The Kingdom of Heaven is Within: Part I
The Kingdom of Heaven is Within: Part II
I. Fulfilling the Law
When Christ came to live among humanity, he did so to set an example. In doing so, he fulfilled the law of Moses. On their face, however, it's not entirely clear what the scriptures mean when they say Christ fulfilled the law.
By all accounts, Jesus did break the oral traditions of the religious leaders. And according to Mark 7, Jesus might have broken the Mosaic law itself.
The Mosaic law forbids the eating of certain animals. Yet, when Christ was eating among the people, he declared:
There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. (Mark 7: 15).
Here, by saying there is "nothing" man can eat that will defile him, Christ is affirmatively repudiating the food prohibition under the Mosaic law.
Given that Christ, at least on one occasion, opening flouted a command of the Mosaic law, how could Christ say that he had come to fulfill the Law of Moses, when he, at least one one occasion, openly rejected it?
II. Upon These Hang the Law
The account of Matthews records that during Christ's ministry, a "lawyer" asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment in the law of Moses? Jesus responded:
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22: 37- 39).
Next, Jesus then affirmed to his interlocutor that on "these" two commandments [the love of God and neighbor] hang all the law and the prophets (see Matthew 22: 40). In other words, the commandments to love God and love our neighbor form the basis for the Mosaic law.
But most importantly, this statement by Jesus is striking. Jesus is implicitly signaling that the basis for the Law of Moses is love -- shown through love of God and our neighbor.
Thus to answer the question posed above: how was Christ able to fulfill the law of Moses when he didn't obey all its commands? The answer: Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses because he had love.
The account in Matthew 22, however, is not the only recording of this interaction. Mark also records the encounter (or one similar to it) and provides additional detail:
And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark 12: 32 - 33).
Jesus responded: "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 34: 33).
Why did Jesus say this?
Because the scribe understood that our love of God and our neighbor is at the essence of the Law of Moses. The scribe understood that having love is what truly mattered, and that without love, obedience to the Law of Moses is ineffective. This is why the scribe was near to God's kingdom.
As Paul explained to the Jews in Rome:
Love is the fulfilling of the law because it "worketh no ill to his neighbor." (Romans 13:10).
And as he explained to the church in Galatia:
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Galatians 5: 14).
III. Doing the Law
As explained in previous post, to begin to "do" the law we need to seek for a remission of our sins and be born of God. This doesn't mean that we refrain from love until we receive a remission of our sin. Rather, it means that our ability to "love" others as the way Christ did is limited until we "put on Christ" within us (see D&C 101:39). After all, we can only bring others to our level. If we aren't saved, then we can't save others. And if we haven't tasted God's love, then our ability to love others is limited.
However, notwithstanding this limitation, the following are my suggestions on how we can show love to our neighbor -- and God:
1. Setting a Good Example
Christ taught us to be a light unto the world.
Those who obey Gospel principles will be blessed and prosper. Because they know how to avoid (or at least reduce) unnecessary suffering, their lives will be better and they will be happier. And as they continue to heed the Holy Ghost, their lives reflect a centeredness and hope that the world is unfamiliar with. As a result, their lives will be drastically different than those around them who don't adhere to Gospel principles. They will be set apart. They'll be a light.
When I hear of conversion stories by those who were not born into the covenant, they often remark that their interest in the church arose from their seeing how happy people in the church were. And by seeing this juxtaposition, the converts saw what they lacked and wanted to receive the happiness that they didn't possess.
Setting an example is how king Lamoni converted to Christ. Through Ammon's fearless example of defending the king's flock, king Lamoni recognized that Ammon possessed something that king Lamoni didn't. Lamoni's father also converted because of the love he witnessed from Ammon.
In speaking to the New Testament church, Peter exhorted the saints to set an example through their holy and honest conversations that the pagan Gentiles may, by the goods works of the saints, "glorify God." (1 Peter 1: 15; 2: 12).
We show our example to others in many ways. One way is to simply practice what we preach. We can do this at work, school, sports, or even shopping for groceries. And we do this by acting as Christ would act in each and every situation. In large part, this is what it means to "take upon Christ's name."
In addition to setting an example in our daily lives, we can also set an example through the way we respond to our trials.
Before the Lord dispatched the sons of Mosiah, he told them:
...Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls (Alma 17: 11).
Through their faithful bearing of afflictions, the sons of Mosiah set an example to the Lamanites. And through that example, effectuated the Lamanites' salvation. Similarly, the good example of the Thessalonians caused the word of God to "sound[] out" in every place that Paul and his companion didn't need to say anything else. The example of the Thessalonians, in other words, did the talking.
