Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
We live in a world that is loaded with laws. There are so many, in fact, that no one can reasonably keep count. And, on top of that, the average person is totally unaware of the majority of them. These include laws that cover the whole who-what-when-where and why spectrum. (Who can do what, and when they can do it. You get the idea.) If someone really wanted to dig deeper into the issue, they would most likely find laws that conflict with each other. It really makes you want to scream.
Laws also afford us the opportunity to make choices (although that certainly is not the intention). We routinely decide which laws we are going to follow and which we choose to ignore (or obey sometimes). We also view some laws as suggestions (like the speed limit) and don’t take them seriously. But other laws often severely limit our ability to make choices or come about to force everyone to embrace one side or the other of a contentious issue. And it is those laws that we have every right to question.
OK. Now what’s the point of all of this?
These are the laws of humankind. Made by humans with the underlying intention of providing a foundation for the freedoms and way of life that we enjoy as citizens of our nation and our world. We now, however, live in a complex time in an increasingly complex world. And the result of that is, unfortunately, more laws that restrict more freedoms and cause more angst. We seem to have lost sight of the basic laws that form the foundation for living a good Christian life. Or am I missing something?
If we turn to the scriptures for guidance, we see that Jesus has clearly laid out the high points. Love God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. The 10 Commandments. It doesn’t get more basic than that.
Or in the words of Paul to the Galatians: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
I realize that laws need to be more complex in our world today, but what would our world be like if we went back to the basics as this passage suggests? Keep the basic laws. Allow people to make more choices where it makes sense. Eliminate those laws that are motivated or enacted due to some form of political or social bias. Eliminate the angst. Start from scratch as our forefathers did. Embrace the freedom we desire.
Ultimately, I think that it comes down to the issue of expectations. God has given us the basic laws and commandments that we should live by. He has encouraged us to use them as a foundation and build upon them. But have we done so in a responsible manner? Have we lost sight of the foundation? Are we meeting God’s expectations?
We should all take the time to think about it. And as we pause to pray this week, maybe we can start our conversation with God there. Each of us can make a difference if we really want to.
Thanks be to God!
Questions for Reflection:
- Which laws do you choose to obey?
- Do you consider God’s laws and those of humankind to be compatible?
- Can we do a better job of meeting God’s expectations?
- How can each of us make a difference?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, please help us to look to you for the guidance, inspiration, love and hope that we seek. Help us as well to truly appreciate your gifts of love, grace and your Son Jesus. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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