Opus 2023-100: Liberty in Law

Is the Law a cage or a castle?  My thinking is focused on the Law of Moses but I imagine my logic would apply to our civil and criminal codes also.

Much of the answer depends on our attitude.

Some look at the Law, such as the Ten Commandments, as stifling limitations on their freedom.  If you limited your view of the law to the Decalogue and were a reasonable person you would have no trouble.  The place where this would become an issue is in the so-called 613 Laws.  I open my printout of the 613 and randomly point.  I come up with a command that I leave a corner of my field uncut for the poor.  Sounds like a good idea but I am not a farmer so there is no stifling going on.  

I get more specific in my search and come up with, “not to plant diverse seeds together.”  Now if I am a gardener I could get upset by this because many of the techniques of gardening have you planting complimentary plants together.  So, if I were a farmer I start to rebel.  If I am planting flowers around my house I am feeling smothered in regulations.  

While you are getting all upset you might ask yourself, “Is that what the law of God really says?”  Here is the verse quoted,

(Lev 19:19 KJV)  Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.

Notice what it actually says.  It refers to sowing in the field.  It has nothing to do with planting beans to climb your corn stalk or squash to grow in the shade of both.  It obviously has nothing to do with your roses and carnations.  You are upset about nothing.  It is also possible that the interpretation you are reading is the opinion of some Rabbi about what the law says and is not really what Moses meant.

Others look at the Law as clear boundaries that are necessary for a life of purpose and joy.  Lets go back to the planting seed.  I am not a farmer so I don’t know what other plant you might want to mix with your wheat, maybe barley.  Following this law would make your life much simpler at harvest time.  The law is there to make your life simpler.

It little bit of attitude check goes a long way.  It might make you open to some basic understandings that others take for granted.  It reminds me of the joke that ends, “Shall we tell him where the rocks are?”

I believe that God’s purpose was the second attitude.  Keep in mind that even in things like adultery, obedience will make everyone’s life better in the long run.  God is trying to tell us where the rocks are.

So, do an attitude check and go for the gold.  Keep in mind that you don’t earn your salvation by following the law but you definitely make life better.

homo unius libri

Opus 2016-7: Middle Class Morality: Real Tolerance

Americans are an incredibly tolerant people.  I refer to the real meaning of tolerance.  Tolerance is the willingness to put up with people you do not like or agree with.  It is extending them the courtesy that is due because they are also human beings.  It does not mean approving or supporting in any way.  It does not mean condoning criminal behavior because it is politically correct.  Well mannered endurance is a better way of describing it.

This is a Christian value that actually comes from the Old Testament law of the Jews.

(Leviticus 19:18 KJV)  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

It is the bedrock of how a Christian relates to people of different beliefs,

(1 Peter 3:15 NAS77)  but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

This is why the original thirteen colonies were able to unite into a single republic.  Each one thought of themselves as an independent, sovereign nation and yet they were able to give that up and work together in spite of their differences.  Tolerance is the heart of the federal system which is being suborned by the elitists of today.

We are a tolerant people because we are founded on the teachings of the Bible.  Tolerance became a middle class value because of that.  It still remains dominant but the attempt to remove the Christian influence is slowly eroding it.

If we reject this middle class morality we will soon be like Iraq, Syria, Spain, Rwanda and any other of the countries split by tribal hatred and racially centric thinking. 

Viva la middle class morality.

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2016-2: Peace, Brother

There is only one religion of peace in the world.  It is not Christianity.  It is not Judaism. 

Christianity is defined by agape or love.

Judaism is limited by torah or the Law.

Only Islam is called a religion of peace.

The problem, as usual, is in our definitions.

What would a real religion of peace teach?  Christianity has nothing in the New Testament that gives Christians authorization to kill people who disagree with them.  Islam does.

In the Old Testament there are some specific, one time commands to destroy a city or people.  True, but keep in mind that they were limited not open ended.  They were one time events.  The Old Testament has a bigger principle of compassion and care.  Let me give you a few examples.

(Leviticus 19:18 KJV)  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

(Proverbs 25:21 KJV)  If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

You thought that was only in the New Testament, right?

When Islam speaks of peace it is the peace of a happy slave.  It is joyful submission.  If you refuse to submit, it is the peace of the grave.

You have heard the expression, “Pick your poison.”  In this case it is a matter of picking your peace.

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-251: Culture of Conformity

Recently a young lady at my church asked me about a tattoo.  My simple answer?  “No.”

She had already mentioned it to her mother.  Mom tried to side step the issue by saying it needed to be small and spiritual.  Since even that was not what the girl wanted to hear she went looking for other opinions.  Since she is over 21 she doesn’t actually need anyone’s permission.  Since she is insecure she wants approval.  She didn’t get it from me but I expect her to get marked anyway.  The main thing holding her back is that she doesn’t have a job.  I think she will find the money somewhere.

