How to Heal

So here I am again with another problem of mine. I seem to still be struggling with the elementary issues of the faith in a rather ridiculous way. On top of my prayer questions, I'm really struggling with sanctification. I've been listening to Matt Chandler's Hebrews series lately, and it has really challenged me in many ways. I've been trying to line up what I believe with how I live, and there are some major discrepancies.

As Chandler teaches through Hebrews, he zeros in on the tabernacle's failures. People come to the tent with their sins and failures. They confess to a priest, who tells them, "Yes, you have sinned before God. Let's go kill a bull." After a sufficient sacrifice is made, the sinner says he will do better, then walks out to repeat the same sin. The law had no power to change people. Then along comes Christ, says he's going to give us a new covenant. Abundant life. New life.
Paul later describes us being free in Christ. "It is for freedom that Christ set us free. So, therefore stand firm and do not be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." He also says there is no condemnation for us who are in Christ Jesus. The law is gone. "He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." (Col. 2) He also says that everything is permissible for us, but not everything is beneficial. The freedom here is astounding. The world has been opened up to us. This has opened up the possibility of great works for the Lord, and great sin in the name of "grace." Paul does in fact warn of this. He cautions the Romans not to go on sinning, but he does not soften his hard stance on grace alone for our salvation.

Well the theology sounds good, but what do we do with it? How does this find its way into our lives? How do we live like free men (and women)? One big question is what are these things that are not "beneficial" to us? Some things are clearly defined in Scripture. Sex outside of marriage. Pretty clear. Pride and envy. No question. Lust. Of course. But what are the lines. What things in our lives do we need to stay away from and why? Why do we avoid them?

I'm sorry; I'm jumping all over the place. I'll come back to the idea of where the line is, but for now I want to talk about our motivation in sanctification. Chandler speaks of the process like this. He says that when his daughter was learning to walk, they would throw a party for every step she took. Video cameras came out; family members were called. This was big time. He noted, though, he never was angry with his daughter for falling. He was too busy celebrating the steps. He would pick her up, kiss the bruises, and get her walking again. He acknowledges that as she grows the falls will get bad. They will draw blood and maybe even leave scars. He will help her heal, and correct her so that she can avoid falling next time.

This sounded beautiful when I first heard it. I wanted this love and freedom. But I had to wonder if it is correct. When I sin in a horrendous way, is God not angry at all? Does sin not still anger or hurt God if it comes from one of His children? It is a beautiful image. It may be true. It feels so different from how I experience sin and the guilt that follows, but it sounds so good. Is this the true image of God, or me wanting to turn Him into something He is not? I'm still searching on this one.

Now for the practical side. What boundaries do we set up for ourselves in areas of sin? The Law commanded that the Sabbath was to be kept holy. No work was to be done. But, what was work? The Pharisees decided to help people out and define work. The Mishnah listed what could and could not be done on the Sabbath, and Jesus hated it. They had added to his law. Do we add to grace by inflicting extra boundaries on others. I think so. But what about on ourselves? If I say that I know one area causes me to sin, is it legalistic of me to limit myself in that area?

I have a friend who described accountability as a crutch. We are broken people, who God is healing. Crutches help people continue to live their regular lives while they are healing. My fear, though, is that I am not healing, but just living on the crutches. Am I living life on a crutch with no plan for ever getting off of it? Somewhere there has to be growth and healing. We have to practice walking with new legs that are prepared to move and run.

I don't think we'll ever be fully healed here on earth. We'll always need the crutches. But isn't the goal heaven? What if instead of waiting for heaven to come to us we started working for it. What if we started preparing our souls for it, so as to taste a little bit of heaven on earth? What kind of image would this give the world. Plato wrote that philosophy was preparing the soul for death. I think that might be an ok description of the Christian faith. Preparing the soul for death and heaven, a place where we won't need the crutches. Preparing for heaven strikes some people as a strange thought. Should you need to prepare for it? Shouldn't it be simple and carefree? Do you we need to prep? I like what C.S. Lewis said about heaven. He said there is serious business in heaven, and that is the business of Joy. Not some mindless frivolity. Intentional, real, everlasting joy. This kind of joy is our duty. The wounds we carry keep us from fulfilling that duty. I want to heal, but sometimes don't know how. I guess that's what the Body is for, helping each other figure it out.