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Christian experience thought for the day, Romans 7

There is an interesting film Kingdom of Heaven, from 2005, which depicted, somewhat historically, the Crusades. This was a time most Americans don't know about but has far-reaching implications today for the Muslim world. Essentially, they are still mad about it, although I would say they are overlooking the fact they conquered and massacred Christians throughout Africa, the Middle East (Levant), and Southern Europe before that. But there is a wonderful line in it:

"Christianity says choose; Islam says submit."

There is a lot here, one of them being that to choose is to think, to consider, to reason, to actively make a choice. 

I used to be a pretty strict Calvinist; unfortunately for some that seems to take away any human agency, which I have trouble with now.  Jesus from the very beginning--no, way back in to the Old Testament--the message is one of choice. Choose you this day whom you will serve. 

Again, though, one must think--not react, not follow blindly, not be a doctrinal and spiritual robot. 

So I come to a passage that has perplexed me and I wanted to skip before I got into the majestic Romans 8, but it doesn't work that way!

I found this webpage helpful:  https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/romans-7/ 

"The law" is "law" in the Greek, this article asserts, therefore not referring just to Moses' law but all natural and human law (called positive law by some). That helps. But what is this sin that Paul keeps talking about? It's the inner drive to "kick against the pricks."  That inner drive is sometimes good (it is what we call the "human spirit" to fight oppression, to escape from prisons) but usually it is not good and results in our doing what hurts ourselves, others, and God's order.  

But I'm still going to sit on this and think it through because it's a hard concept to teach. We all understand "what I will to do, I do not do, and what I will not to do, I do," but where does that come from? Is it inherent in who were are, or is it the curse? What did God make us this way?  This is one of the enigmatic questions of the faith that we are not told to ignore, but we are given the minds to untangle. And for many, reject. 

 

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