Under Grace

The difference between living under Law and living under Grace.

Let's say you don't do something bad. Let's say you don't punch someone, and someone asks why you didn't punch someone.

If your response is, "..Because it's against the law" - then that's not an ideal answer.

Sure, it's good that we have laws that stop people from punching each other, and it's good you're obeying that law. However, ideally your answer should be something more like:

"..Because I have no desire to punch someone."

If you have a good heart, and good intentions towards others, then you don't really need that law. As you'll not go around punching people, whether there's a law or not.

This is what Christians mean when they state that living 'under grace' is higher than living under law.

Love Thy Neighbour As Thyself

In the New Testament, when Jesus is asked which is the greatest commandment in law, he replies:

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

Essentially stating that having truly good intent precedes all law. That is, if you have a good heart, and you care for others as you care for yourself - and you live your life always in that mode (i.e. in that state of grace) - then your way of living will be good regardless of specific laws.

(If you're an atheist and you don't like the idea of having to "Love God," try replacing that first line with, 'Approach life with love in your heart, mind and soul.' Or, 'Love the whole world with your heart, mind and soul.')

The idea that the heart is higher than written law also acknowledges the fact that laws can be bad as well as good. Or can be put to bad use if followed to the letter rather than to the spirit. Again, the argument that you were 'just following orders' isn't really good enough from a moral point of view, if you just followed those orders coldly and without true care for others. Even if technically they were lawful.

So, ultimately, it doesn't matter if you go to synagogue on a Saturday, or church on a Sunday. What truly matters is that you live in goodness, ..on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.