Growing in Wisdom -- Part 2

Law allows us to create some order in a household of screaming kids, but the Law is not an end in itself.  It exists so that real life can take place, so that people can pursue "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."  Those who follow the Law perfectly, who make it an end in itself, as did the Apostle Paul before his conversion, find that our natural egocentricity uses religion as a means of gaining respect in the eyes of others.

Paul said in Philippians 3 that he was "faultless" in observing the Law; he was a Pharisee among Pharisees  -- and yet he was a mass murderer, persecuting the followers of Christ and even putting them to death.  "How could such perfect religious observance create hateful and violent men like me?" he asked.

Most of us, however, go in the opposite direction -- instead of observing the Law perfectly, we sooner or later find ourselves doing just the opposite of what we know to be good and just.  We "agree with the Law" in our minds (see Romans 7), but end up doing the very things we promised ourselves we would not do.  And the things we set out to do, we end up not doing at all -- just ask anyone who bought a year's membership to the gym. 

Laws, even the ones we make for ourselves, like eating the right foods and exercising faithfully, only have the power to name the good, but they do not have the power to transform us from our "sinful," lazy, or wasteful ways.  Even those who perfectly obey the Law -- for example, attending church on Sunday -- do not always experience an inner transformation or change of heart.  They still leave church and cut off their neighbors in the parking lot, cursing because they will be late for the Saints game.  So the Law might regulate our external behavior, but not our hearts.

This is the critique of the prophets of Israel.  They charged the people with external observance, but their hearts were far from God.  And the Law gave the observers an excuse to pride themselves over the obvious "sinners," those who did not obey the law in the same way.  Those who found themselves excluded from the synagogue lived in shame.  According to an insight by Anne Rice when she wrote the story of Jesus' childhood, the rulers of the synagogue in Nazareth were hesitant to admit Jesus because His origin was uncertain; in other words, they considered him a "bastard."

Immature religion creates a rigid population that attacks "sinners."  And that is what the prophets railed against:  "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," they spoke in God's name.  But about the only way we grow into mercy and compassion is by first needing it ourselves.  Jesus had no interest in condemning sinners, but in healing and embracing them so that they in turn could heal and embrace others.  Peter was the chief sinner among the apostles; the Lord told him, "When you have turned, strengthen your brothers." 

It is only when we find ourselves "outside the Law," when we recognize our own weakness and tendency to sin, that our hearts begin to change toward others. The Law accomplishes its purpose when we realize that we will never live up to it -- "The written Law brings death, but the Spirit alone brings life" (2 Cor. 3:6).

The Law cannot help us to forgive our enemies, become nonviolent, serve our neighbor with humility, etc.  Only the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us can accomplish that.  Once we recognize our inability to obey the Law of Christ without Him, we know ourselves to be "sinners."  Only then are we ready to have fellowship with God, who sets us free from the law of sin and death that reigns within us.  As soon as we name our own insufficiency, we find God's fullness.  Then we are finally on the path to wisdom.