"Because I'm your parent and I said so."
If you are a parent you've likely said those words...or at the very least thought them. We are the guardians and protectors of our children. It is our job to make sure they are raised in a way that they will reach maturity and become responsible citizens. It is our job to shape them, guide them, and lead them. We pass on our traditions, our values, our faith, and our life lessons. We have experiences that our children have not had and we can share our wisdom in many areas. We don't restrict our kids just for the sake of bossing them around. We want to make sure they do not make some of the same mistakes we did. We want to protect them. We can, and often do, give reasons for our rules but it often boils down to the same reason: We want the very best for them.
God is our Heavenly parent. He has the same role as our earthly parents: to guide us, to lead us, and to shape us to reach full maturity in Him. He wants the best for us. He doesn't merely give us life guidelines to mess with us or boss us around...he does it for our own good.
"I am the Lord" is written 14 times in this passage. I think that's kind of the same as "Because I'm your parent and I said so." God wants the very best for us. He sets out instructions and "rules" because He knows what happens if they are not followed and we are not experiencing all that He has in mind for us.
One thing that Hebrews reminds us is that there is one very significant difference between our earthly parents and our Heavenly Father. While our earthly parents are limited to their own advice and they may even be wrong or give advice that might not work. Our parents can, and will, be wrong or they will change or they will make mistakes. However, (Hebrews 13:8) says "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." What a comfort to know!
One other note that stood out for me. I've heard on a few occasions that the Bible never calls out homosexuality as a sin. This passage outlines a stance against homosexuality.
Leviticus Verse 20:13 says:
13 If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
As Christians, we are commanded to love people. We are commanded to love but that doesn't mean that we need to accept their actions as right. Love the sinner...and we are all sinners and we all struggle with sin. Our own struggle may be less obvious to others. Society may brand Christians as intolerant because they believe that the Bible does say that homosexuality is a sin. However, Hebrews reminds us:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
We live in this world, but this world is not our home. Our Dad is waiting at home for us to return and when we get there we will be able to see all things clearly and He will say, "See? Because I am your parent and I told you so."
3 comments:
I too, thought the same after reading Leviticus 20:13. Important for me, and others, to remember that we are all sinners and need forgiveness from God.
Love your thoughts on Leviticus. We always need to remember that if there is ever a situation where our opinion on right/wrong differs from what God has said - that we are wrong. every. time.
There were so many good things about our Hebrews passage. This one jumped out at me in particular....
V15 Do not neglect to do good
Sinning isn't only doing something evil (sins of commission), it's also refusing to do something good (sins of omission). When we know what the right thing is to do, and fail to do it, we have sinned. We probably are guilty of these sins even more than the sins of commission.
"Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy." Leviticus 19:2b
I remember when Kaden was very young, he took pleasure in doing exactly as I did. In his mind, I could do no wrong. He looked up to me the way I should look up to God.
The call of holiness was not just for the Israelites, but for us today as well. We are to separate ourselves from the world and draw close to God, living as He wants us to live. Nor are we to love the things of this world, but we must be holy, because God is holy. And He "told us so".
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