Words for Life: What's Love Got to Do with It? - Leviticus 19:17-18; John 13:31-35

a sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Fred A. Holbrook, August 25, 2024

What a saint! We use this word to speak kindly of another. “My grandmother is such a saint.” “You are a saint to help me with my flat tire.” Football teams have borrowed the word but when one of their linebackers sacks a quarterback, it is anything but saintly!

The thesaurus actually uses synonyms for “saint” like “sufferer, martyr, victim, scapegoat.” Francis of Assisi was declared a saint by the church following his death. He was born the son of a wealthy cloth merchant and left everything to serve Christ. The Franciscan Order of monasticism is marked by those who have denounced worldly things and who serve all of creation in simplicity and humility. Francis was known to stop on a forest path and speak to the birds. He began the day thanking Brother Sun for rising and went to bed thanking Sister Moon for gracing the shadows of night with her light. He would have loved this week when we had a Blue and Super Moon!

When reflecting on creation, one author wrote: “The Spirit of God is laboring on our behalf throughout creation, if only we will open ourselves to receive the gifts: the family dog who slurps your face in the morning; the bluejays who nag at you for peanuts; the sycamores who cry for water in these greenhouse times; the flowers whose beauty begs to be smelled and inspected.” St. Francis of Assisi would say, “Amen!”

Francis once said these words which anchor today’s sermon on love. “Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” Let me say that again. “Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” Let that sink in.

Today continues our summer sermon series on “Words for Life.” We have looked at the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, Micah 6:8, John 6 where Jesus describes himself as the Bread of Life, Romans 14, and other classic biblical texts. This morning we turn to one of Jesus’ final teachings just before the crucifixion. In fact, it was taught on the night of the Last Supper. He had washed the disciples’ feet and in verse 15 prepared them for his teaching when he said: “For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” Some Christians believe that Jesus is commanding us to wash one another’s feet. But this is just an example of what he meant. Jesus commands us to do as he has done for us.

This sounds a bit like the Golden Rule. But it is so much more.

One year at the Massanetta Springs Bible Conference we had the joy of meeting Dr. Leonard Sweet, a United Methodist pastor and professor of evangelism at Drew Theological School. Leonard shared with us the various rules leading up to the new commandment of Jesus in John 13. Listen to this and you’ll discover afresh that when we ask the question, “What’s love got to do with it?”, the answer is “EVERYTHING!”

In the world, there is a pervasive rule that has been in existence since humanity began. It is what Sweet calls the Iron Rule and it is: “Do unto others before they do unto you.” Fighting between humans often follows this rule.

In the Old Testament, God’s law introduced a new rule which, as Dr. Sweet continues using the image of precious metals, could be called the Silver Rule. We find it in Exodus 21:24. God has just shared the Ten Commandments with the people of Israel and follows it with various other laws, among them what we might call the Silver Rule: “Do unto others as they do unto you.” An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth; a hand for a hand; a foot for a foot; a life for a life.

In the New Testament, Jesus confirms a new rule, what we have come to know as the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This is a good rule but it is far from the best because it depends heavily upon what each one of us perceives as the best way to be treated.

I saw a talk show one afternoon on the topic of parents who are afraid of their kids. These children were cursing at their parents, absolutely disobedient in the recorded portion shared with the audience just before the boys walked out onto stage. As these children were supposed to enter the studio, they slammed the door and didn’t come out. With that, one of their mothers jumped up from her seat and said, “I’m gonna get them out here!” She ran to the door and spanked the boys as she pushed them onto the stage, yelling the whole time.

Two boys, seven and ten, emerged onto the platform as their mother screamed. Then they screamed back at her.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” can be a good rule but it can also be dangerous. It is fine in the hands of loving people but the golden rule can be deadly in the hands of those who only know how to relate to each other in hateful ways.

Dr. Sweet pointed out one more rule among the precious metals that has pervaded our society. As my parents owned and operated a Dairy Queen for almost a decade, my father’s primary teaching to his employees was, “The customer is always right.” This is what Leonard Sweet would call the Platinum Rule: “Do unto others as they would have you do unto them.” Do unto others as they would have you do unto them. This is the pervading rule of any service industry. It is a great rule in that it is constantly looking to what the other person needs. It is extremely unselfish. But it is not enough.

Jesus, in John 13, introduces the final rule of human relationships, which Leonard Sweet names for the most precious metal on the periodic chart. Artificial hearts are constructed out of this material. Titanium. It is known as a titanium heart because it is made out of a metal that is so hard and durable that it does not rust, will not fail, and is not rejected by the human body. Hip replacements most often include titanium prostheses.

Dr. Sweet says that Jesus gave us the Titanium Rule which is: “Do unto others as I have done unto you.” Do unto others as I have done unto you. Look at the text and it is crystal clear. John 13:34-35: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What’s love got to do with it? In the 1980s, Tina Turner had a song by this title. The problem is that the lyrics describe a shallow, hurtful love when she would sing [C,B]:

What’s love got to do, got to do with it?

What’s love but a secondhand emotion

What’s love got to do, got to do with it?

Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?

When I ask, “What’s love got to do with it?”, I want you to think of the Titanium Rule and answer, “Everything!!!”