Boundary Stones

 Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. (Proverbs 22:28) 

One of the characteristics of our society at the moment might be described as post-modernism, or it might be described as progressivism. According to the former, any change is equally good as staying the same. Everything is subjective. According to the latter, movement in a specific direction is seen as good. Both tend to be bound up in the phrase, “Change is good.”

The problem is, of course, that both changing and staying the same produce mixed results. Changing may make one thing better, but two worse. Changing may make two things better, but one thing hellish. Use the words “Staying the same” in place of “Changing” in the last two sentences, and they would be just as true.

When it comes to the change involved in moving boundary stones, the likelihood that “hellish” is going to be involved is high. The purpose of a boundary stone in ancient times was to show where your land ended and the next person’s began. Moving the boundary stone was theft or invasion and the response was tended to be war.

“Boundary” is an important word in interpersonal relationships as well. In this case, a boundary lets a person know where they stand with you, and whether they are permitted to do something. Both those who impose change are trying to move the boundary stone. Wisdom is needed here, because it is possible that the boundary stone should be moved.

Those who impose staying the same be trying to move the boundary stone, too. Or they may be resisting movement on the part of the other. Again, wisdom is needed.

            There is a third kind of boundary that is closely related to the boundaries for interpersonal relationships. It involves the relationship between the person and society. Even more than interpersonal relationships, we need to be cautious about changing. Some boundaries have been set up for centuries or millennia, and some people think that – because the boundaries are ancient – they’re not grounded in science. The reality is that some of those boundaries are firmly grounded in practicality. It worked for society as a whole, even if it didn’t work for the individual, and a great deal of wisdom should be used before we start tampering with systems to accommodate individuals. 

         

            And just as wars could be started over someone moving a boundary stone, you can expect that if you try to move an interpersonal or societal boundary stone, there are going to be those who will not stand idly by.