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Actually the phrase No Harm, No Foul is an American idiom arising from the sport of basketball. Generally speaking, it means that unless the outcome of a game is affected, a violation of the rules should not result in a foul being called. Recently this phrase came to mind when Pat told me of an event that occurred with one of her neighbors a few years back.

It seems that she had admired a small decorated Christmas tree in her neighbor's basement window for years. It always looked so neat and orderly behind the white sheer curtains that hung between it and the window. Each year the tree would appear just as crisp as the year before, and each year, Pat would notice how nice it looked. On one occasion, she mentioned to Russ how much she liked his tree and asked him how he kept it so well. However, upon further discussion she learned that it wasn't a tree at all. Russ had taken a small step ladder and permanently decorated it with lights. Each year after the holiday season, he would hang it on a nail in the storage room and then redeploy it a season later! The sheers gave the ladder just enough obscurity to make it impossible to tell what it really was and to give off the aura of beauty. When she told me the story I thought, No Harm, No Foul. Although it wasn't what it seemed, no one was hurt by the deception.

However, the concept of No Harm, No Foul predates the game of basketball by scores of centuries. Jesus spoke of circumstances in which some of His contemporaries erroneously thought, No Harm, No Foul. In all there were about half a dozen such instances which He cited, but the list could have gone on almost endlessly. Here is what He said about the first of these: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5.21-24).

The next error was similar: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5.27-28). Jesus brought another element into pleasing God over and above overt acts; He brought the heart into the spiritual equation! Whether the heart was steeped in anger, or meditating lustfully, the result was the same. Some might have cried, “No Harm, No Foul.”

So whether it is lying, murder, adultery, cheating on our taxes, or any one of hundreds of immoral deeds, to avoid the act while seriously harboring the thought in one's heart should give us reason for pause. If we are prone to say something like, “I wanted to kill him, but I restrained myself,” we would do well to examine our heart and see that harm has already been done. "Out of the heart are the issues of life" is more than a clever saying; it is God's truth that is intended to govern the way we act and think.

No Harm, No Foul may work on the basketball court, but not in the eternal courts of Heaven!

Questions:

1. An Old Testament Hebrew threw a rock intending to kill his neighbor, but he missed him completely. Was the man guilty of breaking the civil law? Was he guilty of breaking God's law (did he sin)?

2. According to Jesus, what action should take priority: Worshiping God, or making amends with our estranged brother?

3. Just how important is the heart in serving God? If our outward deeds are all according to the law of God, but our heart is in rebellion, of what avail is our religion?

4. Discuss Proverbs 4.23 and the idea that the issues of life spring from the heart. What are the implications of this truth?

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

The Curse is Gone