On May 31, 2009, Scott Roeder walked into a Lutheran church in Wichita, Kansas and killed Dr. George Tiller. Dr. Tiller was one of the few doctors in the United States who performed late term abortions. Roeder confessed to the killing, and he gave his reasons, "...preborn children's lives were in imminent danger."
There are those within the Christian faith who would condone such an act of violence. They would argue, vehemently that such an act protects innocent children from being murdered. Eerily echoing the words of Caiphas in John chapter 11, they would say, "You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” Although they would not consider an abortion doctor dying for the people.
In my previous post, I spoke of how the Lutheran reformers gave an avenue to "loosen" Biblical laws so that something prohibited in Scripture could now be allowed within a church. Now, we travel down the slippery slope.
What if...a community of Christians gathered and decreed the shooting of doctors who perform abortions is allowable? What if...a community of Christians gathered and decreed such acts were justifiable because they prevented greater harm? What if...a community of Christians gathered and decreed that such acts were not sinful and a Christian was free to act in such a manner? Would that community be right in its declaration? After all..."all things are lawful", and if no one objected or was offended...
Oh, what a tangled web is weaved.
I have no doubt that even St. Paul--the primary author of salvation by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ--would argue some laws are not to be messed with. In fact, I can prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt. While penning his great treatise on the primacy of grace, Paul slips in this sentence in Romans 3:31, "Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law."
Even Paul knows we can't just do whatever we want. Even Paul knows we can't just throw the law out the window. Are there things we can ignore? Sure. But are there some things which are non-negotiable? I think so.
But how does one know the difference?
22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’ 27So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’ 28Then the man said, ‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.’ 29Then Jacob asked him, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’ And there he blessed him. --Genesis 32:22-29
To me, this is a fascinating text found in the book of Genesis. Jacob, who by all rights was a scoundrel, has an encounter with God. He wrestles with God throughout the night. And when all is said and done, God blesses Jacob. But, it is not without cost. Jacob is fundamentally changed by the encounter. His name is changed, and he bears a physical scar after all is said and done. Is there a metaphor for us when we wrestle with loosening the Biblical law?
If, in the course of our lives, we come across a law which doesn't seem to address our situation any longer, should we not wrestle greatly with God? Should we not work and wonder and worry? Should we not enter into such a discussion without fear and trembling?
And, if in our striving to loosen a law, should we not expect to come out unscathed? Should we believe everything will be "hunky-dory" because we figured everything out?
It seems to me that if a community of faith decides to loosen a Biblical law, it can expect pain and consequences. It can expect to be fundamentally changed--hopefully, in the long run, for the better. But I cannot see how one can flippantly loosen a Biblical law without consequences.
It seems we should try and uphold the law. For the law gives us the boundaries of right relationships with God, with creation, and with one another. Are there exceptions? Sure. There always are. But it doesn't change the law.
My head hurts. Time to stop for a while.
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