New Duds, New Mind, No Chains

Mark 5 is the amazing account of Jesus restoring a demon-possessed man. This poor man was held captive by many demons, "'Legion' for we are many," the spirit proclaims. He could not function in society much less be who God designed him to be or serve God in the way He requires. Perhaps, on some level, this man had succumbed to feeling these demons would be with him forever. Maybe, they even felt more comfortable than the thought of change. Scripture says he lived among the tombs and was often "bound with shackles and chains;" but he would pull apart the chains and break the shackles into pieces. Can you imagine the strength this indwelling spirit gave him? If only it had been a Holy Spirit! (I see a topic for another day.) This man was able to pull the links apart so that the chain would give way. He could shatter what were most likely shackles made of iron "into pieces"! So, he couldn't be restrained, he couldn't be tamed.

And that's the exit my thoughts took. We have heard so much in the last few years about throwing off social constraints. We are told classism is the cause for our discontent, and we are encouraged to break its chains. We are told discrimination is lurking in every competition, query, or gathering we encounter, and we are encouraged to shatter its shackles that we might be free. Only some of that is true, however. And once we are free of the manacles of injustice, what then? The man that appeared before Jesus could break his chains, he could shatter the shackles placed on him by men, but then what? He was no longer physically restrained, he could not be subdued by human strength, but he was still bound. His spirit was gripped by something evil, something destructive, something contrary to what God intended.

I've been reading a lot with regard to the "social gospel." "Do justly, love mercy," it's right there in Scripture, words straight from God's mouth to our ears. But, let's not allow the first two precepts in that verse to eclipse the third -- "walk humbly with your God" -- and let's not take those instructions strictly with an eye to our purpose on earth. We must love God's just nature, the nature that sends unrepentant sinners to Hell. We must love the mercy of God that placed His Son on the cross for each of us. And we must walk out the love of those things in humble adoration of God each day. Anything else will bind you. Anything else is exchanging the chains placed on you by world systems for the shackles of a superficial "gospel" with its eyes on remedying societal issues alone. 

We have a responsibility to preach the Gospel at all times, to all people, first and foremost. I'm not saying we can't serve breakfast while we do it; I'm not saying that binding up the wounds of victims and bringing the victimizer to justice is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it looks when it is walked out. There is a difference, however, between demonstrating the Gospel (doing great things to eliminate the bonds of societal problems), and sharing the Gospel (only the Truth will set men free). Do not be confused or complacent. Anything else is exchanging one form of bondage for another. In Christ you can be "renewed in the spirit of your mind, and... put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Eph. 4:23,24) To know Jesus is to be, as the man before Jesus was, clothed and in our right minds.