Law and Gospel: Legislating the Gospel?

derkrash-at-yahoo-dot-com

I posted this to Oneness Pentecostal discussion board:

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A dear family member of mine, who happens to be Oneness Pentecostal, told me something recently that disturbed me. I do not know why I continue to be shocked by certain sections of ministers in some corners, but I thought that some of you thoughtful Oneness people might have a few comments on this.

He told me that his pastor recently legislated that people in his church could not have DVD players in their homes, even on their computers. The pastor required a signature on a document whereby the member agreed to the terms. I am not sure if this signature is required of all members or if it is required of the church leaders. In any case, this is an example of a serious problem, and a serious misunderstanding of Christianity.

Traditional Christianity, and by example, throughout the New Testament, always worked from the soul – the inside – and it was assumed that this inside order would be reflected by external order. In the above case, the Christian concept is inverted by imposing external order, hoping that this will produce internal order. Christianity has traditionally taught the Ten Commandments, and many other things as learning how to order one’s soul. Thus, with internal order, a cleric need not legislate Law, which is what Christ sought to fulfill, improve, and make perfect, with dispensing with rules and regulations, and imposing internal order within the soul.

Thus, one knows that murder and adultery are wrong. So, seeing these things on television – or DVD - would remind one of the Ten Commandments, and thus one would see this as wrong, if seen on television. Thus, Shakespeare can be used as a moral lesson even though there is killing and adultery, because the Christian sees this as wrong, and sees the plays as a lesson in morality when the internal disorder in the soul produces external disorder and makes a mess of things.

Legislating that TV or DVD is morally wrong produces effects that many are unaware of, which is not surprising. For, morality is a very basic lesson. But, if one legislates a specific rule or regulation as Morality itself, then this introduces an anti-Christian concept into religion, and is really more akin to Islam, properly speaking. For, when one sees an application Regulation as Morality, one begins to practice Regulation as Morality itself, confusing the intent of Christ, and making things worse. Those who would have TV and DVD within the church become objects of gossip and backbiting. This produces its own sin, and thus is worse than if there were no Regulation as Morality, and simply internal controls on the soul to produce the desired effects.

There is the classic discussion of the proper measure and uses of Law and Gospel. The Law is a particular application of the universal desired effect of Order. However, this application is imperfect as all applications are. Christ gave us the Gospel – Love God, and Love your neighbor – the intent and purpose of the Law. Thus, Law is simply the demonstration – an instance - of what the desired End. It is no longer the End itself, as Christ has fulfilled the Law with the summary of the Law: Love God, Love your neighbor.

So, to legislate the prohibition of DVD, television, or any specific, mundane thing to prevent adultery, killing, and any other such thing one thinks it might cause, is the wrong way to approach Christianity. Pastors have the responsibility to instruct people on Order within that would produce external order. If a pastor is unable to do this, I recommend he get another profession.

But, my opinion here is simply a starting point for discussion of which I would like any and all feedback.

Thanks a lot,

[insert username]

JP Istre