Breakin' the Law

H.L. Mencken said, "Morality is doing what is right, no matter what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told, no matter what is right." Jesus said, "Neither one will transform you."

I have a rebellious streak. In light of our state being "closed" and mandates regarding masks and so forth, that rebellious streak has been tested. I have found myself questioning authority more than ever, and beating my gracious husband's ear over the issues of peoples' rights and governmental control. The Holy Spirit, however, has transformed me to the point that, though I will continue to research and pray about these issues, I will comply as the Bible commands. I am not "religious" enough to blindly obey; I am not "moral" enough to recklessly revolt. I am seeking to be Christlike. Though I couldn't always say that.

My heart aches for those who strive so hard to be on some imaginary dot, some point at which they will do enough or be enough to consider themselves "saved." They obey and try with everything they've got, but never seem to meet the standards they themselves have set or standards set by others, standards they believe will identify them as "good Christians." (Sadly, it is their obsession with setting their own criteria and their perpetual focus on their appearance that identifies them as anything other than "good Christians.") Jesus tells us in John 14:6, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Him. Micah 6:8, tells us we are required to act justly and mercifully toward others, and walk humbly with God. Matthew 22:37-40, reiterates the importance of our relationship with God and our relationship with others, saying that to love in these two arenas is the very foundation of all the law and prophecy. It's not about being anything -- not good, moral, obedient, or religious.

Romans 8:5-8 and Colossians 3:2-3 talk about focus: focus on the things of the world versus focus on the things in the spiritual realm. In verse 8 of Romans 8, God through Paul says that those who are "in the flesh cannot please God." Maybe like me, as you read that, you get this picture in your head of someone acting on sinful impulses, driven by their own desires and directions. I mean, how can anyone acting that way please God, right? Recently, the Holy Spirit took me a little farther. The flesh is anything contrary to the Spirit. So, if I am committing to follow rules made by flesh and blood (no matter how well they mimic God's), if I am being moral or religious, I am walking in the flesh and not the Spirit. I am leaning on my own efforts, seeking righteousness according to standards I've set or selected, according to my timeline. I cannot please God -- not because I am lying or committing adultery or coveting (I am after all, moral or obedient) but, because God's wrath is not satisfied by my morality or obedience; it is satisfied only by the blood of Jesus Christ. In short, those working to make that dot, are working against the Spirit, walking contrary to God, and unable to satisfy God's wrath. Christ's blood alone is the propitiation for our sin - not fleshly, earthly standards or efforts.

For many years I was unsure of my salvation. I was disappointed in the "Christian life" and thoroughly defeated by my inability to live as one pleasing God. Eventually, I just gave up, lived life like everyone else. But when I had my first child, I came to realize that wasn't what I wanted for him. I once again tried desperately to be a Christian. But I was seeking the results over and above seeking The Way. I was mimicking truth rather than trusting in The Truth. I was trying (and failing miserably) to live a righteous life, rather than surrendering to The Life who is my righteousness.

Morality will, hopefully, be a byproduct of a relationship with Jesus. Religion may be something to which we are moved in order to celebrate and immerse ourselves more deeply into our relationship with Jesus. But Jesus is and always should be the Treasure we seek.