In the Zone

All freedom has limits. I hope you know that.  In order to be a truly free society, we must have rules that limit some of our freedoms.  Otherwise, you'd have nothing but chaos, disorder and anarchy. No rules means anything goes.  If anything goes, than he or she with the biggest posse or weapons rules.  That's not freedom.  That's tyranny. So freedom has limits. For instance, I have the freedom of speech but can't shout fire in a crowded room.  I have the freedom of the press, but I can't publish lies about people without facing the consequences.  I have the freedom of assembly, but I can't destroy public property.  I have the freedom to drive, but must obey the designated speed on the road (or pay for a ticket if I don't.) We have freedoms, but we also have restrictions and limits to our freedoms to ensure that everyone is safe and free. Our freedom in Christ is no different.  Yes, we are free from the law. Keeping the law will no...

We're a label society. We love putting labels on people.  Sometimes we even enjoy putting labels on ourselves. Homosexual, Emo, Stay-At-Home mom, homeschooler, executive, autistic, handicapped, ADHD, Geek. These are all labels we take upon ourselves or we let others place upon us. Eventually they become our identities.  We think of ourselves first and foremost by what people see us as.  Our sexuality or job status or our disease defines who we are.  We segregate, promote and celebrate or lament those labels.  It becomes who we are. But that's not what Jesus intended. In Galatians 2:15-21, Paul writes to address an issue that came up at the Council of Jerusalem. There a group of Jewish believers taught that new Gentile Christians had to conform to the Jewish way of worship, including circumcision and Kosher laws. Paul argues that our identity is not in our heritage or religious background.  Our identity is in Christ.  We sacrifice who are ...

The truth is the truth is the truth is the truth. That's what I heard often from professors as I studied to get my journalism degree.  People could complain about a story or being presented in a bad light, but if the story was true, it didn't matter.  The truth is always true, even if we or others don't like what the truth is.  If someone is guilty, they are guilty.  Plain and simple. Perhaps that's why we have such a hard time with the truth.  We don't like what the truth often says.  It's not always pleasant.  It doesn't always tell us what we want to hear. So, despite what we say, we sometimes prefer a lie to the truth.  We'd rather feel better about ourselves than deal with the hard truth of the situation.  We'll proudly take on labels and designations that allows us to be identified with a group of people.  Belonging makes the truth easier. At least we're not alone. Jesus, though, said truth, not labels or sin, should define...