LAW: The Slippery Slope of Selective Obedience

I was talking with my friend Steve and someone made a comment about how Dr. Rourke wouldn't let anyone jaywalk on the streets of Washington, D.C. while we were there for the March for Life. Then Steve asked me, do you know why he doesn't do that? I wasn't sure, then Steve responded explaining how Dr. Rourke has a conviction that as a Christian he cannot pick and choose which laws to break and which to obey, because it becomes a slippery slope of continually making compromises that start out small and eventually end in ruin. How interesting!

This of course got me pondering over this concept. Should this be a standard by which all Christians should follow?

About 2 years ago my best friend and former roommate, Greg, was convicted about his use of illegal software and collection of illegal media. He uninstalled all the illegal software and deleted the install files and deleted his illegal media. This really fascinated me because just 2 years earlier during our freshmen year Greg was hording all of the illegal software he could find and even bragging about how large his collection got. This is a dramatic change my friends. Myself and Niki (now his beautiful wife) were surprised that he would do such a thing. I remember thinking how it seemed unnecessary and breaking such a small law wasn't hurting anyone.

Was Greg's collection of illegal software and media hurting anyone? Was his action of deleting it unnecessary?

For as long as I have known him, my missionary friend Sam, was always a gentle and compassionate man of God. He was also known for never going above the speed limit (even if it meant being late) when driving. I heard many of my friends from home make comments about how he is really extreme in his convictions, especially about obeying the speed limit.

Is Sam being extreme by not breaking the law? Since when did obeying the law become extreme to Christians?

I cited these 3 examples because I can think of many Christians who break all these "unnecessary" laws very frequently. To those it applies, why do you do it? Why do I do it? I break all 3 of these examples just about everyday. The sad thing is that no one has ever called me out on it except for Greg, who one day asked me why do I still have illegal software and media on my computer? I had no answer for him because I knew I was breaking the law on purpose. He didn't mention it anymore. He didn't have to, because I knew I was wrong.

Why do so many of us in the Body of Christ purposefully break these laws? We should be challenging each other to do better. The only example we find of Jesus breaking the laws are when the violate God's Word. The Pharisees twisted many of God's laws into keeping a set of rituals instead of worshiping God. These are the only times that Jesus breaks the law, because they violated the law of God in the Torah. The same is true for the Apostles. Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin in Acts 5 and were commanded to not preach in the name of Jesus. They broke this law because it went against God's commands. It is not documented anywhere in Scripture where anyone broke a law other than if it was contrary to the will or commands of God.

How many of us, Christians, would call Jesus extreme today? Not because of his teachings or times when he did purposefully break the laws but for all the times he obeyed them?

I agree with Dr. Rourke that we are setting ourselves up for a slippery slope to fall down when we pick and choose which laws to obey. Imagine if a non-Christian called you out on it, you would look as stupid as I did when Greg asked me the question. We would be hypocrites. Any Christian who does this would also wash out the foundation of the moral standard that God holds for us.

The more I learn about God and grow closer to Him, the more I am beginning to see how consistency in all areas of my life is what He wants. This is true Lordship of Jesus Christ. If you break even the smallest law that is not against God's will or Word, you are sinning. This includes me.

Since I want to purge my life of all sin so that I can run faster to Jesus and be more effective witness I am deleting all my illegal media. I have already deleted my illegal software. I am also going to follow the example of brother Sam and only drive the speed limit. I hope that you will follow my example as I am trying to follow Jesus, like my awesome brothers Dr. Rourke, Greg, and Sam.