UU Principles and the Teachings of Jesus

UU Church of Las Vegas Nevada Worship Service, 2005
After each principle and scripture a brief homily on the connections between the two of them was given.

The inherent worth and dignity of every person.

The living tradition we share draws from many sources.

Matthew 7: 1

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.  For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.”

Matthew 25:34-40

“Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink:  And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?  And the king will answer them, Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.

Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures,
which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and openness of the forces which create and uphold life.

Matthew 5:1-11, The Beatitudes

“When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.  Then he began to speak, and taught them saying:

• Blessed are the poor in spirit, for there is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
• Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
• Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
• Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
• Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for there is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.

Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.

Luke 6:35-36

“But 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 is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.”

Luke 10:1-12, The Mission of the Seventy

“After this [Jesus] appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.  He said to them, . . Go on your way. . . .  Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.  What ever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!.” . . . Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, . . . .  Do not move about from house to house.  Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you. “

A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.

Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspire us in our ethical and spiritual life.

Matthew  5:15

“No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”

Luke 22:25-27

“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them: and those in authority over them are called benefactors.  But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves.  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves?  Is it not the one at the table?  But I am among you as one who serves.”

The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.

Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Matthew 5:44

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children of your Father in heaven."

Mark 12:28-31

One of the scribes …asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?  Jesus answered, “The first is, Hear, O Israel:  The Lord our god, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.  The second is this You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Matthew 23:23

“. . .  you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law:  justice and mercy and faith.  It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.”

Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we area part.

Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmoney with the rhythms of nature.

I Corinthians 12:12 - 26, The Apostle Paul

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many  If the foot would say “Because I am not a  hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.  And if the ear would say, “because I am not eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?  If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?  But as it is, God arranged the members in the body each one  of them, as he chose.  If all were a single member, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many members , yet one body.  The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.  On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas  those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this.  But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but members may have  the same care for one another.  If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

Here Paul preaches the interdependence of all of us one to the other and to all.

Acts 1:2—2-4, 6, Pentecost

And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. . . . And at this sound, the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
Here the author, who is unknown but thought to be the same as the author of the Gospel of Luke, tells how everyone can understand each other within the influence of the spirit. 

The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.

Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.

Luke 10:30-35

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance a priest was going down the road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them.  Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him and when I come back, I will repay you whatevermore you spend.”

The Parable does not tell us that the Samaritan was one who was considered neither Jew nor Gentile and one who would have been considered with hostility as an untouchable, which makes his act even more important.  He is acting with humanistic care and kindness for another human being.