The Secret Rules of Liberals and Conservatives
Interesting video (above), eh?
Each tribe in America has certain taboos that make them cry out to their constituents, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” ([youversion] Col. 3:21-23 [/youversion]) For liberals, its gluten, genetically modified foods, gas guzzling cars, and the like. Just try to order a steak at a vegetarian restaurant, and see the looks you get! Its amazing how many pious rules and regulations health-conscious have set up for their own personal quarantine. For conservatives, they make no mistake about it – personal ethics like curse words, drinking alcohol, or voting for big government policies. Doing these things or involving yourself with people who do will keep you out of the “inner circles” of the Tribe.
There are literally thousands of other tribes out there with the same spoken or unspoken boundaries on what they are willing for you to accept. Sports tribes, politics tribes, business tribes, family tribes, etc.
When you cross that border, you are no longer considered clean by your tribe. You “are off the deep end” and they now consider you an outsider.
Paul makes the case that in Christ, and in the Christ-Tribe, we are no longer to condemn (or be condemned) with such rules. There may be other benefit in driving a Prius, but your association with Christ is not made or broken on that. More importantly, following all these rules will get you no closer to the real problem – the evil and divine “ME” in all of us. Only Christ can set you free from your selfish desires. You are in his family – and as such you are set free from the bondage of worldly constraints. In a very real way, you have already died – and the limitations of an earthly life no longer apply to you. Now your life is brand new, and following Christ is the only path out of self-centeredness and into resurrected life.
There are literally thousands of other tribes out there with the same spoken or unspoken boundaries on what they are willing for you to accept. Sports tribes, politics tribes, business tribes, family tribes, etc.
When you cross that border, you are no longer considered clean by your tribe. You “are off the deep end” and they now consider you an outsider.
Paul makes the case that in Christ, and in the Christ-Tribe, we are no longer to condemn (or be condemned) with such rules. There may be other benefit in driving a Prius, but your association with Christ is not made or broken on that. More importantly, following all these rules will get you no closer to the real problem – the evil and divine “ME” in all of us. Only Christ can set you free from your selfish desires. You are in his family – and as such you are set free from the bondage of worldly constraints. In a very real way, you have already died – and the limitations of an earthly life no longer apply to you. Now your life is brand new, and following Christ is the only path out of self-centeredness and into resurrected life.
Agent B 10:13 pm on November 15, 2009 Permalink
Very good words.
Alan 3:29 pm on November 16, 2009 Permalink
But what about those of us who want to drive a pious Pius to pick up a cheap steak at Whole Walk-Mart Foods? Or those of us who voted an Obama/Palin ticket after church at the First Episcopal Church of Christ?
I water my home grown organic produce with a water gun replica AK-47 and children’s tears!
Mark 9:47 am on November 17, 2009 Permalink
alan = crazy amazing