Law and our Shortsighted World

London is a mess.  Rioters have had their way in this ancient town and many that surround it for a number of days now--and it is not a place I would want to be.  Interviews done with many of the rioters and looters have told us that these lawbreakers seemingly have a very self-centered attitude:  they feel that the government has let them down, there are no jobs, there is no safety, there is no hope.  Ironic, isn't it that their supposed great concerns were so easily forgotten when they decided to loot and pillage honest business owners who now also have no jobs, who no longer feel safe, and are wrestling with a sense of hopelessness.
I heard the British Prime Minister publicly state something like this: "Be forewarned all you lawbreakers, we are coming after you, we will find you, and we will punish you."  Something in me went "YES!"  That is what we need to do, we need more of this kind of fortitude that refuses to allow innocent people to get hurt at the hands of those who have lost their way.
But then I thought that law is wonderful when it is others who are breaking it because it makes me feel safe.  It is at that point that I want to see justice done!  But what is it that I most want when I am the one who breaks the law? If I am caught then I am a little less inclined to be desiring justice and what I really want is mercy.
The law must be obeyed--it is there for our protection and safety.  But our shortsighted world sees law as a means and an end.  It is as though the world thinks that law is all we have--and I want to tell you that law is not enough and Children of the Heavenly Father should be wise and mature to know and live out this truth.
But what do I mean?  First of all we must recognize that the rule of law in our governements is an extension of God's law.  It is not perfect but the idea, basic premises, and practises of law originate from our Holy God.  There is no room for Christians to believe that earthly law has nothing to do with spiritual law.

With that in mind we need to understand what God says to us about law so that we do not fall into the same patterns of thinking the way the world does.  1 Timothy 1:8 starts us off by saying "We know that the law is good if one uses it properly."  He goes on to explain that its primary purpose is to address those who are "lawbreakers", which makes sense if you think about it.  They wouldn't even be lawbreakers if there was no law, so this seems pretty obvious.  But Paul's comment about using it properly is what I'm trying to get at. 
Romans 7:7 tells us that law serves as a mechanism that helps us to know what is right and wrong.  Without it, we would have no way of knowing--it is our standard or benchmark.  Originally, the law was intended to bring life (Rom 7:10) and it did so before sin entered the world.  But now, the law stands as an accuser to all lawlessness (sin) and it can do nothing but bring death. (Rom. 7:11).  This does not mean that it is wrong, sinful or evil (Rom. 7:12), but it can do nothing else because it is immovable and immutable, and sin is ever present.
So here is a question for you:  if the law can only bring death, then why do we want so badly for people to be punished for their sins, their lawlessness?  Shouldn't we rather be longing for their redemption--for them to be brought to life?  Instead of us desiring to live with the idea that law is not only enough for this life, but it is everything, shouldn't we have an attitude of great pity and remorse for those who have fallen under the rule of law because of their actions?  I think we are very similar to the ancient Romans sitting in the Ampitheatre lusting after the death of those who have come under judgment, all the while justifying our attitudes and actions because it looks as though we are really standing for what is right!
Who do we think we are?
Paul says the law is good--it helps to show us right from wrong.  We need it, make no mistake.  But for Christians, the law should never be viewed as an end, that is, it should never be seen as the final destination because it can only bring death--and Christians are NOT to be defined by death but life!  So the proper use of law should be as a means only, that is, it should be understood as only one necessary element of a journey toward life.  And that life is Jesus.
In Romans 10:4 Paul again writes that "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."  Law once brought life, but now only brings death.  God wants His creation to live in life not death so He did something about it--enter Jesus our Saviour!  The principles of law (law =sinlessness and sin=lawlessness) are fully found in Jesus and in Jesus alone (that's why Jesus is called the fullfilment of the law).  Law will be satisfied through Him and Him only.  This is true for what's going on in London too.  If people live in the light of Jesus there would be no looting, no stealing, no killing, the law would, in a very real sense be nullified--not needed. 

This should be our heart's desire--that those who fall under the judgment of law should be guided to freedom in Jesus.

Here is a great quote from a dear friend who whom I love and trust: "Grace.  It's what we crave most when our guilt is exposed.  It's the very thing we are hesistant to extend when we are confronted with the guilt of others--especially when their guilt has robbed us of something we consider valuable."

Next time, when you experience the guilt of someone who has been exposed, remember that God's children are called not to live with an attitude of law that brings death, but of love in Jesus who brings life. 

Mercy triumphs over justice!

BT