LEADING BY EXAMPLE OR PLAYING DICTATOR

A number of things have converge recently that turn out to be the inspiration of this post. A message from a friend this morning, a couple blogs posts and podcasts of another friend, and the everyday experience of being someone learning to live loved and by grace in the midst of a world addicted to the illusion of control brought on by overwhelming fear. Now mind you, most people don't see control (attempts to control) as an illusion...but once one sees it as such it ends up just feeling silly/sick to continue to live that way.

Awhile back I began a conversation on a forum by posting this conversation from The Shack dealing with freedom, fear, control, and law:

"Mackenzie," Sarayu continued, "those that are afraid of freedom are those who cannot trust us to live in them. Trying to keep the law is actually a declaration of independence, a way of keeping control."
"Is that why we like the law so much---to give us some control?" asked Mack.

"It's much worse than that," resumed Sarayu. "It grants you the power to judge others and feel superior to them. You believe you are living to a higher standard than those you judge. Enforcing rules, especially in it's more subtle expressions like responsibility and expectation, is a vain attempt to create certainty out of uncertainty. And contrary to what you might think, I have a great fondness for uncertainty. Rules cannot bring freedom; they only have the power to accuse."

Based upon the circumstances my family was caught up in the first time I read this, these challenges to my way of thinking at that time were like a leg sweep and a light bulb moment all at the same time. Papa was so patient as I faced up to these things and even in the beginning allowed me to say things like: Well, I have some small issues of control I need to deal with. A few months later I would move a little farther and say: Well, control had sneaked into my life without me having been aware of it. To a few more months down the road finally admitting I had lived my entire life attempting to control everyone and every situation....and even God.

Law today looks to me just like scripture paints it out to be.....where law increases sin abounds all the more. Trying to live by it and train (manipulate and control) others to live by it had just made a mess. And when I began to see law for what it really is.....Grace came into view. Grace can change anything and grace is wrapped in freedom.

I love how John Lynch describes it in True Faced. It's the New Covenant gamble...will it work? Truth be told...it's the only thing that will work. People will cheat and take advantage of others whether under Law or Grace. But there is one big difference. Law can never ever achieve what Grace accomplishes. Redemption and freedom for the individual...as it displaces the fear that holds us all captive and keeps us caught up in the cycle of law and the illusion of control that works relentlessly to make us believe that it's working.

"Whatever you've got
I don't mind...

I was born to laugh
I learned to laugh through my tears
I was born to love
I'm gonna learn to love without fear"