Christianity doesn't just happen.

You don't accept Jesus as your Saviour and then go on your merry way. Sadly, there are many churches and people going to church who seem to believe just that very thing, that Christianity just happens, like you are constantly in a state of becoming by virtue of your proclamation and profession that you are a Christian. It doesn't work like that.

   "The writer has met many people who profess to be Christians, but whose daily lives differ in nothing from thousands of non-professors all around them. They are rarely, if ever, found at the prayer-meeting, they have no Family Worship, they seldom read the Scriptures, they will not talk with you about the things of God, their walk is thoroughly worldly; and yet they are quite sure they are bound for heaven!

"Inquire into the ground of their confidence, and they will tell you that so many years ago they accepted Christ as their Savior, and 'once saved always saved' is now their comfort. There are thousands of such people on earth today, who are nevertheless, on the Broad Road, that leadeth to destruction, treading it with a false peace in their hearts and a vain profession on their lips."

A.W. Pink

There was a time where you could almost be afraid to call yourself a follower of Jesus Christ, because it meant so much. Now you can do it with complete ease, because it means nothing at all.

We are Christians before a watching world - and make no mistake - they are watching. Why would they give a care at all?

Christianity is not a possession, a "thing" to be obtained and then, like so many possessions, pushed into a closet somewhere because, you know, you just might need it some day. No, it is a transformative, a fundamental change in our lives once we decide to embrace Jesus as our Saviour and our God. Subsequently we willingly submit to behave in a certain way that conforms with specific guidelines, rules and requirements, as outlined in the Bible (both Old and New Testament).

Is that really what the Bible says? Does the Bible outline the limits, the parameters of our beliefs? Does the Bible actually instruct believers in what is and what is not acceptable behaviour before God?

Does the Bible contain absolute truth that is irrefutable, unchanging and consistent throughout the ages?

From the book of Genesis through Esther we have the history of humanity and, more specifically, God's people Israel. Within in the first 17 books of the Bible is contained much useful and necessary information, not the least of which is the Law, as given through Moses. But it is also much more. It is the story of humanity, of the recurring nature of mankinds's penchant to turn to his own devices when left to himself (Judges 2:11; 3:12; 4:1, et al), and so to depravity and death.

For over six thousand years humanity has been playing out the same habits and behaviours without fail. The idea that we are "evolving" into a better people because we have "grown" and "matured" as a species is laid bare for the lie it is when you read through the Old Testament, even beyond Esther. It is the lie Evolutionists and Atheists tell you in their vain, and pointless, efforts to convince you that "God", if he exists, doesn't care, and that the state of things proves there is no loving God in heaven or anywhere else. We don't need a god because we've grown out of that superstitious level in our progress of evolution. Nature shows us the "truth", that everything came into being as part of a very long and drawn out process over vast stretches of Time.

To the Evolutionist, accountability and responsibility are societal constructs that help us live together, to co-exist in order that we might be able to help one another survive and grow. We agree that certain rules are necessary so we can live in close proximity to one another for these purposes, because of the benefits derived from this mutual co-operation and interaction. Beyond that, we can be a law unto ourselves as long as we don't hurt one another.

Unless I really don't like what you believe or represent.

The hypocrisy of the world is that they want total freedom to live as they wish, without rules, responsibility or accountability. "You can't tell me what to do or how to live" is their mantra. But just try to live your life in this society and you will find all manner and form of restrictions - all claimed to be for the common good of society. Society takes precedence over individuality. The common good trumps individuality and liberty. And yet, it seems "they" want you to make all the sacrifices while they make none.

But I digress.

The truth is, for any society to work there have to be rules to govern conduct, behaviour and other limitations that provide for the common good. But individual liberty should never be sacrificed simply because I don't like your choices in life. In secular terms, these are reasonable rules for living together.

But in a spiritual context, there exists another layer of responsibility and accountability in society.

