THE CRY FOR LIBERTY
38. The Monster of the Old Testament
One can see just how far liberty can be taken when one views the wild rantings of “liberal” scholarship. They are not a new phenomenon. We have forever had unbelief among us. But it is always fascinating to see just how far human blindness will lead men into the ditch of perverseness.
To the “liberated” scholar, the Scriptures are fair game for any of their theories. One ongoing theme is that, the God portrayed in the pages of the Old Testament, is a monstrosity. He kills innocent children. He is selfish and tyrannical. Jealous. All forms of bad character forbidden to humans are demonstrated by the Hebrew God.
So says the free thinker. Free from this Tyrant and any judgments He may have in store for them. Since this God does not exist except in the mind of the Jewish prophets, there is nothing for them to fear, so they talk on.
Their concept can be handled on a number of fronts. One hardly knows where to begin. Let’s start with Jesus. We assume they believe Him to be in some way a representative of truth. So, are we to take His comments about a coming judgment, the fires of hell, the damnable ways of the Pharisees, and a host of other negative comments, as bad-hair days, copyist errors, or what? He is after all, New Testament, at least in the sense that His stories follow Malachi.
There usually is an excuse for everything negative in the Bible. Which leads us quickly to another line of questioning. By whose standard and scholarship shall we determine the truth? If those who are calling God a monster are to be followed, then have they become the new canon? Is there to be no established truth at all? Are we really at sea?
When Jesus said “The Scriptures cannot be broken,” was this also a statement subject to modern criticism? Can we start nowhere in laying a case against people who do not play by any rules?
If the God of the Hebrews is a monster, then are the people who forever disobeyed Him to be considered justified? And if therefore obedience to the law is no longer a factor, what is the sacrifice of Jesus all about? If of course there was such a sacrifice. Surely we must all just muddle our way through, doing the best we can, and hopefully whatever God is there will see that we tried. And if we did not, there is no eternal punishment anyway?
What a way to live. What a way to believe. How liberals need our prayers and a demonstration of the power of the living God in their lives.
For the record, no, God is no monster. Those who think He does seriously offensive acts have not yet formulated a proper concept of sin. Or of holiness. If God is as holy as Scripture portrays Him, and He is, then sin must be as awful as Scripture portrays it. And judgment for that sin must be as needed as God deems.
It’s an oft quoted example, but no one faults the doctor for being violent against cancers and tumors and rashes. There are things which must be judged and judged thoroughly. God’s mercy waits. His mercy is everlasting. He has not rewarded us according to our deeds. That’s what the Old Testament also says.
How long did He wait for Canaan’s corruption to fester on earth, while his people wandered in a desert without a home?
How long had humanity bungled its way through idolatries of all sorts before God finally took the ultimate of awful steps, the killing of His own Son!
Yes, take a look at that awhile. You call it Child abuse? The ravings of an ancient Deity who looks much like his human creations? Kill your own Child, will you? Why, in Heaven’s Name? For attention? For display? Why do you do these awful things, God of Abraham?
I do them, He would tell us, because your sin against Me is even more awful. I am holy. I am spotless. I cannot abide sin in my presence. I am the only God. I can see no other gods served but Me. I have a right to all of this. I am here. I am. Who are you to come against me? Who are you to say that my ways are unfair? What worlds have you created?
And you missed something, He would add. You who call Me a monster have missed the tenderness of My love in that “Old Testament”. You have ignored what I said through men like Hosea. How, when Israel was a child, I loved him, and called him out of Egypt. How I taught him to walk. And healed him. I drew him to Me with gentle cords, with bands of love. I fed him, cared for him. How could I ever give him up?
So it is with all my children, then and now. I love. I am love. I am no monster. Your sin is the monster. Your idolatry and adultery. The way you turn against Me and ignore Me and love others more than Me. I have a right to your love, but you will not give it.
So My Son, knowing My love for you, offered to take all your guilt upon Himself. It was the only way I could deal with guilt and sin and continue to have you as My own. That is why I put Him to death. I love you so much.
Have you ever loved like I love? Call Me not a monster until your eyes are opened to see as I see. Then you will call Me the Lily of the valley, the fairest of ten thousand. You will call me Wondeful, Beautiful, the Desire of all the nations.
39. Rule Number One: No Rules!
Some of you more "mature" readers may recall the antics of one Barney Fife, fictitious deputy sheriff of Mayberry on the old "Andy Griffith" show. In one especially memorable episode, Barney paces in front of his "prisoners" in the quaint jail he helps to supervise, and reads them the riot act. "Rule number one," he pontificates as only Barney can, "Obey all rules!"
