Have You Ever Felt Fenced In?

Good Afternoon!

Originally, God gave the Nation of Israel, Ten Commandments but as the centuries (and legalism) rolled on, the idea of creating fence laws (laws that kept you from even getting close to breaking the Commandment, the real law) were put in place.

By the time Jesus came on the scene, the Jewish religious establishment had created 613 (yes, 613) of these fence laws, all put in place to insure that you would never break the real law. But unfortunately, as man too often does, the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes determined that if you broke a fence law, then you had broken the real law and were guilty and deserving of punishment.

The “Sabbath Day Journey” was one of those fence laws. It was put in place to insure that you didn’t break the commandment of keeping the Sabbath Holy by doing no work on that day. They equated walking a distance (to the fields for example) as work and therefor you were in jeopardy of breaking the “don’t work on the Sabbath law”, so they set a maximum distance you could walk (2,000 cubits = 3,000 feet) on the Sabbath but if you were to walk further than that you had broken the law. This may all sound OVER THE TOP for many today but in Jesus’ day it could carry the death (stoning) penalty.

But I wonder if we don’t do similar things today and just like the religious leaders in Jesus’ day, we see them as very normal and revered. Each one of these examples I’m about to give are good in-and-of-themselves but do they keep us from the real focus and goal?

Let me give a few examples but before I do, please remember that I do not think any of these things are wrong nor do I want to abandon the desire to experience them for myself or to dissuade others---but please here my heart and try and view these from a non-experiential, perspective.

Here they are:

1. Seeing a person saved. Everyone needs to be born-again but that is only the starting point. When we have salvation as the goal, are we creating one of those fence laws (a good one of course) and keeping them from their real goal or purpose.

2. Doctrine and Bible knowledge. This is also good but if it becomes the quest rather than the purpose to attain an understanding of the Fathers will, have we erected a fence law?

3. The Anointing (His enabling). He enables us for purpose, not just to be anointed. When He calls, He enables, so I believe we should be yearning for purpose, knowing the enabling (anointing) will follow. When we seek the anointing, are we creating a fence law?

4. The Presence. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He spoke of the Fathers will and the Fathers Kingdom. He did not instruct them to pray for more time in His presence. Jesus said no matter how wonderful it is to be with Me, you have many great things to accomplish. Yes, we all love to feel Him and experience Him but when we have that as the desired destination, have we not created another fence law?

5. The Gifts. As the word describes, they are GIFTS. We don’t earn or deserve them but they do have purpose. Yes you say, but doesn’t it say to seek the gifts and even more that we should prophesy? Yes it does but to attain the gifts is not the goal, the purpose He has for them is to transform lives. When we seek the gifts as something to attain, could we be setting up another fence law?

6. The call. We all want to know the purpose for our lives and what He has called us to but unfortunately, I see to many Christians who do very little for the Kingdom because they keep saying, “I just don’t know for certain what He wants me to do”. ---PLEASE---your bible is full of direction, start following it and watch how He guides you. As long as you keep the boat tied to the dock, it will never reach the destination. When we focus on knowing the call rather than the purpose and working out of the call, are we building another fence law?

7. Mentoring and being Mentored. This cannot be another destination. I have been asked by many people, “would you mentor me” thinking that somehow if they are mentored, then they will be ready. This thinking is linked to the clergy/laity mentality and only develops the, “I’m not ready but there are others that are”. Mentoring or being mentored has value but it can’t be considered the goal. We can’t allow ourselves the luxury of just saying, “I need to be mentored” without recognizing then adding,“ I want to be mentored so I can effectively fulfill His purpose”. Unfortunately I never hear that articulated. If we see mentoring as the goal, I believe another fence law has been set in place.

8. Seeking or being in the Glory. No matter how wonderful this is, it cannot be the goal. It can’t be what we seek if it is not immediately connected with what He would want us to do. Jesus spent many nights with His Father on the mountain top but in the morning He came down and DID. If we just long for the glory---the presence, we become consumers only. He put us here to be transformers, not just consumers. The glory/presence cannot become the destination because if it is, it will become another fence law.

9. Being made whole and becoming a mature Christian. Although both of these are important, they can’t become an end unto themselves. We are made whole and become mature to fulfill His purpose and destiny for our lives and for His Kingdom. We don’t get healed up and whole just to be mature. There is purpose and if we avoid that purpose by just seeking wholeness and maturity, I believe we have created another fence law.

10. The making of Disciples and becoming a Disciple Maker. Although this is an important biblical revelation, it was never intended to be the destination. Disciples were established to shift nations and transform ethnos. Becoming one of the first disciples was purposeful but came with quite a price tag. Just look at the lives of the Disciples after the resurrection. Don’t allow the great value of discipleship to become a fence law.

Now I know if you got this far in the reading of this blog, you are either in agreement with me or else very opposed but either way, I welcome your comments.

George

Comments

2/16/2017
There is freedom in these truths!! Thank you!! I say yes and amen!

4/26/2019
Thank You!