The true benefit of setting an example is that it penetrates deep down inside the person, reaching to their soul, leaving an indelible impression. For King Lamoni, Ammon's show of character impressed King Lamoni so greatly that he couldn't ignore it.
Despite the privations and challenges that will accompany the end times, the end times will also be a period marked by the salvation of many souls. As it currently stands, circumstances are such that that the examples of the righteous are muted, as acts of true compassion are limited -- especially in the developed world.
However, when tribulation ramps up, and life is turned up-side down, the righteous will shine like stars, because their example of selflessness, love, and compassion, will be diametrically opposed to the selfishness, hatred, and coldness displayed by the wicked.
...[T]here shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book...And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12: 1, 3).
The example of the righteous will leave lasting influence, causing others to seek after the source.
2. Teaching Truth
In addition, and often co-occuring with setting examples, is teaching truth. The most apparent way to teach truth is through missionary work. Yet, this doesn't mean that we have to serve full-time mission to teach others. We can teach by simply sharing with others what we know and have been taught.
As we share, we'll realize what we don't know and seek out information to make up our deficits. By and by as we diligently apply ourselves to study, prayer, and fasting, the Lord will teach us, causing us to grow in the knowledge of God and thus improve our ability to teach.
Today, with the advent of modern technology, our ability to teach important truths has been amplified and diversified -- for better and for worse.
While there is nothing inherently wrong in sharing personal posts and funny pictures on social media, such behaviors do blunt our ability to teach if this is all we're known for. If we don't take ourselves seriously, others won't either. Our temporal probation is not a vacation, but a schoolyard where we learn and teach.
To do so, seek to be observant. Observe those who are struggling and listen to them. Look for those who would be most receptive to growth and share what they need to hear. See where things are amiss, and then make your best effort to correct.
Nevertheless, a word of caution is in order.
The first caution concerns our approach to teaching. There is a tendency of some members to resort to condemning and mocking non-believers or even apostates. This is misguided. Although there are times when the servants of the Lord speak harshly and forthrightly to the wicked, these instances occur under circumstances where the Lord has instructed his servants to use such language or where his servants are often speaking on behalf of him.
Therefore speaking in a harsh and forthright manner is the exception, not the rule. The general guideline is to follow the example of Ammon, who instead of excoriating king Lamoni for his wickedness, elected to serve and wait. When we jump to condemning and criticizing, we risk causing others to push back and get defensive, which causes their hearts to harden. A hard heat is less susceptible to receiving instruction.
Those readers who followed my Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants might recall the experience of the Missourian saints who were expelled from Independence. One reason for this was because the saints were too busy condemning and warning of judgments, instead of winning the hearts of the people through their good conduct and example. Because the saints failed to win the people over, by resorting to issuing commendations, the hearts of the locals became hardened. And as a result, they wanted the saints removed.
Not surprisingly, when the Saints relocated to another place outside of Jackson County, the Lord admonished them to refrain from talking of judgments in order that the saints my gain the favor of the Missourians. However, they failed to obey, and heaped more persecution upon themselves -- and caused unnecessary hardships.
The second caution concerns how much content we teach. It's important to teach truth, but we must be wise and discerning in how much we share and how much the person can handle. Remember the adage: "milk before meat." Use the Spirit and your best judgment in deciding how much to share. After sharing, evaluate what you did right and wrong.
Our focus is tailoring our teaching to the needs of the individual. To share what the person needs to hear at that time and avoid showcasing our knowledge.
As Joseph Smith expressed:
I do not calculate or intend to please your ears with superfluity of words or oratory, or with much learning; but I calculate {intend} to edify you with the simple truths from heaven.
The last caution concerns how we should respond to others. It is imperative that we don't get defensive when others disagree with us or even mock us. If we do get defensive and take disagreement personally, then no matter how convincing our points our, the person won't listen. Additionally, responding defensively creates contention, leading to wounded hearts.
In addition to offering these words of caution, I also offer some advice. Most important of all is to remember that teaching truth doesn't necessarily mean that is has to come from the scriptures. The word of the Lord is truth (see D&C 84:45). Therefore we preach the word whenever we teach any truth. Paul understood this clearly when he wrote: "...speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another" (Ephesians 4: 25).
