In my quiet time this morning I was reminded that we Christians have an amazing capacity to selectively apply Scripture to our lives. Perhaps it is only me that has this capacity, but my observation of Christendom give credence to the thought that we all struggle with this. We give in to the pull to ignore the bits that make us uncomfortable due to our pride, or preconceptions of how things ought to be.
Worse yet, we sometimes use scripture to justify our unforgiveness or condemnation of others. In this mode, we use the Bible as a club to bludgeon others into behaving as we think they ought.
Even a cursory acquaintance with the Bible gives us the idea that as Christians, we are called to live holy lives. Scripture validates our feeling that things are not quite as they ought to be. There is no doubt that Christians are called to pursue holiness.
In his sermon this past Sunday, our Pastor reminded us that any attempt to produce holiness that is not done in the context of increasing love will lead to what he called “lifeless legalism.” In this mode, we pound ourselves and others with scriptural demands reducing the Christian life to a list of rules and regulations that leave us ineffective and defeated. This approach reduces us to what Paul calls a “noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1, NASB).
On the other hand, if there is an emphasis on love without a deep call to obedience to scriptural commends, this will lead to “lively licentiousness.” While it may feel loving to validate people (including ourselves) in their choice to violate or ignore God’s requirements, in the end this approach leads to death as we are told twice in the Proverbs (Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25).
The third and best way is to have both a deep love for others and a firm commitment to obedience to the commands of scripture. The gospels demonstrate how Jesus did this perfectly, and he gives us an example to follow. This third way leads to true righteousness that is life changing.
By this reflection I am challenged to ask myself two questions as I read scripture and reflect on it:
- How does this passage challenge me to live differently?
- How does this passage challenge me to love God and my neighbor more deeply and effectively?
