The Viet Nam War was not very popular in the late sixties so imagine when a young officer came home, got married and then re-enlisted for another tour of ‘Nam.  The young officer’s name was Norman Schwarzkoph, and his desire was to be a leader of soldiers.  He wanted to become a better leader and, if possible, a brigadier general.  They gave him command of the First Battalion of the South Infantry and immediately discovered why it had become known as the “Worst of the South.”  He was shocked when he found out

• A company commander who greeted him in flip flops, wearing red shorts, a three-day growth of whiskers, and no helmet or rifle.
• A machine gunner with a weapon that was completely rusted out and no ammunition.
• A security perimeter that featured a three-inch deep foxhole.  Not three feet but three inches.  So much for security.

He also found out that the unit had just flunked their inspection, had low morale and no discipline.   He had 30 days to fix the situation.  And fix it he did.  Four weeks later that outfit passed inspection with flying colors.  What was the secret to the turnaround?  Schwarzkoph drew some lines.  To put it in other words: he went back to the ancient boundaries.  He ordered

• All officers to be clean-shaven and in uniform.
• All weapons be cleaned.
• A security perimeter that would protect his men from the enemy.

I am simplifying it I know but basically what “Stormin’ Norman” did was restore dignity by establishing boundaries.  How easy it is for us as individuals and also as a church to forget we need boundaries.  Many people like to look at the Bible as a prison-maker rather than as a freedom-giver.   Unfortunately, many Christ-followers today are also falling crawling onto that bandwagon.   Instead of a Book designed to show us how to have God’s best for us, many have come to see it as a rule book of “You shall nots.”  Truth is: even the “You shall nots” are there for our good.  They are just part of what God has put in place as boundaries for our good/well-being/way to find true joy.  Some want to tighten those boundaries (legalists) and some want to expand them (liberals).  Perhaps it is time for us to get back to what the Bible is saying instead of trying to get it to mean and say what we want it to.

Any thoughts?