Living by law is a really tricky thing. I've become so aware of the problems caused in society as the result of a system that discriminates and measures out judgements and punishments with great irregularity. Law was suppose to be applied to everyone with the same measure and there probably hasn't been a time that this was even the case. People looking to the law and then attempting to live under the law are set up from the beginning to create a mess. And in this case I'm talking about the laws of man/laws of the land. Humanity has created a very tangled mess.
But I believe within the community of those learning to live by grace, following the Spirit into the freedom that is ours through faith in Jesus and the message of love, forgiveness and grace, law begins to be seen for the real problem it is. A weak impotent substitute that actually stands in the way.
The thing that has been on my mind today has been how it causes people to become very skilled at hiding things deep inside. The focus becomes how one looks to those around them regardless of what is going on inside. Law has no power to set anyone free but it does have the ability to shape some into becoming great pretenders.
If we are people that put our trust in law and the threat of punishment to mold other people's behavior, children or adults, that seems to me to indicate that we would be people who are also governed by an attempt to live by law? If we are not applying the same to ourselves, than that seems to indicate to me that we would be phonies which seems very problematic.
Beginning to see this drastic difference between law and the absolute wastefulness of the measure of grace extended to everyone on a moment to moment basis by God the Father has a way of disturbing the waters in one's life...and did it ever in mine. But I love the change that is happening and I love how law and the fear of punishment that travels with it continues to be put to death in my mind and heart. I feel for the first time a gracious space having been created for people to be real with me with what is going on inside them. In a space like that, things begin to be brought out into the light where wonderfully freeing things begin to happen as the internal mess begins to get healed. People begin to see that there is no reason or need to hide anymore...and isn't that how it seems people were learning to act around Jesus? Well, except for the religious folk. He showed us a better way and he has come to live inside us to make the transition possible from a life based in law and governed by fear to the glorious life of grace and peace and rest found only in Him.
6 comments:
Sometimes I feel like the whole world is a religious folk, including myself. I can feel even from across the ether that you are a safe person to confide in Kent - that's why I do :)
I grew up in a family where we were taught very young that it wasn't safe to really be ourselves. Even before I could articulate that to myself I knew how to hide my stuff. Still - even a child in the best of environments learns how to hide their stuff, don't they - that teaching will come from outside the front door if it hasn't come from inside it.
It's a delicate operation, untangling the mess. It makes for painful times, that's for sure. But it's all worth it. (Repeat: it's all worth it :)
Yes Sue, the harsh influences of the surrounding culture certainly has it's effect on people. I know I can't keep the girls from getting on what I like to call the treadmill but I do hope to be an alternative voice and influence in their lives. The hope in my heart that is actually there based upon my faith in the power of grace and love over law leaves me believing that providing that alternative space definded by unmerited grace and acceptance will win them out of the self-life into freedom. A freedom that never comes from conformity to law.
I look around me and see law and all that goes with it everywhere and I am hard pressed to find grace being lived out and extended to others.
It really is grace that we need help understanding...we understand all the other stuff pretty well. With that being true it really is amazing that so many still keep putting their hope in it. People really are afraid of freedom, real Jesus freedom that is.
Oh, I forgot...Thanks for the vote of confidence Sue.
No worries, dude :)
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on what it means to live in that period inbetween, when you are seeing the law at work in yourself, and imposing that on others, and how that doesn't work, and yet you are sometimes still compelled from within yourself to act that way.
It's most definitely a process of untangling, of being shown the problem, and then Papa walking you out of that (even though it feels impossible that you will be able to be walkd out of it, because it's often what you've only known).
I don't know if I'm articulating myself very well, or even if I have really got over to you what it was that I was requesting you blog about :)
Sue, when I find myself unknowingly slipping back into acting out of law instead of grace thses days it has a way of being revealed so that it becomes painfully obvious of what is happening. I then turn and go the other direction because I just know if I have slipped back there it's just not going to be helpful for anyone.
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