The Flesh, The Law and the Spirit

In Galatians 5:13-26, the church in Galatia faced a two-pronged attack in their new life as follower of Christ. The first attack is the sinful desire of the flesh, that kept asking them to go back to their former self. The second attack is the persuasion from Judaizers that requires them to adhere to the Law of Moses.

They were new believers, but the knew that they are freed, and that the salvation is given for free because Jesus has died for the humanity. But they also struggled with the reality of sin and the flesh.

Now, we all know that to follow the desire of the flesh is not good. We are bound to commit many undesirable things. For a modern context, I choose 'seven deadly sins' to illustrate the examples of sins in modern day life: Wrath, pride, lust, envy, sloth, gluttony and greed.

Different people may have a tendency to fall into one or more types of the above mentioned sins, whether we want to admit it or not. Some are more prone to anger, some fell to lust, others are always envious about what others have, whether it is possession or school results.

One probable solution provided is to follow Law. But is following law a real solution? Law is good to point out what is wrong, but by adhering to the Law, is that really something that is good?

One good example will be the MRT's priority seat. The seats marked as priority seats are reserved for those who are handicapped, pregnant or elderly. The marked are there, so that people may give up those seats for those who needs them. In reality, how many times do we see those things happen? Many times, the youngsters and adults who occupied the seats just refused to give up their seats. But, is giving up the seats marked as 'priority' the real point? the point is this: if you are young and strong, and you got a seat, regardless whether it is marked as priority or not, and if you see someone who needs a seat, you should give up the seat. That is a true act of love. That is what I always do.

Plainly, just following the rule, is not the solution. Follow the Spirit, and we will do more, out of love for the people around us.

Another example will be the maid/domestic helper policy in Singapore. Only recently, Singapore passed a law, that says that all domestic helpers are entitled for 1 day leave / month. This is a new law, or regulation, for non-philipino maids, for they are entitled for 1 day leave / week already. Based on these law, many singaporeans or PRs, christians or believers of other faiths, then decided to 'follow the law'. They give their maids 1 day leave / month, or pay them 30SGD to exchange for that 1 day.

Let's pause and ponder. If we, who are students or workers, need to rest 1-2 days per week, from our works and studies, then what makes us think that our domestic helpers who have been working daily from maybe 6 am to 10 pm, deserves only 1 day rest per month?

As an employer, if you abide to the law and give 1 day leave, are you truly acting out of love? yet, many christians, even leaders in the church refused to budge. On the contrary, I know many non-christians who are more loving than Christians. Are we really Christians who are loving, or are we the modern day pharisees who treasure the law more than the Spirit of God?

Obeying the law, is not necessary obeying the Spirit. In fact, more of the time, the law is used as a means so that we can indulge in our sinfulness. A youth, who are not allowed to buy hard liquor may get an older friend to buy for him or her. He or she then can go to a place without the sign 'no drinking below 18 yrs old' and it will seems that they have followed the law. But is that right?

The only way to escape from the evil desire of the flesh and the sinful life style, is not following the law, but to live according to the Spirit of God. How to live and walk according to the spirit of God?

It is really simple, actually. All you need to do, is to read the bible every day, pray and commit your life to the Lord, and if you are willing to do it regularly, it will be very hard for people not to notice that you are really a person of the Spirit of God.