April 07, 2016

Rules Are Rules

I visited a club and during the business meeting the treasurer said, “If you don’t pay your dues you will be dropped.” Later in the meeting a retreat was discussed and the organizer said, “There is only room for 24 to attend.” Uncomfortable, the woman next to me said apologetically, “We sound so exclusive…like you could be voted off the island. I’m sure you wouldn’t immediately be dropped if you didn’t pay your dues.” I recognized my table mates wanting to soften the club’s rules and regulations, because we believers do something similar when we soften the Word of God and claim ignorance for our loved ones. Paul said, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Rom 1:18-20 NIV). 

1 comment:

Steve Corey said...

Gail;

-----Rules aren’t for rules. They’re for people. At least that’s the way they should be. The organizations and processes they form and protect are for people. At least that’s the way they should be. When they are for people there has to be some flexibility about them, for people are not perfect; they often get crosswise with rules not to get their own advantage, but from their inability to perpetually steer a straight course. People breaking rules to get their own advantage need eliminated. People breaking rules because of inabilities need assisted. It is difficult to know the difference between the two, especially since the former present themselves as being the latter. But the Lord can tell the difference. That’s why government will eventually rest upon His shoulders.

Love you all,
Steve Corey