We don’t like rules very much, we tend to think of them as restrictions and people trying to run our lives. We had enough of that at school – (perhaps not so much the modern school – I went to school in the sixties and there were a lot of rules and sanctions) – and also growing up, from our parents. We want to rebel against this and as soon as we are ‘free’ we design our own lives around what constitutes pleasure and self-satisfaction.
The problem with this, of course, is that without boundaries this path can lead us to a very dark and sad place. We are trying to fill the void of our desires in a way that wasn’t intended for us and we put at the top of our wish list a desire to make ourselves happy no matter what. This leads to addictions of all kinds and these can’t fill us with happiness, just momentary empty pleasure that can never fully complete us.
Boundaries help us to feel safe and secure. They tell us how we should be behaving and by setting a standard we can all live our lives whilst not damaging other people’s.
Our modern world consists of an aggressive minority telling us what is right and what is wrong. They don’t want to be held back by traditions, boundaries and any idea of what should be at minimum an objective, moral standard (unless they set that standard). They are not open to debate. If you speak out against what they believe, they shout you down, their ears closed and their minds taken over by this idea of leading a life that they see as unrestricted and unbiased.
We try to have our say, but there is no real freedom of speech now and this is a tragic loss to society. It has happened slowly and it is shocking the ground that has been gained by this small minority.
You can apply what I am saying to abortion, euthanasia, gender issues, same-sex marriage and so on. If you try to debate with someone who has an opposite opinion to you, you are abused, made to feel ignorant and worse. When some of these subjects are discussed at all the worst case scenarios are always brought up to make a point and are geared to make you look unfeeling. There is never any thought to those that will be affected who could be the victims of rushing in and licensing those acts that could cause great damage. They only see the positives they want to see.
God’s commandments are built around respect and love for each other. When we turn our back on them we are entering into a very dark place, growing further away from Him, and entering into lives that can never make us happy. We are of course free to do this, as God gave us free will, and if we choose to abuse it then we do so at our own risk. What is at stake is our happiness and peace of mind.
Hosea 8:7
They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind
Widows Mote 