ADRA RESPONDS TO FLOOD cRISES page 9 - RECORD.net.au

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ness—including sacred Scripture, moral commandmentsand ceremonial types—all was to prepare us for Christ. InChrist we have both arrived at school and come of age(Galatians 4:1-7). All that the law said is now presentas fulfilment in Christ. Christ is so all encompassing andglorious that in Him we have not only the righteousness ofthe law but forgiveness, eternal life, adoption as sons anddaughters, and the gift of the Spirit.We, who trust in Christ, no longer live under theconstraining, disciplining, condemning (Galatians 3:10)guardianship of the law historically orexperientially. For when we come toChrist and the Spirit, the law is quietand satisfied. The law says, ‘You’vegot everything in Him. I have nothingto say against you (Galatians 5:18,23). You don’t have my powerlessdemand (Romans 8:3), instead you’vegot His powerful work’ (Romans 8:4).As a result, we are then no longerunder the disciplinarian law (Galatians3:25).Our MistakeHere is where everyone stumbles.Moralists feel uncomfortable andwant the law as paidagogos back.Antinomians think the law has beenabolished. Wrong on both accounts!Remember Paul thinks in terms of history and experience.The law historically appears within Israel but it isexperientially operative throughout time. You today, andBut in Christis graciousacceptance and alife completely inharmony with thelaw. Grace doesn’teliminate a moralstandard or thecommandments,instead itpresupposes them.King David in the past, are sinners placed under the law tobe led to Christ. Salvation is historically achieved in JesusChrist but, experientially, God has offered it to believersbefore Christ. Both you and King David are by faith freedfrom being under the law and are justified in Christ (Psalm32; Romans 4:6-8).To be ‘under law’ in Galatians is to be in a pre-fulfilmentstate, in a preparatory condition. This was historicallyappropriate for Israel but is experientially inappropriatefor us. Under law is where we are readied butnot arrived, convicted of sin but not confirmed as sons,disciplined by regulations but not freed to obey, cursed butnot comforted, restricted like slaves but not adopted, onthe way to school and adulthood but not arrived or of age.It is to possess the promise but not its fulfilment, to seea shadow but not the full reality. It is better than being agodless idolater but it is not yet the child of grace. To bein Christ is to be in the age of fulfilment. It is to have theadoption of sons, the joyful cry ‘Abba Father’ on our lips, ajustified position, the power of the Spirit, and importantlyfor our discussion, the law fulfilled in our lives. Old Testamentbelievers had none of this historically but by faith itwas theirs experientially.Different Experience–Different LawWhat both moralists and antinomians need to realise isthat a fulfilled law (Romans 8) is a different experience toa disciplinarian law (Romans 7). These two experiences ofthe law don’t happen simultaneously. A law that harassesyour conscience with stern threats and condemns yoursin is functioning but it is not fulfilled. A law agonisinglypursued with grit and determination by guilty sinners isstill unfulfilled. A law pressing home its demands as wellas your culpability and guilt is not yet fulfilled. Only whenwe let the law lead us to the cross,does the law find a place within ourlife, not as a paidagogos (outside ofus warning and threatening) but as aloving fulfilment due to the justifyinggrace of the Saviour and His enablingSpirit. Not as stone tables that bearover us and kill us but as living wordsetched on the reconciled heart by theSpirit (2 Corinthians 3:2-11). Only inChrist is the law a fulfilled law.Outside of Christ, and in the faceof sin’s power, the law can only imprisonyou under holy demands yourflesh cannot fulfil, pass a sentence ofcondemnation on your moral failure,and hold you under a regime of typesand shadows which speak of promisebut cannot bring it. But in Christis gracious acceptance and a life completely in harmonywith the law. Grace doesn’t eliminate a moral standardor the commandments, instead it presupposes them. Themorality defining role of the law is never relinquished inScripture. It is the immutable, permanent moral compass,more enduring than engraved stone. This function ofdefining right and wrong is the basis for the law’s role asboth a disciplinarian law and a fulfilled law.Our DangerThe danger for some Adventists is thinking that theycan use the law as a disciplinarian who will produce obedience.They reprimand themselves and see a deep feelingof guilt as a means to make up for sin. Rather than receivingan unearned justification which frees us in Christ, theyhope to grind their souls into holiness. What they don’tunderstand is the law that functions as preparation forsalvation in God’s hands becomes prevention of salvationin our own hands. Don’t live under the law, live in Christ!Move from preparation to fulfilment. “Is the law contraryto the promises of God?” In Paul’s mind no. In the handsof some, yes it is. What is it to you?Anthony MacPherson is the pastor of Plenty Valley Adventist Church andCroydon Christian Community in Melbourne, Vic.16 March 3, 2012 • record.net.au
