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Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.

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

June 17, 2011

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

June 16, 2011

Property

The Rule of Law: Government of the Community (4)

God’s Law protects the right to private property.

Mutual Care

June 15, 2011

Mutual Care

The Rule of Law: Government of the Community (3)

In God’s communities we are our neighbor’s keepers.

Work

June 14, 2011

Work

The Rule of Law: Government of the Community (2)

God’s Law expects that God’s people will work.

A Lawful Order

June 13, 2011

A Lawful Order

The Rule of Law: Government of the Community (1)

God’s people should be governed by God’s Law.

Christians cannot afford to sit in the bleachers and watch how this all turns out.

Don't let your work become your cubicle.

Of course, belief and philosophical thought are not real knowledge.

Keeping the Faith

June 09, 2011

Will you keep the faith today?

Could our prayers of thanksgiving touch off the next Great Awakening?

Pragmatism and relativism are the Scylla and Charibdys of American ethics and education.

Thinking Clearly

June 07, 2011

Think like Jesus and you'll be more likely to live like Him.

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