This Changes Everything Part 2 (#959)
Kyle and Wayne continue to probe through the mind and heart of Tobie van der Westhuizen, from Bloemfontein, South Africa, a self-described reclusive philosopher. What he has discovered in the Scriptures may just be the completion to what Martin Luther began. If true, the Gospel becomes a much fuller expression of God's work in the world than to just save people from guilt or hell. This is the kingdom come! Wayne and Kyle have been enjoying this conversation and want to invite you to contemplate his observations as well. Part 1 began last week. If you haven't heard it, you will probably want to start there.
Podcast Notes:
- We're sorry, but there was no video recording of this podcast.
- Part 1 of this conversation
- Tobie's NaturalChurch Blog and Email
- URGENT! Helping the Orphanage in Kenya
- Join the God Journey After-Show on September 28, 2024. It will stream live on The God Journey Facebook page at 11:00 am Pacific Daylight Time, and be available after for any who want to hear it. If you'd like to be part of the conversation in the Zoom room, please email Wayne in advance to get the link. (This is a change from our previously announced date of September 21.)
- Read Wayne's newest book: It's Time
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I know that this is a sweeping generalisation and that there are exceptions, but I think that most women hearing this will be utterly baffled that this is considered something new. This relational justice, this thinking of others first out of love and care for them, of putting others first out of genuine love, of thinking how our actions and words impact others and treating them how we would want to be treated – it is so natural, ingrained in us as women, so basic and intuitive. It is completely foreign to us to think of ourselves and be selfish, instead of thinking of others. Other women I’ve spoken to about this confirm that we are constantly always thinking of others. Whereas male friends tell me that they rarely think of others and if someone isn’t “of use” to them or if someone doesn’t offer any gain or benefit to their lives, then they see no point in being friends with them. There’s no sense of just enjoyment of the other person and relationship with them, no intrinsic joy in sharing life with someone – open and unprompted sharing of their thoughts and feelings.
I wonder if this is why most of the crimes in the world are committed by men. Is it so foreign for men to think of others and feel what the other person is feeling? No thinking of how their actions impact others? No natural feeling of putting others first and not wanting any hurt or harm to befall them?
The reason we don’t do wrong, sin and hurt others isn’t because it’s the law but because of love. Love and shared feeling/empathy. We feel what the other is feeling and love them so why on earth would we ever want to hurt them?
This relational justice is something that has been so natural and ingrained in our hearts for all our lives, it is strange to hear anyone thinking that this is new or novel.
Yes, it is true that women as a whole are more inclined to love and care for others. But in all honesty I have dealt with some extremely controlling and selfish women. I’ve also lived with a wife who over served others to her own harm, she would treat others way better than she treated herself, so I think we all can find some good things to grow in here. What’s new about this is not that Jesus wanted us to treat others like we want to be treated, or to put the concerns of others on par with our own. What’s new is the Scriptural lines to get there, especially for the piously “righteous”, or for those who think forgiveness and love is an excuse to keep treating others with injustice. The kingdom comes into the world not by doctrine, but by a company of men and women, learning to live justly in the world as they let the fullness of his love inside of them, express itself to others in kindness and generosity. Many evangelicals have missed that part. They can read their Bibles and pray every day as they cheat their business partners, betray their friends, and serve themselves. “Unless your sense of justice exceeds that of the Pharisees, you will not see the kingdom of God.” Conversion was meant to free us from the narcissistic flesh by the love of God so that we could live in the world with his compassion. I’m glad that comes more intuitively to you. For others, this is an amazing way to learn it.
The more I have been won into Father’s affection for me, the more I have naturally desired to act with love (justly) towards others. The more I have desired justice for them, be it family, neighbor, stranger, even enemy. The same can not be said for me about righteousness or moral piety. I have had zero desire to become more morally righteous. I don’t even really understand what it means apart from justice, how I treat others. It is the hypocricy of the pharisees that Jesus calls out time and again.
Perhaps the damage done from replacing justice with righteousness is not only to make it easier for those in religious power to manipulate and control their followers but even worse it gives people who have performed the transaction and been declared righteous a free pass to treat others poorly. Which is much of what I see in the christian religion today. The religious right and moral majority see “them” as worthless, condemened “sinners”. The enemy really. And the blessed for success, name it and claim it use the their declared righteousness,”God’s favor”, in an attempt to get what they want and increase their wealth and standing in the world. It’s all self-serving and incredible injustice done in the name of Jesus.
This conversation has put theological words and context to beliefs in my heart. It helps scripture align and opens it to new depths of truth. Thank you.
For me, too. This makes sense of so much Scripture we made more abstractly true than a daily reality we get to live in.