We were at the park playing, and there was a 7-year-old girl who was IN LOVE with our frisbee. She tossed it back and forth with me. And with J. And when A used it as a sand toy that little girl hovered and continuously asked when she could use it again. A little later, as I walked ahead with baby E, I saw this little girl in the distance, across the park, running hard and with definite purpose. When Jer caught up with me, he said the little girl must've taken off with the frisbee. She had it last and he couldn't find it in the small area we had been playing. It was no biggie - we paid 50 cents for it.
What came to my mind, though, was the beginning of a thought. A small flicker that has been growing during the past couple of days.
First, it made me sad that the little girl felt she had to choose the frisbee over playing with us. We would have given her the frisbee if she had asked. But, more than that, it was simply sad to me that she chose to run away and hide with a cheap stolen toy, instead of staying and playing with living, breathing people.
My next thought, for some reason, was of the 10 commandments. "Thou shalt not steal". And immediately I made a connection. A major reason God doesn't want us to steal is that, when I steal from an individual, I am pretty much no longer able to be friends with that person. And, we have trouble being close to God, too, because we tend to feel guilty and don't feel like we can talk to Him. Or we fear punishment from Him. (But I'm thinking that the real punishment is the broken relationship that results from lying/stealing...).
And then my thoughts started to go farther and the thoughts came so quickly, I've had trouble keeping up!
All God's rules/laws are in effect to keep us in close relationships. Seriously. Adultery breaks up marriages/families. Envy for other people's lives and belongings puts us at odds with that person. Envy is also just like stealing because, like the girl who wanted the frisbee, suddenly our eyes are on the thing rather than on the people. (Jesus said this: "You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder." Matthew 5)
(Have you ever had a revelation and you can't quite find the words to make it as powerful as you feel it? That's how it is right now.) :)
EVERYTHING hinges on this. EVERY old thought and Bible verse I've read has new meaning.
And, I think what I'm realizing on a deeper level is that this is the MOST IMPORTANT THING to GOD. It's ALL about being in the deepest possible relationship with God and with others. The rest is garbage. The rest is a 50 cent frisbee.
When Jesus was angry with the Pharisees for imposing laws on people without mercy, it was because they pushed people AWAY from God with His laws rather than bringing people to Him.
The prodigal son story is like my little frisbee story.
Paul's seemingly confusing teachings about the law makes so much more sense now. He says, people who don't yet know God need the Law. But followers of Jesus don't need the law. If we love Him and follow Him, the rules are obsolete because we become so consumed with Him, everything else is just dirty dishwater in comparison.
The two most important commandments according to Jesus were 1. Have no other gods before GOD and 2. Love your neighbor as yourself. If you do these, you won't be quick to envy, lie...etc. And that's why Jesus said that all other laws hinge on these two.
EVERYTHING I can think of in the Bible is about deep relationship. It's all about relationship with Jesus and with other people, too.
I know I've learned this, heard sermons about it, and have even come to this conclusion in the past. But not to this extent. Not even close to this extent.
It's been in the back of my mind for a long time. And maybe that's why I get annoyed with super "political" Christians, angry Christians, finger-pointing Christians. Is what they're doing bringing others into potential relationship with God? Probably no.
I cringe when Christians are interviewed. They are always asked, "Do you think being gay is a sin?" It's the question that puts a stop to the interview. Who's going to listen after Mr. Christian says, "Yes, being gay is a sin."?
Here's the thing. In my opinion, "sin" needs to be redefined. Sin is who we are. No matter what. It's our nature. All of our natures. Lust, adultery, lying... it's all the ways we put ourselves before others. It all keeps us from knowing Him better. We run off with our frisbee, to hide in the corner with it. Alone. For me, this is overeating, judging others, too much TV, and LOTS of stuff - I'm selfish and self-absorbed. Like all people. Is it a "sin" to act out on gay tendencies by having same-gender sex? Probably. But it's not the big deal Christians make it. Hey Christians, Jesus wasn't angry with the gay people or the lying people. He was angry with people who forced RULES on people! He was angry with people who made it difficult for others to SEE HIM.
(Oh, and interviewers of Christians, that trick is getting old. Ask some new questions.)
I'm getting all angry, too. At myself. At Christians.
We need to change. Beg forgiveness. And start over with a "new" (but very old) mindset.
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