God in a box - 4 easy payments of $29.95

I had an interesting revelation while walking home today... I'll be unfolding this idea as I type, here - it's still pretty raw - but, I think it's blog worthy; so, here it is.

I was thinking about my friend Ali's blog, as well as my Solomon post, plus several conversations I've had over the past couple of years. And, I thought, "Why would God bind Himself with laws?" We've all heard these laws - they're general church doctrine: God can't be in the presence of sin, God can't help you in a certain area of your life if you continually sin, and other things that God can't do.
Now of course, we all know it's not that God can't do these things - He's God! That'd be stupid to believe He can't do something. He just chooses not to - He's chosen to bind Himself to the Law, right? Any good Christian will tell you it's so.

How self-centered is that?! God is bound! I've always had a real problem with this doctrine, but b/c I couldn't refute it, I just kept my mouth shut. But, He showed me something today. He's not bound Himself - He's bound us! (DUHHHH!!) We're the ones who are bound by laws - spiritual and physical. But, God is above the Law - He established the Law. Can God break the Law? No. That's the very definition of Law - whatever God does/says.
Our focus is backward. It's not that God can't be in the presence of sin - it's the other way around. God is Life - sin is death. Where Life is, death cannot exist. Or, let's use a more concrete, physical analogy... God is Light - sin is darkness. What happens to darkness when it comes into proximity with Light? It disappears! Light never flees from darkness, but darkness always flees from Light.

So, how does this apply to us, in our 'sinful state'? Again, it's a matter of focus. Our natural tendency is to gratify the flesh; however, for most of us, that is in exact opposition to our spiritual tendency, which is to glorify or mirror God. We live in such a natural state that most of us are all but deaf to our spirits - the God-part of ourselves. However, if we change our focus, if we listen to that Still, Small Voice that echoes in our hearts (not our minds), we will begin to see the Light.
If we press ourselves into this Light, we will truly begin to live - we will become like God, walk as Jesus walked.
But, there's still a problem - the box we put God in. We tend to think that if we do sin, or miss the mark (literal Greek meaning), God is disappointed with us. We translate our natural reaction to God, who is Spirit. Doesn't work. I think we assume that b/c we can see or feel Him, He's removed Himself from us. That's not true at all - He's always there. We've just pressed into the dark. But, as soon as you press yourself into the Light, that feeling of distance from God, leaves.
But, the box... Here's where it gets tricky. Because we've put God in a box, we automatically box ourselves. We think that b/c the Law exists - it's how we're bound - we have to jump through hoops to get God's adoration. But, Scripture is clear that it's not the deeds of the Law that gain us heavenly brownie points. These deeds are not the seed, but the fruit. Paul is clear that you cannot gain Salvation - there is no Light switch... it's always on - but, we do have to acknowledge that the Light is on. James tells us that these good deeds are in fact the fruit of our Faith - the deeds don't lead us to the Light, but they flow from the Light in our lives, as we live the Life... as we become more like God.
We become like those we associate with - it's a Law of the soul. Paul tells the Romans that it's a renewing of the mind that transforms us. It's a change of focus - a new way of thinking - that sets us free. I think you know you're making progress - you're in the Light, moving out of darkness - when your automatic response, or reaction/proaction is a good deed.... when you glorify/mirror God, instead of just gratifying your own desires.

Sometimes when I write, I think this blasphemy will get me imprisoned - someday when Canada goes Commie or the US turns Fascist (that'll probably get me into more trouble than anything religious I've written - go figure).