It's complicated. So they tell me. But it is. Why do we do what we do? I hear people (on all sides) declaring why Trump is doing what he is doing (whatever it might be) and I wonder, "How do they know?" I mean, sure, sometimes he might say, but for the most part we're guessing. And that's just Trump. It's actually ... everything. So when we read the commands of Scripture, you have to ask yourself the basis of obedience. Is it duty? Is it fear? Is it selfishness? And don't even get me started on the "all of the above" answers.
There is, in Scripture, a recurring theme about why we should do what we're told to do. "Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" (Eph 5:2) "As Christ loved you." "Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord" (Eph 5:22). "As to the Lord." "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Eph 5:25). "Just as Christ also loved the church." Directly or indirectly, it seems like our reason for obedience should be ... Christ. His example. His methods. His motivation. It appears that we should be finding our reason and our operating source ... in God. Empowered by the Spirit. Led by the Spirit. "Christ in me." It seems as if our entire basis is intended to be ... Him.
Paul wrote, "Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Gal 3:3). It feels like most of us would want to answer "Yes" to that. Not verbally, but in practice. We aren't expected to drum up the power or build up the will. We aren't expected to operate on duty or fear. We are expected to be followers of Christ, operating in His power for His purposes. Kind of like, "From Him and through Him and to Him are all things" (Rom 11:36). Yes, we participate, but for His reasons by His power under His direction.
Very inspiring--and convicting--thoughts. I know I don’t base my motivation for living my life in pure, loving devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ as I ought--yet He is worthy of that complete dedication and worship. May I be more mindful of why I do what I do this day!
ReplyDeleteBecause of our difficulty in determining motivation in others (and often ourselves), I think it is stupid to try to prosecute people for "Hate Crimes". On one hand, every sin is a hate crime against God.
ReplyDeleteChecking our motivation for our religious lives is why we must live semper reforendum.
Maybe prosecuting for hate crimes on the basis of their admission that it was hate might be okay?
DeleteDoes the hate make the crime committed any more illegal? If I rob a liquor store, does it make it any worse of a friend if I robbed it because it was owned by a person I hate?
DeleteWell, if there is law against it, yes, it does. Like if you intend to kill someone versus kill them by accident. Two different kinds of murder.
DeleteCertainly intent matters, but did the reason for the intent matter? If I intend to murder someone, does the reason for the intent make it more or less egregious? The danger is the ability to add a reason that may not be the. If I intend to murder a black man because he's done something to offend me, the law can simply (and does) add on a racial motive that I didn't have. Does my murdering of a black man because he upset me or because I hate black people make the crime of murdering him any different?
DeleteMy problem with hate crimes is that it essentially criminalizes thought. You can obviously show intent, without the reason for the intent being a factor. It's why intent is one dividing line between classes of homicide. Intent seems like a reasonable distinction, the thought behind the intent doesn't.
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