Skip to main content

The Purpose of the Law


What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. (Romans 7:7-8)
          Imagine yourself driving down a lonely road out in the middle of nowhere, just enjoying the view and listening to a good song or story on the stereo. Along the side of the road, you notice a white sign with big numbers on it. You look at your speedometer . You're doing fifteen miles-per-hour more than the speed limit. Do you speed up? Do you ignore the sign?  Do you resent the sign? Do you reduce your speed a little? Do you realize your error and conform to the law? Do you go a little crazy and contact the police department in the area and mail the fine in?
          I tend to resent the sign because it requires that I pay attention to what I am doing in addition to what I'm seeing or listening to or where I'm going. I am likely to slow down, but probably not to the actual speed limit. In this, I'm probably normal. The actual right thing to do would be to arrange to pay the fine but I suspect your response to that is "I'd go broke!" I, too.
           Speed limits are laws, and our response to them tell us something about laws and a lot about ourselves. First, laws don't prevent us from doing wrong. In fact, Paul says they make it more likely that we'll do wrong. The speed limit is 55. That means I can do 60 or 65 without getting pulled over. I speed up. After all, if I didn't, all the other cars would scream by me. (If everyone around you was jumping off a bridge...?)
           I don't know what disobedience, or disrespect, or rebellion are until someone commands. The law identifies what is right and what is wrong. That means that at least two functions of the law are to reveal the character of the law-giver(s), and to reveal the character of the person who obeys or disobeys that law through her obedience or disobedience. Do you know anyone with enough character to not only not intentionally break the law, but to pay the penalty for breaking it accidentally?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On the Calendar:
International Labor Day
Law Day
May Day

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more