LBC Youth Lesson for Feb 24, 2008 (Reflections)
Due to my ongoing illness, I haven't posted my
lessons. That's ok, though, because lately they rarely go in the direction I
planned. The kids have had their own thoughts and questions. This week, I hit
them with mine.
No, that's not exactly fair of me. This is a
question I've wrestled with for some time: what is the role of Old Testament Law
in New Testament Life.
The passage
studied yesterday is the first list of blessings and cursings in Leviticus 26.
A similar list is given later in Deuteronomy 28. The lists basically say,
"Follow the law, and life will be good. Ignore God's law, and life will be
bad." The teacher was one of our seminary interns. It's tough to teach in a
manner appropriate for kids from 7th grade through high school seniors while
simultaneously taking seminary classes and working (volunteering) for the
church! He did his best. His basic theme was "Obey." Good Baptist tradition,
in the mold of "Delayed obedience is disobedience." Which is to say, I really,
really didn't like the lesson. Why? Because I've memorized too much of
Galatians to let some things slide.
The
question I asked the kids in my group (mostly 8th graders) is "Do we have to
obey the law of Moses?" The mix of answers I got was predictable. "Well,
certain parts." "YES!" "Ummm" and so forth. "Ok, how many of you have
sacrificed an animal to atone for your sins?" There were two smart alecks in
the group, but otherwise they said "no." "Ok, how many of you are wearing
clothes that are cotton mixed with something else?" They had no idea that was
in the law. (Ok, I stretched that one a bit, but you get the point.)
In Galatians 3 the role of the law is
clearly described. (I don't remember verse numbers, so you can use
biblegateway.com to look these up if you want.) [Italics below are my
emphasis.]
- Abraham believed God and
it was counted for him as righteousness.
-
For all who rely on the law are under a curse, for it is written 'Cursed is
everyone who does not abide by
all
things written in the book of the law and do them.'
- Now the promises were given to Abraham and
his offspring. It does not say, 'And to offsprings,' referring to many, but
referring to one: 'And to your offspring.' This is what I mean: the law, which
came 430 years after, does not annul a
covenant previously ratified by God so as to
make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, then it no
longer comes by promise. But God gave it to Abraham by a
promise.
What matters for the Christian
is to believe God: not merely believe in God, but to believe God. To follow and
imitate him, to rely on him. That's what some people mean by the word "obey."
I prefer how the ESV puts it: "keep my commands," or "If you abide in me and my
words abide in you." That's different than an impersonal management structure:
that's embracing God's grace and his call on your life in an active
way.
But that leads us into Galatians
5, which I haven't memorized yet.
Posted: Mon - February 25, 2008 at 07:18 AM
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