Three Simple Rules: Do No Harm

. 5 min read

4
Nov 2018, Christ Mountain Top
Praying
the Psalm, Psalm 24
Children,
Exodus 20.12
Message,
Galatians 5.13-26
Mission
Moment, Pastor’s Discretionary Fund
These
simple rules are what John Wesley described as a way to build a “form of
godliness” while seeking its power (2 Timothy 3.5). The United Societies were
a
company of men having the
form and
seeking the
power of
godliness
FORM
(pic, sidewalk, me and Zoe)
First
rule, “Do no harm.”
      Children: Honor your parents, that you may
live long …
      But in those “terrible twos” “terrible
threes” “terrible teens”
            They learn a new and powerful word:
NO
Actually
a critical word to learn:
In
business literature and in psychology literature, No is a way
      Stay focused on our personal or corporate
mission
      Define who we are and clarify our
boundaries
In
our relationships and sexuality
      Protection of the vulnerable against
assault by the powerful
      “No” means “No”.

Successful
people are those who learn how to say “No” … particularly saying “no” to the
right things.
·       No
to the parents when they try to impose their expectations on your own marriage
·       No
to the public that tells you that your business should make widgets when your
purpose is to make wadgets
·       No
to the children when they insist you fund their lifestyle on their terms or
permit things because “everyone is doing it”
Robertson
and Muriel – discernment when there are two “goods”
“No”
means “No”.
“Do
no harm.” The power in this rule is in the word “no”. Do NO harm.
Wesley’s
examples:
By
doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially
that
which is most generally practiced, such as:
The
taking of the name of God in vain.
The
profaning the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary
work
therein or by buying or selling.
Drunkenness:
buying or selling spirituous liquors, or drinking
them,
unless in cases of extreme necessity.
Slaveholding;
buying or selling slaves.
Fighting,
quarreling, brawling, brother going to law with
brother;
returning evil for evil, or railing for railing; the using
many
words in buying or selling.
The
buying or selling goods that have not paid the duty.
The
giving or taking things on usury—i.e., unlawful interest.
Uncharitable
or unprofitable conversation; particularly
speaking
evil of magistrates or of ministers.
Doing
to others as we would not they should do unto us.
Doing
what we know is not for the glory of God, as:
The
putting on of gold and costly apparel.
The
taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of
the
Lord Jesus.
The
singing those songs, or reading those books, which do
not
tend to the knowledge or love of God.
Softness
and needless self-indulgence.
Laying
up treasure upon earth.
Borrowing
without a probability of paying; or taking up
goods
without a probability of paying for them.
There
is a “no” in this rule, and it is a “no” we say to ourselves and to our most
destructive and abusive impulses.
·       no
to avoiding taxes
·       no
to working when we should be resting
·       no
to owning slaves or benefitting from slave labor (including unjust labor practices)
·       no
to going to court against sisters and brothers
·       no
to unkind talk
·       no
to accumulating wealth or accumulating debt
This
rule addresses how we behave in conflicts and what gets us into conflicts in
the first place. We want something that someone else wants and only one of us
can have it. We act like a two year old. “Mine.” Maybe we’re all grown up, but
we’re still competing over a friend, over a dress, over a right-of-way.
Galatians
5:26
 Let us not become
conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
Living
this “no” – do no harm – goes a long way to building the “form of godliness” in
our lives.
This
week, in my personal reading:
Gossip,
Prov 26.20, For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no
whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Rueben
Job, Three Simple Rules, 22:
Each
of us knows of groups that are locked in conflict, sometimes over profound
issues and sometimes over issues that are just plain silly. But the conflict is
real, the divisions deep, and the consequences can often be devastating. If,
however, all who are involved can agree to do no harm, the climate in which the conflict is going on is immediately changed….
If I am to do no harm, I can no longer gossip
about the conflict [or those involved in it]…. I can no longer manipulate the facts of the conflict. I
can no longer diminish those who do
not agree with me and must honor each as a child of God.
Galatians
5:15
 If, however, you bite
and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
Discipleship
response form in program: Most responses are “yes” actions rather than “no”
actions. The “no” actions:
      I will practice a day without gossip at
least once a week
      I will take a break from technology at
least one hour a week
Other
responses that assume a “no” partner to the positive action:
      I will get a good night’s sleep at least
once a week
      Spend at least two minutes a day thanking
God
Titus
2:11-12
 For the grace of God
that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say
“No” to ungodliness and worldly passions
and
to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age
      The NO is partner to the YES in building
the “form of godliness”
Galatians
5:16-17
 Live by the Spirit, I
say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.  17 For what the flesh desires is
opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh;
      The NO is partner to the YES in building
the “form of godliness”
We’re
just building the form. Yes, it is the form of godliness, but it is only a
form. No matter how good our form is, no matter how effective we become at
saying “no”, there is no sidewalk, there is nothing in the form except by the Spirit of God. But without the form,
there is nothing to contain and channel the power. Let’s begin to do our part
of the work of holiness, and trust and pray that God will do the filling.
We’re
just building the form. And it is too easy to simplify it to a list of
“don’ts”. It is actually about transformation, which goes deeper than rules …
that’s why we wait for the power of godliness that comes only from God. And
that’s why we finish with a story…
      Will Willimon, woman from projects who
ends up in Bible study
May
God fill us.
Resources:
Rueben
Job, Three Simple Rules