Just Follow ALL The Rules

WOW!! It's been a while since my last "real" post. It seems I've been too busy to make this blog a much higher priority. Earlier this year I decided that I would at least post a few times a week because there was enough material, albeit in my head, to support such a push. A rule wasn't put into affect, per se. However, there was a feeling that it would be in my best interest to follow through since I had gone "on record" in cyberspace to post frequently. Well, as you can see, I started out with a bang but ended with barely even a fizzle. So here's my attempt to recapture that spark.

Speaking of rules, @ Crossroads Vineyard (CRV) we're taking an in depth look at Jesus' story commonly known as the parable of the prodigal son. It's been a great ride for us at CRV. I have really enjoyed the Life Group discussion about the older brother. You know the religious, rule-following, morally good, self-righteous older brother. I think I may have used too many adjectives but hopefully it gets you in the right frame of mind for the rest of the post.

The older brother followed the rules, not because he wanted to, but because he had a sense that it would earn him good favor with his father. He was the good son because he thought he could subtly get his father's money without really loving his father. In other words, he thought it was the right thing to do to get the reward. His plan to his father's money led him to a lost of self. He wanted freedom but ended up becoming a slave. He was a slave to his religious, morally good behavior.

Why do I follow the rules? I have always been a compliant child. If there was a rule, then I would follow it. As a fifth grader, I read the school handbook. I know, I know, I'm probably in the smallest percentage of kids that would've done such a thing. My enthusiasm for rules ended up getting me into a fight because I loved to share my new found knowledge with the other kids at the bus stop.

I follow the rules because I think it's in my nature to do so. You could probably say that I follow the rules because I feel like its in my best interest to do so. Obviously, the rules are there for a reason, most likely to keep me or others from some kind of harm.

I also follow the rules because it's the easiest way to get through life. My goal during my US Navy bootcamp experience was to make it through without getting into any trouble. I didn't want my Company Commanders, now called Recruit Division Commanders, to even know my name. Well, to my credit, if you want to call it that, I only got in trouble once. YAAAY! ME!

Early in my spiritual journey I had the same idea as the older brother. The way to earn a blessing is to follow all the rules. Yes...ALL means ALL! Even now I slip back into that thinking. Sometimes I think, "If I just pray a little more, then my children will get good grades. Or my marriage will workout better (or in my favor). If I just read my Bible more, then the things outside of my control will work in my favor." Following the rules can quickly become a means to try to control the uncontrollable, namely God. Following the rules, in my mind, can give me the false sense of being in control of the things outside of my control.

The past few months have been extremely freeing for my rule following, need for control behavior. As we were launching this in depth study, my mindset has been changed from one of praying to get psuedocontrol (I just made that word up) to praying to talk AND listen to God. This has opened a whole wide world of possibilities when it comes to rule following. Following the rules is not about trying to gain control. Instead it's about listening and doing because it's in my best interest to do so. I believe that God has my best interest in mind. He doesn't give a list a rules, instead He gives us suggestions that will be helpful for our lives, if we choose to listen and do. He's not going to make us listen and do. It's our choice to listen and do. After all, it's in our best interest to listen and do.

So, how about you? Why do you follow the rules? How has your reason for following the rules played out in your life?