If you were the kid who had to be repeatedly told to quit throwing the ball against the house, and didn't, you may understand the following better than most. If when called for dinner, you kept insisting "one more play," and two scoring drives later only came in because the kid who owned the ball had to go, you're not alone, but in good company. And if you had parents who couldn't understand shooting hoops or playing HORSE by a streetlight, you probably have a good understanding of being a kid. A time when football scores were 66-60, and you could have tied the game, but you really had to go to the bathroom, and your mom made you wash your hands, then sit and eat your cold hamburger. When throwing the ball into the square you drew on the side of the house, you were only one strike away from striking out the side and a perfect game, and your father appeared-game called on account of parent, and you had to abandon your dream, until the next day. When frustration was defined as trying to explain HORSE to your mother, who couldn't understand playing it in the dark. Try proving that shot!
These were simpler times of playing sports, before you got older and tried out for a team, and learned about rules. That there were only three strikes, you couldn't dribble with both hands, and the curb wasn't your out of bounds marker, and if you didn't score you gave the ball over-after a punt. There were no "do overs," and sometimes life was really a four point play-the two you lost when the ball was stolen, and the two they got after stealing it. You had rules, and somehow the game lost a lot of its fun. You learned winning and losing where before even the easiest catch was replayed in your hall of fame mind all day. And the fun was defined by innings, or worse yet by a clock. You quit playing while it was still light? Hey, you were just starting to have fun when the gun went off-game over. And times when you were hard at practice, would look over to the other field and see kids playing a game of touch football, and between drills would wonder over and say "hey kid, toss me the ball." Just waiting for the coach to say "drop and give me 20," when all you wanted to do was play the game they had turned into a job. And when you murmured something, were reminded you weren't there to have fun, a precursor to what laid ahead in adulthood. Rules, signs, plays, and lessons to learn-just so you could do what you had been doing for years-with rules, just without the fun.
The law and the spirit are always at odds with each other. And if you want to quench the spirit, add rules. And as Christians, we love rules-well some of you do. To young ones we tell them you have to read your Bible 20 minutes daily, pray for ten, and memorize Bible verses each week-this will make you a better Christian. And although those things are not inherently wrong, they just add rules-which is what we were trying to escape when we came to Christ-am I a bad Christian if I don't memorize the verses? What if I can only read 5 minutes per day? Are you better than me because you do? I believe the Bible says something about where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. Where is the freedom in the above example? But the spirit encourages us to want to do these things. And it doesn't stop there. As I even see Christian ministries, who will tell you they believe all the Bible, have rules. A major motorcycle ministry forbids communion at any of its events. But say, doesn't Jesus say "do this in remembrance of me?" If friends in that ministry are at my house and we have communion, are we in danger of having the organization tell us to roll up our patches-because we did as Jesus commanded?
I also know of ministries that are a narrow focus, and when seeing how the folly of rules interfered with their ministry-changed the rules, and followed God-allowing His spirit to be the ultimate referee. Because when you add rules, you not only quench the spirit, but you make it a performance based relationship-see I told you if you read the Bible 20 more minutes you would be holier! And some act like it! You see the law kills the spirit, and it becomes all about you, instead of all about Jesus. Now note, I am not saying this effects your salvation, but can certainly curtail any real growth and ministry desires you may have. Perhaps by quoting a mobster who got caught going to church. When accused of getting morals, he said " I ain't got no morals, I live by a set of rules." You see rules tell us when we are out of bounds, not in. They tell us when we are out, not safe. And when we have been fouled. Any questions? The rule police are out to get you-don't let them.
Living in the spirit, keeping your heart open to Jesus is where it is at. Getting closer to the God who created you, who wants to spend time with you and bless your ministry. Remember that next time you can't remember the Roman Road, or the four spiritual laws, or don't have your Bible. And the person you are with can, and then gives you grief because you shared Jesus without them. God gives the words, let Him.
My mind goes back to the Wrangler commercial with Brett Favre. Just some guys without uniforms playing some touch in the mud, and by the smiles on their face you could never score enough points to justify them. They are having fun, and even if you lost, you still won. And I can even remember forgetting the score, or who was even keeping it. Being in the spirit is like that. Score doesn't matter. Just looking forward to seeing your friends again next week. Just like a good church does-wanting you to return for more.
And at the end of the Natural, just watching two southpaws playing catch, and as Roy Hobbs' face breaks into a smile, finally is at peace. A peace not found, a smile not allowed when going for the championship-only found when doing what the spirit moves you to do. Maybe that is why Christians should have more fun than anyone else-but don't. Too many rules. So seek God, drop the rules, follow the spirit, and enjoy a full relationship with God. May even bring a smile to your face. And what good is fun if you don't enjoy it?
As for now, I just can't stand the ball bouncing off the house anymore. "Hey kid, quit throwing the ball against the house! Wait, hold it a minute, let me get my glove." Where two or three are gathered Jesus is among them. It just may take a ball to remind you. Remember just as some of the best games are not played on a field, the best times in God don't have to be spent in church. That's ministry, and a relationship.
Aren't you glad God doesn't keep score? Now, play ball! In the spirit, and leave the rules for those who need them. The one thing the Ten Commandments could not do was offer salvation-find it in Jesus today, in the spirit.
"Coach, can I get a drink of water now?" What was that about rules?
love with compassion, and having fun,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com