Chris, inspired by a quote at Dashhouse asks this question at the end of his post on boundaries...
"So what makes us so big on conforming to stated or unstated boundary markers?" Rather than be focused on transformation
Maybe you should read Chris' post before going on...just a suggestion.
Not to be a minimalist, but this is what I believe. I think this is true because conformation is the easy and wide road.
It's following Jesus without having to carry a cross (Yes, I know we fashion lots of crosses of our own makign - but still fail to be willing to give our lives to love God first and others second. It's following him, without having to die. It's keeping our lives for ourselves rather than surrendering and giving them away. It's winning the world and losing the soul. It's the Christian politically correct way. Following Jesus my way, or my churches' way, or my denominations' way, or Calvin's way, or Paul's way, or Apollo's way. In the end, it's not following Jesus at all, but some devilish counterfeit.
Following Jesus, transformation, is easy. Jesus said, "my yoke is easy."
It's easy because it's something he starts and promises to complete in you - something you're called to surrender to step by step, moment by moment. He promises to do it gently without hurting or breaking the most broken of individuals.
But for those who would rather exchange that for rules and boundaries, created, more, to qualify who's in and who's out, rather than to help people live for Jesus with all their heart, soul, strength and mind. For those people, it's like trying to get a camel through the eye of a needle. Yes, a literal needle. Something true, not just for rich people or even in particular.
Don't get me wrong, more often than I would like it to be true, I lean that way...but I long for transformation and so, as I follow one step at a time I long to see the legalism, and the selfish ambition put to death in me. Thankful and knowing that Jesus will accomplish that and so much more in this life and the one to come.
Posted by ed | TrackBackSounds good what you're saying as long as your anti-boundary stance doesn't apply to God's moral will, which ought not be considered legalistic, because by design God's laws are a means of transformation.
Posted by: TrishTrish... how would you say your previous statement..."God's laws are a means of transformation." as read through the eye of the following scripture...
Romans 5:20 "God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.
Romans 7:6 "But now we have been released from the law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to it's power. Now we can really serve God, not in the old way by obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way, by the Spirit.
If the law was meant to point us to sin and the laws ineadequacy or inability to change (transform us) in regards to sin...how can say the law is a means of transformation?
Galatians 2:19 "For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could not earn God's approval. So, I died to the law so that I might live for God.
Jesus summarized the law; Love God first - love others as yourself. Love as I loved.
I would dare say that if that becomes our only guiding factor in terms of transformation we're going to be on solid ground.
I really like the book of Galatians & Collosians on this topic.
Posted by: ed
Ed, the thing is in the Bible the law of God is multipurposed not singularly purposed. It serves to bring conviction about the inability to satisfy God's demands (by showing up sin). This is the purpose you're talking about. But also, it serves a second purpose of restraining evil and promoting good as part of God's common grace in our world, and a third purpose of instruction for believers. This third purpose assumes the resident reigning Holy Spirit in the heart of the Christian and so the law acts as an instrument of life change. Jesus taught the continuing relevance of the law in Matt. 5:17 to about verse 48.
The law that condemned sinners before salvation plays a different role of sanctifying them afterwards. This not legalism as I see it. Legalism means either you're trying to get saved on the basis of law-keeping or believing that every detail of your life is covered by some law.
God's moral law in conjunction with the Holy Spirit transforms our lives, that's why I say it is a means of grace, just like prayer or Lord's Supper and stuff.
Posted by: TrishLoved your last statement...God's law in conjunction with the Holy Spirit transforms our lives. The law alone doesn't have the power to do it.
Posted by: edThanks Ed for your blog and understanding me :)
Posted by: Trish