T.M. Moore
T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore
Purity
Purity
The Rule of Law: Government of the Community (5)
God’s Law works for purity within communities.
“And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them.” Leviticus 18.1-4
As we have seen, purity in ancient Israel was to be nurtured in the souls of God’s people, beginning in their homes. The home was the first line of defense against impure practices, but it was not the only redoubt of holiness. As part of their mutual care for one another, individual community members were responsible to pursue holiness unto the Lord, and communities were expected to work together to ensure that no impurity would find safe harbor in their midst.
Communities were thus designed in such a way as to encourage their members to live in purity and holiness before the Lord. Neighbors were to respect the sexuality and sexual covenants of one another (Deut. 5.18; Lev.18.6-18), as well, as we have seen their right to private property. Community members were to protect themselves and their communities against false teachings and pagan religious practices (Deut. 13.1-11). Neighbors were expected to give testimony as required in cases of dispute (Lev. 5.1) and to participate in acts of judgment against convicted offenders. Any who bore false witness were to be punished according to the nature of their testimony (Deut. 19.15-21). Members of the community were to appoint as their judges only those who had demonstrated competency in understanding and living by the Law of God.
Just communities depend on just people who are willing to take responsibility to ensure that justice and only justice – obedience to divine Law – should rule in their communities. God expected His people to pursue holiness as individuals, households, and communities together, and His Law establishes guidelines by which this could be practiced at each level.
For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the life of faith, get The Ground for Christian Ethics by going to www.ailbe.org and click on our Book Store.
Property
Property
The Rule of Law: Government of the Community (4)
God’s Law protects the right to private property.
Mutual Care
Mutual Care
The Rule of Law: Government of the Community (3)
In God’s communities we are our neighbor’s keepers.
Work
Work
The Rule of Law: Government of the Community (2)
God’s Law expects that God’s people will work.
A Lawful Order
A Lawful Order
The Rule of Law: Government of the Community (1)
God’s people should be governed by God’s Law.
Divorcing Honor from Duty
Christians cannot afford to sit in the bleachers and watch how this all turns out.
Boundary? What Boundary?
Of course, belief and philosophical thought are not real knowledge.
The Power of Thanksgiving
Could our prayers of thanksgiving touch off the next Great Awakening?
The Pragmatic View of Evil
Pragmatism and relativism are the Scylla and Charibdys of American ethics and education.
Thinking Clearly
Think like Jesus and you'll be more likely to live like Him.