October 8,2023
Indianola Presbyterian Church
“The Spirit of the Law” Rev. Trip Porch
Sermon 10/08/2023 Based on Exodus 20
You may have heard that this week in Ohio there was a new law enacted…
That’s right. On Thursday, Ohio instituted a new distracted driving law that penalizes and fines drivers for using their cellphone while driving. At least that’s the Spirit of the Law. To discourage people from using their phones. Like all laws you have the Spirit of the law, and then you have the letter of the law… all the details and nuances you have to get into when you start to apply the law.
Like, are you allowed to use your phone for maps and GPS? …yes.
Can you still make phone calls? Yes, on bluetooth OR you are even allowed to hold the phone to your ear on a call. But no video calls.
Well then how do I dial a call then?
Ah, well you are allowed to operate your phone while you are stopped at a light or stop sign, but you can’t be in motion.
Can I text?
No… Well, yes, technically if you use voice to text.
You see there’s the Spirit of the Law,
…that we need to do something to reduce distracted driving.
And then there’s the Letter of the Law. There’s all the details of how the law needs to be applied when you actually live with it, when there will be exceptions to the law, and how it will be enforced.
The Spirit of the law is universal, spanning over context and culture and having to do with morals and ethics rather than the particular application.
And then there’s the letter of the law which is particular and specific. Often, they are even dependent on the time and culture in which their situated.
The Letter of the Law is about the particulars of cellphones and cars, and how to appropriately live in a world that puts both of these technologies in our hands.
But the Spirit of the Law speaks to something deeper…that we don’t want to live in a world that makes it easy to harm others or harm yourself, and driving while distracted can cause you to do both.
I think God is far more concerned with the Spirit of the Law than the letter of it. And that the gift of these commandments isn’t about establishing more detailed law for us to follow but more about setting up a deeper moral ethical framework to govern our life. A spirit of law that is everlasting and true regardless of culture or context.
And here’s why I think that’s true. In our scripture today, Exodus 20, God speaks these commandments to Moses to bring to the people. And then in the next chapter, Exodus 21, we have a long list of detail-y, letter of law, case-by-case legalese of how to apply these commandments. They get into the details of how these commandments should be lived out in their culture. Here’s one example from Verse 28, of them vamping on the commandment: Thou Shalt Not Kill…
When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox should be stoned to death, and the meat of the ox shouldn’t be eaten. But the owner of the ox shouldn’t be punished. However, if the ox had gored people in the past and its owner had been warned but didn’t watch out for it, and the ox ends up killing a man or a woman, then the ox should be stoned to death, and its owner should also be put to death. If the owner has to pay compensation instead, he must pay the agreed amount to save his life. If the ox gores a boy or a girl, this same case law applies to the owner. If the ox gores a male or female slave, the owner will pay thirty silver shekels to the slave’s owner, and the ox will be stoned to death.
Why do we lift up the commandments of chapter 20, but don’t apply the case laws of 21, when they are both biblical mandates from heaven, spoken in fire and lighting? Because the Spirit of the Law is more important than the letter of the law written to a particular culture and time.
Of course, Jesus knew this as well, and in fact he summarized and condensed the wisdom and Spirit of these ancient commandments to make it even plainer and simpler.
A legal expert came over and asked him, “Which of the commandments is the most important of all?”
Jesus replied, “The most important one is Israel, listen! Our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You will love your neighbor as yourself.[e] No other commandment is greater than these.” - Gospel of Mark, 12 vs. 28.
The summary of these ten commandments is a love of God Spirit of the law that God has given, the core truth that endures through every age and culture and time and place, The moral ethical framework that God has established for individuals and society …is Love.
When we keep love at the center of our life, and the center of out interactions with others, at the center of our interactions with ourself and with God, we are living out these ten commandments.
When you govern your life from a perspective of love. Then there is no other God before our God, and no idol that could separate you from following God.
When Love is at the center your life, You’ll honor your parents, you won’t kill or have an affair, or steal, or cheat, or lie about your neighbor, or Long for that which you don’t have.
When love is at the center, then regardless of the details that come, we will live as God has intended.
So friends, Let us hold the spirit of God’s law of love on hearts because it is a wisdom that has endured the test of time, and will remain true, no matter the situation we find ourselves in.
Thanks be to God, Amen.
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE Theme from Symphony No. 5, Andante Ludwig van Beethoven
INTROIT “Praise God for This Holy Ground” John L. Bell
WELCOME Rev. Trip Porch
One: This is the day that the Lord has made
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Let us come before our God.
All: Let us come to learn.
One: Let us come to witness.
All: Let us come to change.
One: Let us come to repent.
All: Let us come to worship
*HYMN NO. 5 “God the Sculptor of the Mountain” JENNINGS-HOUSTON
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Caroline Fortman
"Dear God, you have given us rules and taught us how to live, but we find it hard to confess all the times we've not followed your rules. We sometimes care too much about money, success, and being powerful. We use your name to excuse our actions. We don't treat others with respect; we want what other people have, we tell lies, and sometimes even wish bad things on others. We've made a lot of mistakes, and we're sorry…”
…Individual confessions are offered in silence…
Speak to us and we will listen, remembering that you are the one who sets us free and delivers us."
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 585 “Glory to God” vs. 1 MACHU-PICHU
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
ANTHEM “In This Very Room” Ron and Carol Harris
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 20:1–-4, 7-–9, 12–-20 MSG/CEB
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Sharon Renkes
SERMON Rev. Trip Porch
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
HYMN NO. 174 “Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom” MADELEINE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE followed by The Lord’s Prayer
TIME OF OFFERING “Peace Like a River” Traditional/arr. Phillip Keveren
*OFFERTORY RESPONSE No.596 “You are Holy” DU ÄR HELIG
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Almighty God, you have ordered our lives and asked us to live according to your holy will. As part of your design for honorable living, we participate in this simple act of giving and dedicate ourselves to living lives ordered by your way, Amen.
*HYMN NO. 291 “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness” verses 1,2, 4 SPIRIT
TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
CHORAL RESPONSE “Go Forth for God” Kenneth Dake
POSTLUDE “Immortal, Invisible” Traditional Welsh/arr. Phillip Keveren
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452