Transformative Not Transactional

 TRANSFORMATIVE NOT TRANSACTIONAL – SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2025


Luke 6:27-38  “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

➖

Luke 6:27-38  “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

➖

“Reacting to” is instinctual. Acting “out of” our core beliefs and values takes training. 

Pres. Trump is an expert at getting people to dance to his tune – to “react to.” Jesus calls us to resist such demonic influences and be the Children of God we truly are. “Responding to” is not the same as “reacting to.” “Responding to” is to be appropriately engaged. “Reacting to” is to have surrendered your agency.

When I preach on “turn the other cheek” I love to invite youth up to slap their pastor. (There’s always at least one willing volunteer!!) When I instruct them to slap me in the face they will general use their right hand which means they hit my left cheek. So, I have to point out that Jesus (in the Gospel of Matthew anyway) is very specific. “If somebody strikes you on the right cheek …”) “Try again.” I say.

Then they will usually use their left hand to hit my right cheek – but that’s not it either. In the ancient world your right hand was considered the hand of social interaction, and your left hand was the hand of “personal grooming.” (Think Charmin®.) So, “How can you strike my right cheek using your right hand?” - and the answer is a back handed, “you ain’t worth crap” kind of slap. This is the kind of slap that abusive men give to women, or people of power give to slaves and underlings. To turn the other cheek in that context, then, is to say, “Hit me over here – treat me like an equal!”

What a powerful teaching in “responding to” rather than “reacting to”! This might rightly be understood as training in non-violent resistance. But there is more here.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?... If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?... If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you?”  These are all examples of transactional behaviors. Transactional behaviors are reactionary behaviors. They are not “The Way.” “You can do better!” says Jesus. And then he adds, "Don’t judge, forgive, behave in an ethical manner."

Forgiveness is not rolling over. Forgiveness is a process of engaging another, with respect, with a willingness to see, understand or accept what you did not understand before. Forgiveness requires mutual conversation, and through mutual conversation we find healing where there was once division. To just "forgive somebody" without engagement may unhook you from a sick dynamic (which may be important for you,) but it is not healing.

And "judge not" does not mean you don’t make judgements, protect yourself, or draw boundaries. These things are important to do. Rather, to "judge not" means you don’t judge capriciously, or out of bias or anger. Again, talk together. Listen. Learn from each other. Act from your values and spiritual core. This is what Jesus invites us to do.

If Trump gets us to behave like Trump we will lose not only our democracy but our very souls. Jesus has shown us a different way. It is difficult. It often feels uncertain. “Fixes” are not immediate, and the costs of faithfulness can be high. But “the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

That is the promise.

This is the Way.

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