Minute of Transparency: Introverts & Extroverts in Quarantine

Intro: Today’s topic is one that really packs people in the seats. In fact, it’s so interesting - the only thing people like more is a talk on budgeting or giving...

Apologies for the sarcasm…but that’s what we have on the docket for this week. A fun topic that really keeps em coming back.

However, it is an important topic. And not something we can skip over just because it’s easier to talk about other things.

Today’s Basic Assumption: Rules & Regulations 

1. Rules & Regulations are everywhere!

2. Nobody likes to be told what to do

3. Perceived Safety = Perceived Importance

4. God’s Rules & Regulations

5. Sin comes in a variety of flavors

// 1. RULES & REGULATIONS ARE EVERYWHERE

It isn’t rocket science…everywhere you look there are rules and regulations…they’re everywhere!

• Physical rules like:

  • Gravity

  • The farther you descend into water, the higher the pressure gets

  • The higher you climb the thinner the air gets

• Astrological rules like:

  • The Earth rotates around the sun one time each year

  • The moon rotates around the Earth one time each month

  • The Earth makes one rotation on it’s axis every 24 hours

  • Within a day there is a period of day and a period of night

  • And then you have all of the stuff the average person doesn’t understand like how black holes work, singularities, etc.

• Governmental rules like:

  • The Constitution and other federal laws that our government feels are important for all citizens

  • State laws that can be slightly different based on the state you live in

  • Local laws that impact you based on the city, county or district you live in

  • And for many of us - you have an HOA - which sets rules about your home, and what you’re able to do to it given the neighborhood you choose to live in

• Rules of the road like:

  • Speed limits

  • Having to wear a seat belt

  • Road signs

  • Required items like drivers license, registration and proof of insurance

• Employment or company rules like:

  • Work hours

  • Job description

  • What is required in order for you to get paid

  • Chain of command - who you’re supposed to go to with questions or concerns

• School rules like:

  • Attendance

  • Dress code

  • What is required to achieve a certain grade

  • Expectations for graduation

• Product and services rules like:

  • Every time you buy a product, or sign up for a service like Netflix 

  • There is an endless document that lists all of the rules. It’s called the “Terms and Conditions” document - you know the one? The one you agree to every time without actually reading the fine print?

• And then there are Family rules:

  • Rules parents set up for their kids to keep them safe

  • Or rules parents set up just because they are parents...

  • They are the first rules you get to experience in life

  • And they go a long way in helping to indoctrinate you into a world that is full of them

• Even in marriage:

  • You have rules like “till death do us part"

  • And less ominous ones like you should probably tell you’re spouse when you’re leaving the house, and when you think you’ll be home

  • Not written in stone, but try not following that rule a few times and just see what happens...

// 2. NOBODY LIKES TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO

So we live in a world full of rules and regulations…it is what it is…there’s no getting around it…it is a constant.

The problem is - there is another constant in our lives. One we’ve talked about before. Called “freedom of choice.”

And when these two ideas bump heads, you tend to see friction. 

Truth be told - nobody likes to be told what to do.

We live in a country where we’ve championed independence, freedom, autonomy, entrepreneurism and the pursuit of happiness 

You see it immediately when a child is born:

• Do you have to teach them to say, “NO”?

• Of course not - that comes naturally

• It’s part of our Human Nature 

You could say it’s baked into our DNA. However, every time we start getting frustrated with a rule or regulation we have two options available to us:

• First, we can allow our Human Nature to get the best of us - and push back no matter what the situation

• Or, we can choose to Transcend Human and evaluate the situation first, and respond based on rational thought

But even when we do the right thing by evaluating the rule, and thinking through things first - there are times we sill find the rule limiting, frustrating and sometimes downright ridiculous…

Why? 

• Because they seem to get in the way of our happiness

• They seem like they are only in place to keep us from having a good time

• They seem to be in place more for the other person’s sake than for yours

Whatever the case may be, there are rules that rub us the wrong way…

// 3. PERCEIVED SAFETY = PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE

So why do we seem to be ok with some rules and not others?

Well, there is an interesting thing that happens. And the concept goes like this:

More simply put: 

• If we believe a rule protects us from harm,  we’re more likely to follow it!

• Conversely, if we don’t see the reason behind the rule, we’re more likely to break the rule 

Let me illustrate both ends of the spectrum:

• RULE 1: Don’t eat sweets before a meal...

  • Not likely you would view this as a safety thing

  • So you probably won’t view it as a very important rule

  • Kids will follow the rule not because it provides safety - but most likely because they fear getting in trouble

  • Adults will stop following this rule at some point because they are grown-ups and can choose if they want to ruin their meal or not

• RULE 2: You must drive on the right side of the road (In the US)...