This means that when you interact with someone who wants nothing to do with the gospel and Christianity, it may be wise to teach general truthful principles. By "general" I mean those are not gospel based, but derive from general principles, such as found in ancient wisdom, and current research and writings. Surprisingly the ancients (Greeks and Romans) taught a lot of truth that can provide guidance in our life. Even today there are tons of non-gospel books out there that teach general principles that can guide people's lives for the better.
The reason to teach general truthful principles is because teaching gospel principles won't resonate with those who have no basis for belief in the gospel. It's like using color and images in trying to describe a beautiful sunset to a blind man. The blind man has no reference or basis to even compare what a beautiful sunset is.
This is the same with many people today. Although they may be familiar with Christianity through their background or upbringing, their worldview will largely derive from the secular world.
To help these people, we need to be like a gold prospector: "scoop up" information and then sift to find the gold nuggets of wisdom and truth. The "gold" we find are the truths we share with others.
3. Serving Others
In the words of the Living Christ, Christ "went about doing good." We must do the same. Sometimes the initial step in helping others is to temporally help them. Service affords us the opportunity to build trust, which leads to a relationship. And relationships are the vehicle for honesty.
People are less likely to pay attention to us or bother hearing what we have to say when they don't have a relationship with us. Again, this point goes to Ammon's wisdom in building a relationship with king Lamoni before he begun to expound truths. Service softens the human heart.
However, service is not to be used as some end-around or a device to "convert." Although Ammon used his service with king Lamoni to build a relationship, he was truly committed to it. When Lamoni asked him upon his capture what Ammon desired, Ammon replied: "I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die."
Ammon's statement was bold, but he had success. Although we may not have to be this bold in our service, we will have to show, if we want success, that we are there for the people we are serving no matter what.
Moreover, Ammon's account shows that the initial steps of service don't have to be grand, but can be simply. For us, it could be listening to someone who is struggling or offering to be a friend to an outcast. It could even be shown by helping to dig out a car that got buried in snow storm.
Additionally, service can be offered within our own home, to our family and relatives. The Brother of Jared's concern for his family allowed the Lord to preserve them when he confounded the people's language.
4. Providing Monetary Support to Others
Although supporting others monetarily could fall under service, it's also acceptable to treat it separately because service does not require monetary support in and of itself. Moreover it's important to distinguish service in general from service that entails monetary support as some, due to their poverty, are not expected to provide monetary service (see Mosiah 4:24).
However, for the remainder of us, we should not be skinflints, withholding our money from those in need. As Jacob reminded the wayward Nephites:
Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you (Jacob 2:17).
Or consider king Benjamin's statement to "succor those that stand in need" and "administer [our] substance unto those who stand in need", not "suffering the beggar" to put up his petition in vain (Mosiah 4: 16).
Leading by example and teaching truth are important, but our message is vain if we don't relieve the suffering of our hearer when we have the means to do so.
Paul instructed the Ephesians to labor with their hands in order that they may be able to give to those in need (see Ephesians 4:28). Paul understood that occupations are vehicles for service because they provide means to help others.
When we view our occupations through this lens, we begin to see how we fit into God's plan and begin to see how God can use us to do good. For instance, we recognize that a new, higher paying job or a promotion is a chance to help others to a greater degree than before. Ultimately we understand that our occupations are not ends, but a means to participate in building God's kingdom.
Against this backdrop, we understand Jacob's instruction to the Nephites to seek first the kingdom of God before seeking for riches (see Jacob 2:18-19). Like Paul, Jacob understood that material blessings are bestowed on us to serve others. This is why Jacob, after telling the Nephites to first seek the kingdom of God, then instructed them that after they've obtained the kingdom to seek for riches for the purpose of blessing others, instead of enriching themselves. [1]
IV. Creating Order
God's purpose is to establish order out of the chaos in order that his children will flourish. As representatives of God, we walk the same path. Therefore, our lives entail identifying what is amiss and making effort to nudge it back into place -- or at least nudge it in the right direction.
Instances where this is required are varied, but the above discussion provides a starting point. Our efforts can begin in the home, where, when observing contention, we work to bring peace. Or they can occur at work, where we provide support to our co-workers who are dealing with stress. If we are parents, creating order occurs as we model righteous conduct to our children and teach them truthful principles that will help them surmount the torrents of life.
But wherever it arises, let us "walk worth[ily]" in the "vocation [we] are called," with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1)
Footnote
[1] How much we are to give is between us and the Lord. The Lord is aware of our circumstances and we should rely on him to guide us. C.S. Lewis, however, provided a helpful gauge. As he writes,
...giving to the poor—is an essential part of Christian morality. . . . if our expenditures on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc. is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.