to call the righteous

but sinners

to repentance

Jesus understood

his purpose

in being there

in being at this party

his profound

unconditional love

for them

is seen

in his desire

to see them

repent

of their sin

and follow

him

in the eyes

of the Pharisees

Jesus looked like

he was compromising

it looked like

he was going in

just to join in

on the fun

sinful

party

I wonder

how many of us

here

have had eyes

like the Pharisees

and have secretly

judged

our Christian friends

for going out

to the pub

after work

for always posting

photos online

with a beer in hand

for being around

our non-Christian

friends a lot

I wonder

how many of us

have thought

of them

as compromising

on their faith

because they are

with sinners

as we saw

before

we're not to fear

associating

with the world

but we need

to know

why we are

doing so

our unconditional

love for our

neighbor

is expressed

in our desire

to see these

people repent

and follow

Jesus

if we were

joining in

on the sinful

activity

or abandoning

biblical truth

in order to

make it easier

to love

then it would

be compromising

the thing is

it's an illusion

to think

that we are

loving by even

being like that

it's not

unconditional love

to compromise

on what it is

that we believe

in order to make

people feel

comfortable

it's not

unconditional love

to sweep

people's sin

under the carpet

and act like

it doesn't matter

that's the opposite

of loving

people might

love you

in this life

for how flexible

you are

in your beliefs

and in accepting

you are

of others

but Christ's

love for us

looked beyond

this life

towards eternity

and we must

do the same

our way

of love

is hard

calling people

to repent

is hard

living a life

of faithfulness

to the scripture

especially

on the front

line

is hard

but the

unconditional

love

that we exhibit

in the end

is eternal

and therefore

worth it

and that's

where it will

count

whether we're

at the pub

at work

after work

in mother's

groups

throughout the week

in the lunch

room

in the office

talking to

mums and dads

at the school

pickup

in our book

clubs

and rotary

meetings

we are called

to profoundly

love these

people

by calling

them

to repent

to remember

that our

purpose

in loving

them

is to see

them come

to know

and to love

Jesus

now that doesn't

necessarily mean

that we stand up

in the middle

of our workplaces

and start

preaching

and calling

them to baptize

and such

but what it

does mean

you can give

it a go

if you like

but what it

does mean

is living

life of

gracious

love

that seeks

to engage

with these

people

with where

they are at

not afraid

to associate

yourself

with them

and yet

at the same

time

not compromising

on your

faith

drawing the

line

that line

might be

hard to find

at times

but we ought

to do our

best

because in

the end

it is

seeking

to love

them

and to

do life

with them

as you

are both

part of

the same

world

the same

world

that God

made

and as

they seek

to share

their life

with you

you'll have

an opportunity

to share

your life

with them

and that's

where you'll

have the

opportunity

to share

the love

of God

and call

them

to repent

and there

is not

a better

way to

love people

by telling

them

the wonderful

love

and truth

of Jesus

love for

them

and by

living it

out

as you

live

your life

on the

front line

as I said

it's not

always that

simple

it's not

always that

easy and

clear

how to

show that

love

of Christ

in this

world

but where

we do

have the

opportunity

to love

it will

speak volumes

where we

can give

the world

taste

the love

of God

has lavished

upon us

and how

that

transforms

our life

on our

front line

it will

speak

volumes

a couple

of weeks

ago a

lady named

Ingrid Williams

was killed

in a car

accident

in Oklahoma

City

she was hit

by an

oncoming

car

that killed

the driver

instantly

and then she

was killed

a day later

in hospital

Monty Williams

her husband

had every

reason

to be

filled

with anger

you might

expect that

he was

had a sense

that he was

robbed

that what

happened

was unjust

and not

fair

but at the

funeral

when he

gave his

eulogy

he said

this

as a part

of it

he said

this

I want

to close

with this

and I

think it's

the most

important

thing we

need to

understand

everyone is

praying for

me and my

family

which is

right

but let us

not forget

that there

were two

people in

this situation

and that

family needs

prayer as

well

and we

have no

ill will

towards that

family

in my

house

we have

a sign

that says

as for

me and

my house

we will

serve the

Lord

we cannot

serve the

Lord

if we

don't have

a heart

of forgiveness

that family

didn't wake

up wanting

to hurt

my wife

life is

hard

it's very

hard

and that

was tough

but we

will hold

no ill

will

toward

Donaldson

family

and as

we group

and we

as a group

brothers united

in unity

should be

praying for

that family

because they

grieve as

well

so let's

not lose

sight of

what's

important

we cannot

serve the

Lord

if we

don't have

a heart

of forgiveness

that right

there is

someone who

is exhibiting

on their

front line

how the

unconditional

love of

God has

transformed

them in

every single

way

enabling him

to love

forgive

and pray

for the

family whose

member

killed his

wife

love of

this is

what it

is to

love our

neighbor

to love

those on

our front

line

it can

seem quite

daunting

quite

intimidating

but this

this story

should encourage

us to see

that the

Christian life

has so much

to offer

in this

world

as we

engage

with the

world

not compromising

our faith

but loving

a world

that desires

to see

people

we interact

with

come to

repentance

where you

are right

now

and whatever

you are

doing

it is so

important

what you're

doing is

so important

whether you

are working

full time

at home

looking out

for the

kids

full time

studying

or at

uni

full time

volunteering

playing

sport

whatever it

might be

wherever God

has placed

you

it is so

important

because he

wants you

to live out

a life

of faith

where you've

been placed

showing how

your whole

life

your work

your relationships

have been

transformed

by Jesus

as Jesus

transformed

Monty Williams

to live

in such a

way

in unconditional

love

to give

those around

you a

taste

of the

kingdom

of heaven

that is to

come

as you

live out

and exemplify

the love

of God

in your

work

and in

your life

Amen