Saturday 04 January 2014

Background

I turned to The Message again as it is, as Peterson translates,"a simple test". It is hard to put ourselves into the readers ofthis letter so long ago and I am led to wonder how those reading itor having it read to them reacted. I suspect that many of them mayinitially react somewhat angrily for, like most of us who wouldclaim to be followers of Jesus today, they would think that theywere fulfilling God's will by acknowledging him as Lord. Johnwrites that there are divisions between the various factions inthat part of the early Church. There were those who thought thatsin didn't matter, because, they claimed that they were "childrenof God" (1 John 3:1) and as such were protected in someway, but of course being God's children meant a great deal morethan just accepting that they were such and in God's image. Thosewho claimed to be a child of God had to have a new relationshipwith God through Jesus Christ. To just make the claim of faith wasnot sufficient, to be a child of God gave a new status to thepeople to whom this letter was addressed. This status was notsomething which was theirs by right, but which came to them throughthe grace of God. The test of belonging came simply bydemonstrating a commitment to the commandments of love set out byJesus (1 John 3:23). Anyone who did not love, inJohn's words, therefore failed the test.

Where then is the relevance for us who would make that claim forourselves in this day and age. Has the measurement of faith changedin some way, or is the test still the simple test spelled out inthe words of the text? Recently I was travelling on a bus inLondon. The bus was crowded and I had to stand. Then a lady offeredme her seat, I demurred slightly but then thanked her and took theseat being offered. The lady concerned was a Muslim in full hijabwho cared enough to stand in my place - she demonstrated herconcern for her neighbour in a way that no one else in that busdid. This may be a simple illustration, but how many of us evennotice some of our brothers and sisters and their needs: do we goout of our way to put them and their needs before ourselves?

To Ponder

• Read the hymn "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine" (Singing theFaith 548). How the words of assurance match up to your followingof Jesus?

• Who are your brothers and sisters? Now consider how much youlove them.

• To what extent do these readings from first letter of John haveany application to believers today? Or have all of us who wouldname ourselves by the name of Christian succeeded in placing Christat the centre of our lives?