ple in real need. We cannot live in our American affluent society with all of the attending economic benefits without learning to share. What we are really doing is breed ing the world's contempt when we shut up our hearts to those who have needs. Somewhere along the line Christians are going to have to be willing to chart a new pat tern of sacrifice, giving and caring for the sake of others in the world. As believers we are called upon to take Jesus seriously! The second dimension of this passage (vrs. 43-46) makes clear that we are to elevate others above ourselves. The problem of loving those who do not love us is a very difficult one. As an evangelical Christian it is my responsibility to seek to win the enemies of my na tion to be my brothers in Jesus Christ. Our job is evangelism, call ing people world-wide to become new through faith in the Saviour. Unfortunately national enmity with other nations eclipses the mission of the church. I repeat, our calling is to be evangelistic. We are to take the cross as our mission of communicating the gospel and love of Christ to others. The Chris tian church in America needs its conscience pricked for we have supported the kind of programs which violate other people's lives when we ought to be giving our selves to win them as children of God. The final section in this passage deals with elevating behaviour above bargaining. Jesus said, “ You do not pay back in kind." If we are truly Biblical and committed to Christ, our mission is to bring the love of Jesus into other lives. Our behaviour towards people is de-
is overly demanding and difficult? The strategy Jesus gives is to turn the other cheek. You must main tain the freedom to respond in terms of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. The relationship to personality is more important than things. When you are involved in some tension between you and another, be w ill ing to go beyond what is demanded for the sake of interpreting the ul timate value of the human person ality. The land in which Jesus lived was occupied by Roman forces. The military moved across the area and violated the human right of others on innumerable occasions. Jesus had often seen incidents (as He illustrates) growing up in Nazar eth. A soldier might walk up to some Jewish person, kick him in the ribs, and demand, “ Get up, pick up my bag and carry it to the next town!" The man had no choice, but he cursed this ungrate ful Roman all the way. Suppose the civilian gladly got up and did the ordered task. Then, when they arrived at the destination asked the Roman, “ And where are you going from here? If it is any fur ther, let me carry your bag to the next town, too." Such strange be haviour would make the soldier ask, “What is different about this fellow? Why would he want to help me?" Jesus said when we go the sec ond mile the glory of the unre quired is that value of an oppor tunity to share the ultimate mean ing of the grace of Jesus Christ. When you give to the person who asks, even though they may be unlovely in every respect, you are really saying that you care about them. In our times there are peo
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