Posted on 11/25/2003 4:51:02 AM PST by stainlessbanner
Law and Request
"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." 2 Corinthians 3:6
If someone asked you the difference between a law and a request, you would probably answer to the effect that law is obligatory and request is not. You may also note that, for the most part, laws have the recipient's best interest at heart, while requests have the requester's best interest at heart. For example, if you tell your five-year-old that he cannot play in the street, you seek his interest. But if you ask your child to fetch your slippers, it may be a request, but you seek your interest.
Never make laws out of your endeavor to help people seek their best. For example, Paul says that celibacy is preferred for those with a heart for God. [414] When the church makes celibacy a law because it wants the people to seek the best, they err biblically. Parents can easily do this with their children. For example, the godly parent desires that the child's heart seeks God and makes a law to the effect that the child must spend a minimum of thirty minutes with the Lord each day. He does this because he seeks what is best for his child. But the thirst for holiness comes from within the heart. Law is external, ignoring the desire of the heart. Making laws may be easier than influencing thinking, but laws will prove counter-productive to both the relationship and the desired objective.
* [414] - cf. I Corinthians 7:32-34
As we were taught, get the heart right, and all else follows.
Reminiscent of Psalm 42:1. Thanks for posting it
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