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November
29
2015

week of November 29

Doing no harm: In the Wesleyan tradition, a person is called to a way of life informed by Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. This way of life is called a rule of life, and in the Wesleyan tradition consists of three guidelines, rules, or a means of following Christ (1) Do not harm; (2) Always doing Good; and (3) Remaining in love with God.  Today, the study focuses on Doing No Harm. According to John Wesley and adopted in the Discipline of theUnitedMethodistChurch, a person does no harm by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is accepted in culture, such as:

            1.  Taking the name of God in vain: Ex. 20:7, Lev. 19:12.

            2.  Profaning the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary work therein or by buying or selling. Ex. 20:8-10; Luke 13:10-17; Luke 14:1-6.

            3.  Drunkenness: buying or selling spirituous liquors, or drinking then, unless in cases of extreme necessity. Luke 21:34; Romans 13:11-14; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 4:1-6.

            4.  Slaveholding: buying or selling slave. 1Samuel8:10-18; 1 Tim 1:8-11; Matt18: 23-35; John 8:34-36; Romans 7:14-25; Galatians 3:28;

            5.  Fighting, quarreling, brawling, brother going to law with brother, returning evil for evil, or tailing for railing; using many words in buying or selling. Ex 21:12-27; John 18:33-36; Romans13:11-14; 1Corinthians 3:1-3; James 4:1-3.

            6.  Buying or selling goods that have not paid the duty. Luke 20:20-26; Matt22:15-22

            7.  Giving or taking things on usury—i.e., unlawful interest. Ex22:25; Lev 25:37

 

            8.  Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation; particularly speaking evil of magistrates or of ministers. Proverbs11:13,20:19; 2 Corinthians 12:20; James 4:11-12.

            9.  Doing to others as we would not they should do unto us. Luke6:31; Matt7:12; Lev19:18

 

            10.  Doing what we know is not for the glory of God. Romans 15:1-6; Ex 20:7.

            11.  Putting on gold and costly apparel. Matt 10:5-15, 23:1-12;

            12.  Taking on such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus. Matt 24:45-51; Luke 16:10-13.

            13.  Singing those songs, or reading those books, which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God. Ephesians 5:15-20;

            14 Softness and needless self-indulgence. Matt23:25-26; Galatians 5:13-15; Colossians 2:20-23; James 2:14-26.

            15.  Laying up treasure upon earth. Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; James 5:1-6.

            16.  Borrowing without a probability of paying; or taking up goods without a probability of paying for them. Leviticus 25:36; Ezekiel 18:5-13.

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