Don't Read This!

     It's amazing to me how God so often uses moments in our daily lives to teach us something instead of the moments we might expect (in church, through Christian friends, etc.). I'm a big believer that God can use anything and anyone to teach us something (See Numbers 22:28 where God actually used a donkey to speak to Balaam). This last week, something a coworker said to me in casual conversation really struck my heart and has had me thinking since then. She told me that she quit smoking by buying herself cigarettes and keeping them with her and telling herself, "you can have one if you want. But do you really want it?"

     I found this passing statement proved a brilliant point about human nature. I don't think anyone would disagree with me when I say that we as humans want what we are told we can't have. Tell a kid he can't have the cookies in the cookie jar and all he's going to want is those cookies. But I believe this concept is particularly insightful when you think of it in terms of God and obedience. The church as a whole has focused way too much on what we shouldn't do as Christians. I believe this is a large part of the reason many people don't like Christianity! But new covenant Christianity was never intended to be like that.

    Jesus came to fulfill the law so that we would no longer be bound to it. He came so that we might be free from the law to live in grace. God has given us the freedom and the free will to make our own choices in life. His word instructs us on what is good and harmful for us, but he gives us the freedom to choose our own way. This is shown most notably through Jesus' death on the cross. He died for our sins so that we might have a relationship with Him, but He does not force us to accept his gift nor to return that love. It wouldn't be love if He did.

     That in mind, all of us who are trying to live a godly life come across the temptation to sin each and every day. The "solution" for that temptation that the church has come up with is to replicate the old covenant and enforce rules on people to prevent them from sinning (even though that clearly didn't work the first time). "Don't lie, don't cheat, don't swear, don't drink, don't smoke, don't have sex before marriage" and the list goes on. The problem with that is that if you keep telling people what they can't do, that's exactly what they'll want to do! Jesus knew this and that is why He taught us to do things differently.

     It's my opinion that instead of focusing so much on what NOT to do (and judging you if you do it), the church should be focusing on the right things to do and the real consequences of sin. Then we would have the knowledge to make our own decisions about what's right. We could look in the face of sin and tell ourselves, "Sure, I can do that, but it will only lead to __, and is that really what I want?" What if the church simply gave us the grace and freedom to do what we wanted and empowered us to make the right decisions the way Jesus designed Christianity to be? What a scandal that would be!

Matthew 5:17 Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. (NLT)

Galatians 5:1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. (NLT)

Galatians 5:18 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (ESV)

Deuteronomy 30:19 Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! (NLT)