Things are a bit different in our increasingly lawless times. Rules are harder to come by and even harder to enforce. As with most outside influences, this philosophy has entered the church system, every society's last hope for light and sanity. The church seems bent on antinomianism in a way that eclipses their original descent many centuries ago.
We humans, believers included, do not like laws. Christians love to talk rather of grace. It is our assumption that since grace trumps law, it also replaces it. In the rush to rid the church of doctrinal hindrance, we have created the new but ever old doctrine of lawlessness. In doing so we help pave the way for him who is termed "the lawless one" by the apostle.
Some have puzzled as to how a dictator could be considered lawless. Is it really possible that one could control the planet and yet be one who forsakes the rule of law? Did not all the past dictators of Babylonia, Greece, Persia, Rome, and Popery, control men by the laws of the land? How can there be a lawless tyrant?
Perhaps he is one who will seek to suspend only the laws of God, and thus he is lawless in the eyes of Heaven. Or, as is the case with all who rule in this tyrannical way, it simply means that he himself will obey no law, while he binds men to godless legislation.
Antichrist aside, what is to be our personal response to law? Does the walk in the Spirit preclude an adherence to rules? On the contrary. Even the smallest regulations of men are enjoined by Spirit-filled apostles onto Spirit-filled men.
What then can be said is the difference in our relationship today compared to the times before grace entered through Jesus Christ and His Spirit?
First, the law(s) can no longer condemn us. If anyone sins, he can find immediate forgiveness through the blood that was shed. Law can no longer send us to eternal punishment.
Second, law(s) can no longer overwhelm us. We are not on our own. It is not mere human striving now, but cooperation with the Spirit of God who lives within, that brings victory and capability.
Third, law(s) no longer motivate us. Our passion as believers filled with God is to know Him better, to serve others better, every day. The law is fulfilled in us who thus walk after the Spirit.
Law is still with us. And those who begin letting go of their walk with God need to be reminded of "legal" matters from time to time. One who starts to exhibit the inevitable lawlessness of such a condition is showing that he is not abiding in the vine, and can be subject to severe problems...
The call to such a one is "Repent." Not tears. Not reform. But a changing of heart, mind, and will, a decision to follow the one who is still the lawmaker, and law enforcer. He it is Who will whisper to this son or daughter, "If you love me, keep My commandments." These commandments are not burdensome, but they are real. He will then go on to enumerate which rules He has in mind, to the listening ear.
40. To Be Free or Not To Be Free
Much talk of liberty in the land. And in the church. Americans have always loved this topic, and rightly so. From the beginning we had to be free! Free to worship, free to believe, free to make it without government influence.
But for many among us, that freedom turned into freedom to be greedy, freedom to cheat our fellow human-beings, freedom to destroy our bodies and bring a lot of others along to destruction with us. America is not what was envisioned.
So it is among us who in our Western way desire freedom in the Lord.
“Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free!”
“Brothers, you have been called to liberty!”
“However…” Oops, how did that word get in this article? What’s a “however” doing in a piece about unbridled liberty? Ah, but the “unbridled” part is where we must part company with many of today’s teachers. Our liberty is real and powerful, but it is not unlimited.
Paul, in the Galatians 5 texts quoted above says that our liberty is not a fleshly thing, not a license to do as we please.
So there is great liberty, but also great restriction, for the people of God. Here is my personal list of freedoms and restrictions I see in the Word. Maybe you can find others?
1. I am free not to sin. Free from sin’s bondage. Free, if I so choose, from succumbing to temptation. Of all the liberties we enjoy, this must be the best. Sin had me enslaved. What it said to do I had to do. The world was flowing a certain way for me. I was trying to flow with it. I would have eventually washed over the cliff into the destruction waiting below. But now I am free.
2. However, that freedom implies that I can stop listening to Him at times, and go my own way. My freedom not to sin can be turned into the so-called freedom to sin. But why would I do that? Liberty should be used only in the Spirit, not in the flesh.
3. I am free to worship in any way I see fit. “Michal” is watching at the window, to rebuke and correct if I get too out of hand, but I am free from her also. Her pride is her pride. I am free from it. I am free to dance, shout, sing loud, jump.
4. However, I am not free to steal the show from Jesus in church. I am not free to become the center of attention and be offensive to my brothers who do not understand. I am not free to wrest the service from the pastor who leads. My love must conquer my liberty here.
