If you take away the rules and say, "You know, the truth is I don't have to be a Mennonite to go to Heaven", what do I do with that? For many Mennonites, this suddenly opens the door to many things, a lot of them things that they've always chafed at not being allowed to do! I think that's why we see the "Rules" and the "Heart" sides so strongly. It's like there's only two options - either keep the door tightly barred and closed, ("Woah, woah! We can't say that our rules aren't really necessary! Every organization needs rules. You can't get rid of the rules! No, no! Keep that door shut!!") or then fling it open wide and tumble over each other to get out the door, ("All that matters is what's in the heart! Works will not get me to Heaven!").
But what if you don't really want out the door, yet you realize that, in truth, the door doesn't actually need to be closed? Is it possible to live with the door "open" but not necessarily go through it? Is "Can I get to Heaven if I do this?" the best question to ask when trying to decide how God would have me live? After all, "Can I do this and Chris will stay married to me?" is not really the best way to have a good marriage relationship! Is there a "Higher Road"? What does God call us to?
6 comments:
Hi, Bethany. This is Linda Hurry, I left that long "anonymous" message last week. Here I am finding an urge to unburdon my heart again. I think our earthly minds would be shocked by some of the people we find with us in heaven. Seems we always hear about the perfect heavenly bodies we will have. No more pain, no tears, etc. With that perfect body will surely come a perfect mind and spirit. We won't worry about what everyone else is doing, but it will all be about worship and praise of God. Here on earth in the meantime, while we are saved from living under the law, not everything is good. Everything we do is part of our testimony of God's love and grace. You can be a saved Christian without works, but that doesn't draw anyone else to God. I'm sure the Devil would love us all to keep on sinning, keep on bickering about the "rules". In the end, I believe God has a purpose for all of us in our salvation. He may be able to use you best in your traditional garb with all those thoughts running around your head. Perhaps in that way you can bridge the gap between the two sides for His glory. I think even the shakiest of congregations, or even outright false teachers can be used for good if that seed of possibility is planted in a potential believer's mind. As they learn more they may move along to a more truth filled congregation. Or they may even be able to lend strength and truth to a formerly lost and floundering flock. What a wonderful God we serve who can use even the things we may mean as evil for good in the long run. Have a blessed week, and keep on exploring your faith.
I never commented here before but I just want to tell you that I'm enjoying and being challenged by this series. You remind me a lot of myself as far as background and personality (looking back at past posts) except that you have an amazing ability to express your thoughts. So, keep it up! God's grace to you.
Hi. I'm enjoying your posts. They are so real. Evn though I go to a different denomination, albeit Mennonite, I relate very much in everything you write. Like Linda said earlier, theses are issues facing many churches, in one form or another. The 'heart' versus 'rules'...yes, we grapple with that constantly. Seems the heart is replacing the rules more and more, but I don't believe it is all negative. It's just that when the door is cracked open in areas that never have been 'allowed', it seems to create a stampede. Then we wish for the rules again cause 'things' seem to be spiraling out of control. To find the balance is ever the pursuit. Courage to you and your family. :-)
Thank you, Linda, for your input. I've enjoyed it! And I think you're so right. Our little 'boxes' limit God to so little when, in reality, He is about so much more than what we see with our human eyes!
Thank you! I've always been able to express myself so much better in writing than talking and that doesn't always feel like a gift :) Blessings to you as well.
Thank you for commenting, Lois! It's so nice to hear what people are thinking and I loved your picture of the door being cracked creating a stampede :) Yes! It seems like people go in cycles from generation to generation....
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