FEATURECould this beyour church?by Steve CinzioThe family was in chaos and now the twochildren were experiencing another loss. Theirfather, James, had divorced their mother and aftersome time, Janine, his new partner, had moved inwith him and the two children.Several years of this new arrangement had taken its tollon Janine and she had decided to move out.I saw the children for several sessions and worked withthem in an effort to help them through the turmoil andanxiety of these losses. They were open and frank abouttheir feelings and experiences and I sensed an air of reliefat being able to unload their story on someone ready tolisten.They had regrets. If only they had behaved better, theytold me. If only they had done their chores without complainingthen perhaps the two mothers they loved wouldnot have abandoned them.A French proverb accurately describes the experiencesof children caught up in these painful episodes: “In a brokennest there are no whole eggs.” And, sadly, broken theywere, both of them wondering what the future held.Some years ago while working in government highschools, I constructed an instrument in an effort to drawfrom the student with whom I worked, feelings and impressionsabout the experiences that they were passingthrough, to give them an opportunity of sharing their innerexperiences—something that many children find difficult intheir attempts to navigate the tumults of life.The instrument consisted of sentence stems which Imade up and they were asked to complete. For instance: Iknow that my father loves me because . . .The above example provided an opportunity for themto express their feelings about their father. I had severalheadings in the instrument that dealt with relationshipswith parents, siblings and friends.One section dealt with the self: “When I look in themirror I see . . .Another section had to do with their schooling. The lastpart had to do with their feelings about God. It was meantto probe and tease out the relationship they had with Godand was designed to help them examine and express theirspiritual experiences.I remember clearly the afternoon when both children—Comment? Go to record.net.au/commentone a teenager and the other about 10 years of age—completedthese assignments. After they left, I sat on thecouch at the ADRA Counselling Centre and began to readtheir responses. What I found was quite revealing and theresponses allowed me a look inside.My heart ached as I traced the pain through their completedsentences. I wondered whether the children wouldgive me permission to share their inmost thoughts withtheir father.I flicked over the pages of the youngest child to readher responses to the section that dwelt with ‘My Religion’.Here is what she wrote.The first part is the sentence stem I provided and thepart in bold lettering were her thoughts.God thinks that I am: quite a nice girl.I think that God is: the best person ever.Going to church is: fun and excellent.If I couldn’t go to church I would feel: sad and upset.God is important to me because: He looks after me allthe time.I feel that God is near to me when: I am havingtroubles.I will go to heaven because: I talk to God all the time.The best part of going to church is: talking to God andJesus.Sometimes I don’t like going to church because: no-oneis happy when we go.There is so much more that I could mention about thisongoing experience with the children but, as I think aboutthe revelations of one child’s spiritual experience, there aresome pertinent questions that I want to ask our Adventistchurch families: did this child formulate her vibrant spiritualexperiences in your church? Are you aware of the impactthat your church is having on the lives of individual childrenattending each Sabbath? What strategies does your churchhave in place to evaluate the effect of the children’s programsyou provide?The church this child attended should be lauded forproviding an environment where this 10-year-old girl founda warm and loving relationship with her personal God whowas supporting her in her troubled journey.Steve Cinzio is a clinical counsellor at the ADRA Counselling Centre, Qld.record.net.au • March 3, 2012 17
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ADRA RESPONDS TO FLOOD cRISES page 9 - RECORD.net.au

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