Jesus often quoted the Law and the Prophets, even the Psalms, when teaching His disciples and the larger groups that would gather. Remember, too, that in the society of that time, in Israel, it was a "given" that the people already believed in God, knew they were His Chosen People, and were living with varying degrees of expectation for the advent of their prophesied Messiah.

Jewish society, even under Roman rule, was governed by the Law. We know this because we are continually reminded of this throughout the Gospel accounts, and the Pharisees were quite vocal about it. And Jesus did not deny the rule of the Law in the daily lives of the Jewish people. He re enforced it, in fact, with every lesson.

Jesus' focus, though, is not on the "letter" of the Law. He teaches a different side of the Law, reminding us that all through History, the Lord God had been pleading with His people that compassion and love were more important than sacrifices (Hos. 6:6; Is. 1:11). This is to say that God would rather we were forgiving of transgressions, as He is forgiving (Mark 11:25,26). The Lord would have us seek a reconciliation rather than punishment, though the Law may demand - in the letter - punishment. And yet, to re enforce that the Law still remains active, Jesus reminds us that not one stroke of the Law will be invalidated (Matt. 5:18).

This principle is alive today in the courts of the United States. A judge has the authority to dispense justice. This judge has latitude in how much of the Law may be enforced in the sentence of the offender, if found guilty. He doesn't throw out the law, but rather he can mitigate the sentence, and in some cases throw out the judgment entirely, thereby demonstrating compassion, mercy, upon the offender. But, in some states, the legislatures have created a "mandatory minimum", tying the hands of the judges to extend mercy to a convicted offender. This in effect returns the courts to a no choice position of enforcing the "letter" of the law.

This is what the Pharisees had created, a system of enforcement upon offenders that was in accordance with what the Law required. The example being the woman caught in adultery (John 8). Stoning is the punishment, so that is what they would do. No mercy, no compassion, no heart - just black and white enforcement. But where that same Law came down on the common person like a ton of bricks, for the Pharisees it was deemed that the spirit of the Law was of more concern than the letter. So the more influential you were, the less the penalty of the Law would affect you.

Sound familiar?

And we see the hypocrisy in their practices further played out at Jesus' arrest and "trial". They wanted the full weight of the Law to fall upon Him, though he had committed no offence. But in their eyes, Jesus had committed the ultimate offence - He claimed to be God. I'm simplifying this for clarity.

Jesus teaches that the Law is good because, as Paul poignantly reminds us, it shows us our sin nature - and as such also points us to the way out of sin. If we keep faithfully to even just two Commandments, to love God with all our mind, body and soul, and to love our neighbour (as ourselves), we will keep all the rest for that effort (Mark 12: 28-31).

In his letter to the Romans, Paul speaks clearly about the power of the Law, the rules governing life and living. He expresses that transgressors of the Law shall be subject to great judgment, even unto death. Read through Romans 1: 16-32 and you cannot but see the fact that there are clear guidelines for how we should conduct ourselves, before God and before men.

The problem lies in our willingness to conform to God's ordinances, commandments, instructions and directives. The passage just mentioned becomes very uncomfortable to many professing Christians because they fail to see the deeper love behind these statements. A person and church which welcomes, even affirming, a person to remain in their sin (because they tend to fall on the side of belief that doesn't accept such things are 'sin') is not "helping" that person.

The Proverbs say clearly: There is a way that seems right to a man, but that way leads to death.

Because we are a rebellious and willful people, God has set forth rules of conduct for His people. If we are truly in Christ, then we are agreeing to abide by these because it pleases our Lord. And in so conforming to how God would have us live, we shall therefore be more able to be the representatives, the light set upon the hill Jesus commanded we should be.

And a light set in the darkness will draw people to it. We, as true believing and faithful Christians, followers of Jesus, will draw those in darkness to us that they may see Christ Jesus through us, hear the truth of His Word, and so be changed in an instant, transformed by the healing Gospel of Love that is found in no other than the Christ, Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

So why would you want anything less than God's perfect will for your life and that of another?

Peace and truth in Christ Jesus be your guiding principles. Amen.