I do not understand tattoos.  They are in a category with sagging pants and tongue piercings to me.  How should we respond.  Why do I respond with a “no”?

Although it is not the most important reason, I must confess my personal taste screams, “Never!”  I don’t find them attractive on others, why should I think they would work for me?  I have yet to see a tattoo that I thought made anyone look better and I have seen quite a few on bloated bodies that just draw attention to what is best ignored.

An even more import question is, “What does the Bible say?”  Often this is totally ignored if we have our mind made up.  I found one verse that seems to speak to the issue.

(Leviticus 19:28 NAS77)  'You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.

That is the NASB.  The KJV says it in a more general way that is more comprehensive.

(Leviticus 19:28 KJV)  Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

This seems pretty clear. 

Then there is the matter of general appearance.  Why spend a lot of time on make-up and dressing to impress and then go out and mark up your body with designs that will not go away?  The make-up is to cover flaws and the clothes are often chosen for the same reason.  Styles change.  Hair, colors, eyebrows and all in flux.  Why do something that cannot be adjusted?

Only one reason that I can think of:  Cultural conformity.  People do it because others are doing it.  That may be fine for pagans but followers of Christ are called to a different standard.  Paul put it this way,

(Romans 12:2 NAS77)  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

So my answer will remain, “No”. 

Sometimes negative is the right answer.

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-34: Should-a-Beens: Off the list

She is off my list.

A young lady that works at a restaurant I frequent was on my list of women I would like to introduce my son to.  We are getting desperate to get him married.  This young lady seemed to be a really nice person.  She had a good attitude, worked hard and seemed to go the extra mile.  In my world of “should have been” I could see me introducing her to my son and a spark igniting.  A guy can dream, can’t he?

My dream was shattered the other day.  Why?  She got a tattoo.  I am not rejecting her as a person.  She still seems like a great human being.  She is still off my list.

Is she a different person now that she got a tattoo?  No.  She is the same person.  It is just that I see her more clearly now.  There is something in her personality that wants to conform to current fads enough that she is willing to permanently disfigure her body.  I understand that a tattoo doesn’t prove anything evil.  It could just be my personal hang-up.  Got it.

On the other hand how do I deal with this?.

(Lev 19:28 KJV)  Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

In the NASB the word “marks” is “tattoo.” 

I may have to live with nose rings, but tattoos send a message I can't ignore.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-255, Cornerstone Considerations: D of I, International Equality, Part 1

We are not just to be separate and different.  We are to be equal.

“to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them,...”

This is a hard one for those of us that believe in American Exceptionalism.  I think it is best expressed by a concept that is grounded in the Bible and has become what we call the “golden rule.” 

(Matthew 7:12 KJV)  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

This is one of those concepts that you find in many different cultures and philosophies.  It is central the Christian faith and to the American experiment. 

We also have a unique concept of love.  It is also a demand.

(Leviticus 19:18 KJV)  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Some point out that you can’t love others if you have a sick sense of self.  It is possible to make too much of that but it has a grain of truth. 

One of the ideas that was at the root of the Great Awakening, and thus central to the thinking of the Founding Fathers, was the idea that all were equal before God.  The teaching of the Great Awakening was based on the idea that we were all equal in Christ.  This finds its highest expression in the writing of Paul.

(Galatians 3:28 KJV)  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

This did not mean that there were no kings or that men were not the head of the family but it had a sense of equality that brought the kings down and lifted the slaves up.

This is the American sense of “equal.”

To be continued....

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-127, Discernment Watch: Vengeance and Justice, Part 1 of 4

One of the issues being debated today is capital punishment.  Does anything deserve the death penalty?  Is it right for anyone to take a human life, even the state after due process?  People of good will come down on both sides of the issue.

I think that part of the basis of disagreement is a misunderstanding of the difference between vengeance and justice.  Both are Biblical concepts but they are totally different.

The Christian view would be that vengeance is not an acceptable motivation for action.  One of the often quoted statements is,

(Romans 12:19 KJV)  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Paul is probably referring back to this passage in the Law.

(Deuteronomy 32:35 KJV)  To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

Vengeance is an action that is reserved for God.  It is as simple as that.  Why?  You could write a book about it involving motive, worthiness, authority but the simple truth is that we are not allowed to seek vengeance.  We cannot be trusted to exert force in this way.

We as individuals are to follow a different path, one that was repeated by Jesus.

(Luke 10:27 KJV)  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

I say repeated.  Many do not seem to realize that Jesus was simply quoting a principle that had been laid down in the Law.

(Leviticus 19:18 KJV)  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

As individuals we are to give people the benefit of the doubt.  We are not to seek revenge or pay back.  We are to turn the other cheek. 

To be continued....

homo unius libri