Freedom from Bondage
How many of us have seen the Christian life portrayed in the writings of Romans 7? We "struggle" with sin by doing what we don't want to do and the things we want to do, we don't do them. Yet isn't the essence of walking with Christ in Romans 8 as well as 12? Let me explain.
Paul uses the imagery of "slavery" instead of "guilt" when describing sin. Instead of the attitude of "you better not touch that or do that," Paul takes the slavery image and uses it as "surely as Adam tried to be his own master by being God, we in turn are mastered by sin itself." (Remember what God said to Cain in Genesis 4: "sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.") We all know that addiction can master us and place us under its reign. Whether that's the addiction of drugs, pornography, lying, people-pleasing, laziness, you name it, we have no way of keeping these powers at bay by our willingness. We hold on to them and say, "I'm not going to do that(fill in the blank) ever again," and the next thing you know you're still holding on to that sin, feeding it with our "struggling" efforts. But Paul has something very important to say about this. He suggests in Romans that we don't try and "kill" sin, but we "allow it to die ("put to death"). We allow it to atrophy by leaving it alone.
In Alcoholics Anonymous, participants practice 12 disciplines to deliver them from the stronghold of their addiction. Dallas Willard has said it is a great travesty is seeing 12 step programs living out the gospel (Kingdom of God) more than regular church members. Yesterday someone told me a story about a man who has been through the program and has been sober for a number of years. He said that he's not going to take a drink today. It maybe a different story for tomorrow or a week from now, but he sure isn't going to drink today. Why? He said because he got on his knees that morning and said "God help me not take a drink today." The point of the story was his focus on one day. When I have addictions, I tend to focus on the time it will take to end it. I miss the now in front of me by seeing how this is going to affect me and how it can be handled. Instead I must get on my knees and say "God, your grace forgives, but it also empowers me to be free from this. So for today, please help me." Yes grace is unmerited favor (77 X 7) but it is also empowering me to live a life God intended all along, or as Jesus says, "the abundant life."
Paul uses the imagery of "slavery" instead of "guilt" when describing sin. Instead of the attitude of "you better not touch that or do that," Paul takes the slavery image and uses it as "surely as Adam tried to be his own master by being God, we in turn are mastered by sin itself." (Remember what God said to Cain in Genesis 4: "sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.") We all know that addiction can master us and place us under its reign. Whether that's the addiction of drugs, pornography, lying, people-pleasing, laziness, you name it, we have no way of keeping these powers at bay by our willingness. We hold on to them and say, "I'm not going to do that(fill in the blank) ever again," and the next thing you know you're still holding on to that sin, feeding it with our "struggling" efforts. But Paul has something very important to say about this. He suggests in Romans that we don't try and "kill" sin, but we "allow it to die ("put to death"). We allow it to atrophy by leaving it alone.
In Alcoholics Anonymous, participants practice 12 disciplines to deliver them from the stronghold of their addiction. Dallas Willard has said it is a great travesty is seeing 12 step programs living out the gospel (Kingdom of God) more than regular church members. Yesterday someone told me a story about a man who has been through the program and has been sober for a number of years. He said that he's not going to take a drink today. It maybe a different story for tomorrow or a week from now, but he sure isn't going to drink today. Why? He said because he got on his knees that morning and said "God help me not take a drink today." The point of the story was his focus on one day. When I have addictions, I tend to focus on the time it will take to end it. I miss the now in front of me by seeing how this is going to affect me and how it can be handled. Instead I must get on my knees and say "God, your grace forgives, but it also empowers me to be free from this. So for today, please help me." Yes grace is unmerited favor (77 X 7) but it is also empowering me to live a life God intended all along, or as Jesus says, "the abundant life."
posted by c | 1:40 PM
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