Boundaries

Apology: Ok, sorry for the delay. I have felt the pressure of putting something really good on here to start, since I find my security in approval from others and blah blah... But here are some thoughts I have been trying to work through lately. Probably some heresy, so for the sake of sanctification and growth towards Christlikeness I welcome the instruction from my brothers. I have been really guided by these verses lately in regards to this blog: "and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:15-16). I hope that this is a place of Scripture-backed wisdom training, with the goal of being shaped by the Gospel and growing to the heart of the Father.

Boundaries for Freedom
Boundaries for Slavery

Boundaries can be freeing. These are boundaries that are established by God, or set up by myself with the goal of knowing Christ more. They free me by keeping me from things that are not good for me. From ever-increasing sin or pleasure (Heb. 12:1), which then enslaves, becoming a non-negotiable, taking mastery of my attention, desire, will. They also remind me of my finitude. Reminding me that I don't have infinite amount of time, knowledge, ability, etc, and therefore freeing me from unreasonable expectations or belief in myself. I am then free to fully embrace what God has allotted for me, to seek understanding of what He wants for me. Free to trust that He is good, since He is in control, not me.

Boundaries can also be a part of enslavement. These are more the boundaries that I set on God and myself with impure motives. These boundaries I put on how much of my life I acknowlege God's sovereignty and submit to His loving will. I limit myself in terms of reaping to the Spirit, for the kingdom. I set up these boundaries because of insecurities, fears, pride. Behind these are idols that are enslaving me. Idols of comfort, control, approval from others, etc. These things become the driving factors of all that I do, enslaving me, keeping me from experiencing God's blessing of submitting to His divine and good will, and therefore missing the kingdom in my life. He clearly shows that I can't have two masters (Luke 16:13). So when those things are taking mastery over me, God is no longer the gracious provider, no longer Lord. He is now something in the way of what I really want or the means to another end that I really want more than Him. When what He really wants is to give me the kingdom (Luke 12:32).

We are called to freedom. "Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh," (Gal. 5:13) "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life" (Gal. 6:8). This freedom does not include uninhibited self-sovereignty. Some things will enslave. "Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?" (Gal. 4:8-9) These boundaries are for our freedom, freedom to be slaves of righteousness to know and be known by God (Romans 6).

So, my application for this lately is to see where I am still experiencing enslavement in my body to sin, and then seeking to crucify this so that I can live in freedom to live to God. I am calling this process setting up "boundaries." But it is for the end of sowing to the Spirit to "walk in the newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Now for the other types of boundaries that are from impure motives, which are really more limits that I put on God in my life, I am constantly praying that He reveals them so that He can free me from my own weaknesses and experience the blessing of His dominion in all areas of my life.

Comments

[Jimmy Miller]

James, I think that the boundaries that enslave us as Christians are different than those that enslaved us before we knew Christ.

"Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?" (Gal. 4:8-9)

Non-Christians are slaves to themselves, money, cyber-communities, sex, the list goes on, but that is Paul 101. We all took that class and passed it long ago. As Christians I believe we can fall into those same traps, but we can be refocused through the Holy Spirit. The "Christian boundaries" that enslave us are similar, but come from something different. Non-Christian gods, or slave-masters, come about through people looking for purpose in the wrong place. These people think that they have found the meaning of life, and it is (insert idol here). What they do not understand, or understand all to well in some cases, is that the very thing they believe gives their life meaning, is the very thing that enslaves them. Businessmen who strive to make the most money are bound to chase the dollar only to discover that the Notorious B.I.G was correct in proclaiming "Mo' money, mo' problems."

As Christians, we strive to get closer to God through Christ and the Holy Spirit, who lives in us. Like you said, we set up boundaries for ourselves that we see as means to and end. These boundaries are usually called disciplines. I'm not about to say that things like going to church, serving others, or reading Christian literature is a bad thing, but I believe they can become idols in our lives.

I should find my worth in Christ. I should always believe that my actions do not define me. I say should because, in actuality, I base my worth on my actions. People call me smart because I graduated college, people say I'm a good person because I occasionally help people, people say I'm a good Christian because I go to church on Sundays and I blog religious thoughts with my friends, and you know what? I believe them. The problem with that comes when I fail at something. If I base my worth on my actions, then the moment I fail, people think less of me, and my perception of self-worth falls.

When it comes to my Christian boundaries, I become enslaved to them and not to Christ when the "the end" becomes going to church, or praying before a meal, instead of being "the means" to "the end" of knowing Christ. I believe this is why people become bored with church. Church (with a small "c") has become their god, not the Triune God. Church becomes enslaving because they feel obligated to go, not because it is a place where they feel closer to God. If Christ is truly my master, then I will do whatever it takes to serve him. If that means going to church, then I will go, and it won't seem a chore because He loves me.

Bottom Line: The boundaries that enslave us as Christians become that way, when we try to win God's approval through our actions.

[David Dalrymple]

"freedom does not include uninhibited self-sovereignty" Great thought.

Boundaries can be a great way of acknowledging God's sovereignty. I think people in other countries are way better at understand this; especially non-democratic countries. In China for example the government is big on linking rights with responsibilities. The people there unquestioningly acknowledge the governments rule. We are by nature rebels in America. I mean that's how we got started as a nation. Can I be so bold as to say we need a lesson from the Communists.

I think letting go of freedom and limiting myself so as to give God control is scary. But what is even scarier is the thought of keeping control of my own life. I've tried that before and it's horrible. I can't imagine repeating that portion of my life. I'd be dead, in jail or just plain ruined if I keep that up very long. I must put boundaries on my life that allow massive amounts of room for God to govern. Most of all, if I know God is really good, I shouldn't fear his sovereignty.

[David Dalrymple]

This seems to imply boundaries. Strict ones.

2 Corinthians 10
1By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! 2I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

[Drew Leatherberry]

Wonderful thoughts...

[Drew Leatherberry]

...