  • This is definitely understood to be a safety thing

  • We know that if we drive on the wrong side of the road we are likely to be involved in a head on collision

  • Because of this we view the rule as very important - and adhere to the rule

  • We would freak out if our teenager, said, “I really don’t like driving on the right side - I think I’m going to try the left…"

So you can see - for the most part we value a rule if we understand that it is there to protect us.

• The lower the danger - the less we worry about following the rule

• The higher the danger - the more we’re willing to follow the rule

// 4. GOD’S RULES AND REGULATIONS

When it comes to God’s Rules & Regulations, everything we just talked about applies. 

Just because we’re Christians, we don’t get to follow God’s rules and pretend all other rules don’t apply to us.

The Bible makes it clear we are to follow the rules we have:

• "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars…” which suggests we should follow the Laws of the Land

• "Honor you father and your mother…” which suggest we are to abide by our parents rules

• And so on and so forth...

So really - God’s rules and regulations are on top of the list we already have to follow.

And this is where we start getting irritated, frustrated and overwhelmed…

• In part because of our freedom of choice

• But also because we may not understand the reason behind God’s rules

That’s why it is important to understand that God isn’t some sleazy politician trying to pass a bill that includes ridiculous rules meant to control us, or even harm certain people.

Here are some important things to understand about God’s Law:

• It exists to protect rather than restrict

• These rules and regulations protect us from lifestyle choices that will actually decrease our level of happiness in the long run

• If we can’t get to the place where we view God’s Law in this light - we will probably choose not to follow His rules

• And finally - because we’re human - even if we try to keep these rules and regulations we will fail from time to time

God’s Rules & Regulations are found in the following places:

• The 10 Commandments

  • First 4 about our relationship with Him

  • Last 6 about our relationship with others

• The life of Jesus:

  • Jesus lived the perfect life

  • So following His example is actually one way to follow His rules and regulations 

• Then, you can find the rest of the rules and regulations scattered throughout the Bible

  • Things like the Great Commandment: Matthew 22: 37-40

  • Love God, Love others

  • Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” 

// 5. SIN COMES IN A VARIETY OF FLAVORS

So what happens when we break rules and regulations?

Obviously, when we break rules and regulations put in place by people on Earth - we experience things like:

• Groundings by our parents

• Having to go to the principals office

• Being thrown in jail

• Getting a speeding ticket

• Serving a prison sentence

But when we break rules and regulations God put in place - we tend to call this “sin"

• Now there’s an overlap for sure:

  • If we murder someone we are “sinning,” but we may also experience a prison sentence by the judicial system

  • If we steal, we are “sinning,” but may also be charged by the authorities and possibly fined or sent to prison

  • etc.

• But there are rules and regulations that God has, that the judicial system doesn’t really care about:

  • For example - the government doesn’t really care who you worship (at least not right now...) 

  • But God asks that you worship Him - and not other, little “g” gods

  • So if we fail in this area - we are “sinning” even though there probably won’t be blowback from the judicial system

  • These are rules and regulations that exist between us and our Creator

Now because of the Sin Virus: We are born into this life with Human Nature - meaning we’re already infected with the Sin Virus, and will carry it throughout our lifetimes.

But the Sin Virus is NOT a dormant thing - sitting there waiting to infect someone else. In other words, we aren’t “asymptomatic.” We exhibit symptoms of the Sin Virus almost daily. Things that we can see, things that others can see and things that God can see.

These symptoms are called “sin” or “sinning” and it is a direct result of the Sin Virus wreaking havoc on our systems.

Now obviously there are so many sins we don’t have time to list or catalogue them all. 

But we can clump them into a few buckets that might help us to see how sin works:

• Sins of Action: The things you do (physically/behaviors) that break the law   

• Sins of Inaction: The things you know you’re supposed to do, but you choose not to do them

• Sins of Intent: Sins of the heart and mind. Basically thinking in such a way that is sinful. These often fester and eventually come out in one or both of the other two ways

Landing the plane:

This week:

• Think about the various sets of rules you live under

• Have you thought about the fact that there are Earthly rules and regulations, and then there are God’s rules and regulations?

• How have you typically viewed these rules and regulations?

  • Are you the type who follows the rules?

  • Or are you the type who is always trying to get around them?

• Do you understand the concept of sin? Where it comes from? And how it impacts us?

• And finally, have you made the connection between your sin, and your need to vote in the Eternal Election?

  • We’ll spend more time on this in future episodes

  • But for now, just know that your vote is super important - as it is the antidote to the Sin Virus

Next week we move into the heart of Controversy theory. The Sixth Basic Assumption: God’s Game Plan: Rescue Mission

Much more exciting that Rules & Regulations :)

Thanks again for being with us, and until next time, keep Transcending Human!