The Mystery of Iniquity

Brothers, everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called by God. 1 Cor 7:24



In my heart, I know there is a reason I was born into a religious circle that forbade several practices and set some stringent boundaries upon me as a young man -- many of which are not, in my mind, clearly not universally applicable to everyone. And yet... the mistake I have made over and over is to buy into the mistaken notion that the commandment not to judge prevents me from accepting for *me* certain restrictions that make sense for *me.*



Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2



It is true that rules and ordinances are for the spiritually weak:



Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Romans 14:1-3



And yet, the truth is, some of us are weak in faith, and we have been given the gift of the"training wheels" of certain restrictions, that we are not easily swept away by choices we are not yet mature to make. Indeed, the "Christian" Right is hell-bent (literally!) on making this restrictions universal because "leaders" who are weak in faith think that they must surely impose on everyone else the restrictions they need themselves.



How do I know I am one of these that is weak in faith? Because, I have "examined myself, to see whether I am in the faith." How is this examination done? By considering the fruit I have produced, of course, for, "You will know them by their fruits. A good tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can an evil tree bear good fruit." What is "evil"? Really... it is "mere" iniquity, that is self-will in contrast to Father-Will, which we pray for with our lips in the Lord's prayer.



Many times, we fail to see the "evil" fruit we have borne (causing discord in other people's lives, leaving the lives of the people we touch worse than when they met us!), because we compare ourselves against the "really evil" people, the ones who rape or murder. But the standard is not to compare ourselves to each other at all. For,



We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 2 Cor 10:12



And,



Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls.... Romans 14:4



Instead, we are given the LAW in our hearts! We know in OUR HEARTS, what we are to do, and what we are not to do, what God has given us in this life! To do otherwise is not to break a particular rule that always holds for all, but rather it is "merely" to act against the Will of the Father, and to put our will ahead of Kingdom Will, Father Will, God Will.



For, what does the Lord say to those whom he casts into outer darkness when our works are judged?



Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.



Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?



And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [self-will] - Matthew 7:21-23