Studying for a driver's permit
Leading youth at church means that I am usually around for the big teenage milestones, like first boyfriends, prom, and sweet sixteen. Several of my "kids" have recently been studying for their learner's permit, so that's been a hot topic at youth group. These almost-drivers have been studying their booklets from the DMV so that they can pass the permit exam on their 15th birthday. The kids compare notes about which questions they missed on the exam or which concepts they think are the easiest or hardest to remember. It strikes me as amusing how seriously they are taking this whole business, but I guess getting to finally drive a car is a pretty spectacular carrot.
I'm sure these students will pass their permit tests (eventually) and will follow most of the rules-of-the-road they learned from their DMV booklet. Why? Because refusing to follow the rules could lead to serious consequences like totaling their car, getting seriously injured, or even death for themselves or others. The DMV isn't trying to ruin anyone's fun; they're trying to ensure that the roads are as safe as possible for all drivers and pedestrians.
The same is true for the laws-of-the-land outside of a motor vehicle. Why don't we murder all the people standing in front of us in line on Black Friday? I mean that would get us to the front of the line faster and out of the store with our goodies in record time. But we don't do that because, aside from being morally wrong, we would immediately be arrested and would probably spend the remainder of our days rotting away in jail. The cost is high when we break the laws of our country and most people aren't willing to take such risks. Why do we have these laws anyway? Is it to ruin our enjoyment of life? To keep us from having all we want or need in life? No. The laws in our country are (mostly) to keep society moving along smoothly and providing a (mostly) fair life to its citizens.
If the DMV (which seems filled with unhappy people) and the government (who seem to love taxing the joy right out of our happiness) can create rules that we follow without much complaint, then why is it so hard to accept God's rules just as easily? Why do God's rules for us seem so tempting to break? Why is it so difficult to follow God's expectations?
When God tells us that sex outside of marriage is a bad idea, why don't we believe him? Surely we see the intelligence behind that rule. I mean, two people who save sex for marriage get to avoid unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, guilt, shame, and a whole host of other lousy outcomes. Or how about God telling us not to be gluttons? How do we not see God's protection of our health and happiness by urging us to be healthy and live a life of moderation? Wouldn't we so easily avoid heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other risks if we avoided gluttony?
Why, then, do we cringe a little inside when we see verses like Galatians 5:19-23?
19 The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: committing sexual sin, being morally bad, doing all kinds of shameful things, 20 worshiping false gods, taking part in witchcraft, hating people, causing trouble, being jealous, angry or selfish, causing people to argue and divide into separate groups, 21 being filled with envy, getting drunk, having wild parties, and doing other things like this. I warn you now as I warned you before: The people who do these things will not have a part in God’s kingdom. 22 But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things.
Those verses feel itchy and confining; they are seemingly impossible to live up to. Why would God set such a high standard for us?
As we enter this new year, perhaps it is time to look at God's commands and teachings and see if we are following them the way we follow traffic laws -- or if we put our toes over the lines because we think God doesn't really have our best interests in mind.
I'm sure these students will pass their permit tests (eventually) and will follow most of the rules-of-the-road they learned from their DMV booklet. Why? Because refusing to follow the rules could lead to serious consequences like totaling their car, getting seriously injured, or even death for themselves or others. The DMV isn't trying to ruin anyone's fun; they're trying to ensure that the roads are as safe as possible for all drivers and pedestrians.
The same is true for the laws-of-the-land outside of a motor vehicle. Why don't we murder all the people standing in front of us in line on Black Friday? I mean that would get us to the front of the line faster and out of the store with our goodies in record time. But we don't do that because, aside from being morally wrong, we would immediately be arrested and would probably spend the remainder of our days rotting away in jail. The cost is high when we break the laws of our country and most people aren't willing to take such risks. Why do we have these laws anyway? Is it to ruin our enjoyment of life? To keep us from having all we want or need in life? No. The laws in our country are (mostly) to keep society moving along smoothly and providing a (mostly) fair life to its citizens.
If the DMV (which seems filled with unhappy people) and the government (who seem to love taxing the joy right out of our happiness) can create rules that we follow without much complaint, then why is it so hard to accept God's rules just as easily? Why do God's rules for us seem so tempting to break? Why is it so difficult to follow God's expectations?
When God tells us that sex outside of marriage is a bad idea, why don't we believe him? Surely we see the intelligence behind that rule. I mean, two people who save sex for marriage get to avoid unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, guilt, shame, and a whole host of other lousy outcomes. Or how about God telling us not to be gluttons? How do we not see God's protection of our health and happiness by urging us to be healthy and live a life of moderation? Wouldn't we so easily avoid heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other risks if we avoided gluttony?
Why, then, do we cringe a little inside when we see verses like Galatians 5:19-23?
19 The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: committing sexual sin, being morally bad, doing all kinds of shameful things, 20 worshiping false gods, taking part in witchcraft, hating people, causing trouble, being jealous, angry or selfish, causing people to argue and divide into separate groups, 21 being filled with envy, getting drunk, having wild parties, and doing other things like this. I warn you now as I warned you before: The people who do these things will not have a part in God’s kingdom. 22 But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things.
Those verses feel itchy and confining; they are seemingly impossible to live up to. Why would God set such a high standard for us?
As we enter this new year, perhaps it is time to look at God's commands and teachings and see if we are following them the way we follow traffic laws -- or if we put our toes over the lines because we think God doesn't really have our best interests in mind.
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