5. I am free to exercise gifts of the Spirit. Since there is no Biblical mandate (no, not even I Corinthians 13) for the cessation of gifts, I must search diligently for the best ones and let them flow.
6. However, I am not free to do anything in a meeting that would keep the body of Christ from being edified. Nor am I free to oppose the leader of a meeting and demand my own way. Some gifts will have to be taken home or elsewhere. Love demands what liberty cannot.
7. I am free to love the Lord with all my soul, might, money, time. The term “fanatic” or “strange” shall not stop me.
8. However I am not free to take from others who depend on me, to serve God. My family cannot be in pain because of my desire to serve the Lord. Love vs liberty again.
9. I am free to be a holy person, separate from the world. I do not have to follow fashions of my culture. I do not have to yield to music that does not please me, that in fact makes me ill. I do not have to eat foods that kill. I can spend as long as I want in prayer, fasting, and the Word.
10. However, I am not free to hide from the world’s needs in the name of holiness. Therefore I must enact yet another freedom: I am free to go into bars and brothels and ‘hoods of every description to bring people to Christ. My entrance there will be only a visit, but I shall not fear Satan’s kingdom. I am free.
11. I am free from fear. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. No one can harm me as my hand is in the hand of God Almighty. I am free even to die in peace.
12. However I am not free to be reckless and foolish. I am not free to stop abiding in the vine and seek some other cover.
13. I am free to believe all things that God has said. No one shall put me in a box. No denomination is big enough to describe that which is mine, the things God has for me, the principles that define my faith. No man shall teach me.
14. However I am not free to be proud and disconnected from the fellowship of believers, even when I do not agree with the place they have reached at present. I shall humbly listen to men, for through men the Spirit of God speaks.
You see how liberty works? No liberty is a true one that is not governed by the love of God. A truly free person is able freely to accept restriction. So it’s not, “I am free to do as I want.” The simple correction to that affirmation is: “I am free to do whatever HE wants.”
Works every time.
41. The Other Side of the Coin Stamped "Liberty"
Ever been in a home where children run totally free? Where all things material are at risk of being destroyed? Where you as a guest may even fear for your own safety? Where there are handprints on the walls that are not totally covered in Magic Marker? Where the odor greets you before the host has a chance to do so? Where there are more clothes on the floor than in the closets? Then you understand when I say that there are two sides to the "liberty" cry we hear so often.
Ever lived in a country where the killing of babies is legal? Where murderers often go free to murder again? Where the sale of drugs is greater on the street than in the pharmacy? Where alcohol is allowed to poison and kill millions? Where rape is rampant and homosexuality is accepted? You too will see that "liberty" alone should not be the emphasis.
Ever gone to a church where you cannot recognize who is the leader? Where women and children dominate the meetings and business of the assembly? Where the music is sensual and attracts more attention than the words? All of this and more is done in the name of liberty in today's church. I'm free, after all, because Jesus set me free. Get your legalistic hands off me, don't stand in my way. I'm free!
God has ordained liberty for His people indeed. Through a foundational apostle He has commanded us to be free and stay free from the yoke of bondage to the Old Testament laws. Circumcision is not for our salvation any longer. In fact, only the grace of God working through faith is necessary for a man to be connected to God.
Free from sin. Its guilt. Its power.
Free from fleshly appetites that war against the spirit. Power over them. Victory.
Free from my past and what would have been my future. Free to do God's will now.
Free from old friendships and detrimental family ties.
Free to worship as the Spirit inspires me, and as my new heart dictates.
My. Is there no end to my freedom? As a matter of fact, yes, there is a limit, a boundary. And in the same chapter that the apostle enjoins upon us this exuberant liberty, you will see that stopping place: Don't use your liberty as an excuse for your flesh to operate.
How does that work? The blood of Christ will forgive all sin, therefore I am free to sin, reasons the new believer. He will forgive me.
Or, I am free to choose, so I can participate in any media experience I desire, as I always did.
Or,I love drums. Too bad about you. If I want to pound on them all night in praise to God, you must realize that I am spiritual, and you have not yet arrived. Some day you will be annoyingly free too!
If your liberty is leading you back into the sins which you had just escaped, you will soon lose that liberty.
If you continue to make the choices of intake into body and spirit that you made before Christ, your flesh will swallow up that new life, and you will be as bound as ever.
And if your liberty tramples all over mine, you have not yet learned to love, and liberty without love is meaningless.
Rejoice in liberty, for it is God's gift to you. But it is only His first gift. Keep your eyes open for the other packages that need to be unwrapped and put to use!
