We have to learn the rules to walk in freedom. I first learned this from Richard Rohr (and he got it from the apostle Paul*).
Rohr talks about two stages of life. In the first stage of life, we have to learn boundaries. Parents know this experientially. A hot stove will burn you, so as a mom, you establish the rule, “NO TOUCH!”
This principle is operative in so many different realms. In the world of education, the best teachers are the ones who start off tough and give students more latitude over time. And in the world of the spirit it’s especially true. It helps explain the difference between the Old Testament (law) and the New Testament (grace).
One corollary of this principle is that young people tend to struggle with ambiguity more than their elders. As I get older, I find that there are fewer religious hills I want to die on. I’m more concerned with what produces unity than I am in being right.
This progression is normal. We need limits if we are to love well.
Most religions stop with the list of rules. They tell you how NOT to live, but can’t help you really live. Yes, you need to stop the carousing if you’re to move beyond selfishness. But if you stay there in that world of rules that leads you to freedom, you’ll end up a legalist like so many of the religious people who annoy you.
The list of rules is an important place to start walking out your faith in Christ, but it’s a terrible place to finish. Jesus came to set us free, not only from sin, but from the need to live according to a list of regulations. Today’s a good day to look in the mirror and say goodbye to whatever legalism you see looking back at you.
* * * * Romans 8 does a great job of helping us understand this issue. “What the law code asked for but we couldn’t deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us.”
Good Morning Seth and fellow Christ followers!
Another excellent dose of encouragement this morning. My prayer is that all of you will experience this “freedom” in Christ. I come out of a very legalistic background, but do thank God that today, I am walking a road of freedom to serve, honor and love Jesus Christ and freedom to do HIS will daily. I am thankful for the teaching and discipline I learned in the “legalistic” church for I do believe it set a strong foundation of a lifelong love for God’s Word.
I love Seth’s point, “as I get older I find that there are few religious hills I want to die on.”
That pretty much sums it up for me too. The Bible speaks of “throwing off” those sins that so easily beset us. I’d also add to throw off those gray area’s that so easily entangle us. A pastor I know used to frequently say to us, “Don’t Major on the Minors! There’s work to be done, people!” Hmmm, good advice
Blessings to all this morning.
Rebecca
The passion of Jesus was to see a “body” with the loving reflection of being “one”. Anything short of core matters of orthodoxy that would tear and bruise the tribe of Jesus followers is sin. And when we hold offenses, harbor a grudge, belittle, backbite, slander or shun Jesus is nowhere to be found.
Thanks for a good morning prompt Seth. It went well with the coffee and had even more of a system “jolt”…