<\/a> \nSome argue that followers of Jesus don’t need the law. That we follow the Spirit and live by grace. So does this make us anarchists? No. But maybe we could call ourselves anarChrists.<\/p>\nWhat is the difference?<\/p>\n
Anarchist<\/h2>\n An anarchist is someone who tries to live without law. They think the government should just get out of their lives, and let them do as they please. Anarchy really doesn’t work in reality, because it simply degenerates into the powerful ruling over the weak.<\/p>\n
A lot of Christians think that Jesus was a bit of an anarchist when it comes to the Jewish law. Many of us live and act as if Jesus abolished the law, did away with the commandments, and now all we have to do is live by grace.<\/p>\n
To the contrary, Jesus specifically stated that He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). This verse is usually explained away by stating that once Jesus fulfilled the law, it was then done away with.<\/p>\n
But this doesn’t do justice to Jesus and what He says.<\/p>\n
AnarChrist<\/h2>\n In His life, ministry, and teaching, Jesus constantly affirming the law of God as a good and right way of living. He never states that the law is a way of receiving eternal life from God, but constantly shows that the law IS a way of living like residents of the Kingdom of God.<\/p>\n
The law, as Jesus explains and applies it in the Gospels, is His vision for humankind. It is not exactly a list of “do’s and don’ts” but a list of “what if’s.” Through His life and teachings, Jesus is asking, “What if we all lived this way? Would the world look different?”<\/p>\n
Ultimately, I think that is what the law was for–to show the world what a society could look like if we lived together in peace and unity, with love and forgiveness.<\/p>\n
So following Jesus is not about following law. When we think it is, we soon find that we have left Jesus behind, and are now only following a bunch of man-made interpretations of the law. But when we follow Jesus, and don’t worry about the law, we look back after a few years and surprised to learn that He has led us into the fulfillment of the law.<\/p>\n
So do you want to follow the law? You can’t do it, so don’t even try. But you can follow Jesus, and in so doing, become an anarChrist and fulfill the law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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Become an AnarChrist<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n