God’s Law--Design or Imposed?

by Jody Waterman

Are God’s laws like human law?

When you hear the word law, what comes to mind? Perhaps you may be thinking: rules, speed limits, tax laws. When you think of God’s law, what comes to mind? Maybe the Ten Commandments or Moses’ Law. What do you think when you hear about the laws of physics, laws of gravity or laws of health? God is the Creator and He built space, time energy, matter, and life itself. His laws are the laws according to which the fabric of the cosmos is designed to operate. Human beings, on the other hand cannot create reality or change God’s design laws. What we can do is make up rules we call laws and threaten to punish people who don’t keep our rules. This is the way of sinful beings. This is Satan’s view and Satan’s way.

What determines your picture of God?

There has been conflict through human history about how people see God. Some see Him as Creator, Designer, Builder of reality. Others see Him as a cosmic dictator who makes up rules and threatens to punish us. What determines your picture of God all depends on how you view his law. Do you view God’s law as design protocols or made-up rules? For example, if you own a car why is it wrong to put water in your gas tank? The owner's manual says to use gasoline only. Is this arbitrary and wrong only because the manual forbids it? Or is it because that is how your car was designed? Water would damage the engine! Returning to human behavior, why is it wrong to steal or murder or commit adultery? Is it because God made up a rule and says don’t do it? Or did God give those rules because these very actions violate His design protocols of love and beneficence, and will damage those who commit the acts? What happens inside a person who cheats on their spouse even if the spouse never finds out? Will they be undamaged, or will their conscience be seared, their heart calloused, and their ability to discern right from wrong compromised?

Design Law (How things actually work)

Did God design plants to die, people to age, houses to deteriorate? Did He design tornados, hurricanes, and earthquakes? Did he design death? Or are all these what happens when separation from God occurs? When we barricade ourselves from God's leading? Design laws are the laws upon which our Creator God constructed reality to operate. These laws include the law of gravity, laws of physics, laws of health, and God’s moral laws. Deviations from design laws always damage those who break them and will result in death unless the Designer intervenes to heal and restore. Thus, the Bible teaches:

· “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)

· “sin when fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:15)

· “The one who sows to his own flesh, will from that flesh reap corruption.” (Galatians 6:8)

God is the Creator, and His laws outline the ideal design upon which life operates. (Col 1:15-17)

Deviation from these laws is destructive to those who violate His design. You cannot avoid the damage. Just as an owner's manual outlines the optimal operation for a mechanical device like a car, God's laws describe the ideal way to live. Isa 51:6 states “And the earth will wear out like a garment.” Why? Could it be the earth (or anything God created) slowly decays as it is disconnected from God? God is love and He gave written instruction to guide and protect. He gives us the owner's manual because He wants us to be the healthiest and happiest we can be, and ultimately, experience eternity in a love relationship with Him.

Why do so many people fail to understand this concept?

Many good people live under the fear that God is keeping records of misdeeds and behaviors and one day He will be required to punish them for their mistakes. This is a false view of God’s law. The idea that God’s law works like human law entered Christianity many years ago. When the Bible was translated from the original Hebrew and Greek, these false assumptions inadvertently put legal language into the translation that is not there in the original languages.

Design Law of Worship

By beholding we become changed. The Middle Age church began teaching a distorted character of God. It was taught that God is a severe judge and that justice is punishing the oppressor, not delivering and healing the oppressed. So, by believing God is like that, Christians became severe and oppressive. This resulted in the Crusades, the Inquisition, indulgences, arbitrary beliefs and rules, burning dissenters at the stake, and the Dark Ages. How has this teaching affected us today?

Child abuse and spousal abuse rates are no different in Christian homes than non-Christian homes. The same is true of pornography, and other addictions. Why is this so? Because Christianity is still infected with a lie about God’s law and character, and thus a misdiagnosis about our own condition. Most Christians believe they are in legal trouble and thus they seek legal solutions. If the diagnosis is wrong, the solution is usually wrong. This entire false law construct, with its false legal diagnosis, and its false legal solution, obstructs the transforming power of love from doing its work in the hearts, minds, and characters of people. “Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” (2 Tim 3:5)

CHARACTERISTICS OF IMPOSED LAW

Violations still compatible with life, not intrinsically dangerous or damaging

Requires the ruler to punish and finally execute lest rebellion ensue

The problem is anger in God

Christ’s mission was to pay a legal penalty to God and assuage His wrath

Legal adjustment is the key

CHARACTERISTICS OF DESIGN LAW

Violations incompatible with life and damage even without any punishment

Designer must heal the damage done lest death ensue

God is viewed as Healer

Christ’s mission was to fix what is wrong in humans and prove God trustworthy to be our physician

Transformation of the heart is the key

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