The Letter

             He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (II Corinthians 3:6)

 

A covenant is a contract, like the constitutions that direct the interactions between governments and the governed. They are vital to those relationships. We need to know. Some may suggest that there should be no rules, but truly no rules opens the door to abuse, neglect, and disappointment. After all, while we may think the other should know intuitively what’s right or wrong, that’s imposing a difficult rule on them. They are required to read the mind(s) of the other(s). Every time they fail, it is seen as their failure even though it’s ours because we haven’t communicated.

But covenants and rules can be deadly, too. A government could pass some common sense laws, like no murdering, no stealing, no raping, drive on the right side of the road, turn your clocks back… and pay your taxes on time. The people could obey those laws. Most people probably do obey them. But none of those things build a relationship with the government. They’re actually government-avoidance techniques. As long as you do what you’re told, or don’t do what you’re told not to do, you and the government can treat the other as nearly non-existent.

Imagine a marriage or parent-child situation like this. Each spouse or parent pays the requisite bills, does the laundry, cleans the house, and even carries on the obvious and conversations necessary for the mechanics and logistics of the household. Wouldn’t the best description of that relationship be “letter but dead”? The point is not that we should throw aside the rules because that would make the relationship impossible. It is that our keeping of the rules is, as a consequence of the relationship, not a substitute for it. Not blindly, but with understanding. Not as a means of control but as an expression of love. 

That is where the Spirit is.