An eternity ago, when I was was but a student, I understood that rules were often arbitrary, and occasionaly had reasons in reality. For example, the “don’t talk in class” rule was arbitrary, and only applied to those who didn’t have the soul of wit to pass on to a friend. And even if the rule did have a reason, namely, so that other people who actually wanted to pay attention could do so, I thought that such a rule was for everyone else to follow. Also, I understood that since these rules were enforced by authority, I knew that if I was caught infringing a rule, I would suffer under the natural consequence and carry on.
Alas, how the mighty have fallen!
Now, being the authority, I set the rules because I think that there is a need for them in reality and the good functioning of the classroom as a whole. If the rule is “don’t talk while someone else is talking”, I enforce it, not because I believe that every student should be silent all the time, but because I believe that whoever talks is a person, and is thus worth hearing. However, each of the students believes that at some point that he/she is the one exception to whatever rule I set. And so, we come back to the same conundrum. Since I am the authority, it appears that it falls to me to mete out whatever punishment there is for infringing the rule and carry on.
Nevertheless, this leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, who am I to judge whether or not that comment was the soul of wit or not? And therefore, who am I to judge if the rule actually applies to each case? After all, “let him that is without sin cast the first stone”, and I am by no means free from the guilt that comes from rule-breaking.
In this amusing scenario that relates to comparatively petty rules, I find that there is an inherent double standard to justify our own guilt. How much more do we do the same in relation to the eternal law? We all believe we are exceptional, but we are not; humanity stands condemmed. We say “everyone ought to love their neighbor as themselves”, but only as long as it means that I get my share, and maybe a little more. After all, if I don’t look out for number one, who will?
However, if everyone lives by the standard of “the rules only apply to everyone else”, then the rules would be pointless in the first place. Since the rules are not pointless because they are set on the unchanging authoritative nature of Creator God, we find ourselves in dire straits because we can never actually fulfill such standards. And so, this is where we can find grace. Yes, the law does apply to everyone, and yes, there are consequences for infringing upon it, but yes, since you are repentant, you are forgiven, “go and sin no more”.
In other words, go, follow the law, and encourage everyone else to try and do the same. Therefore, I will continue to enforce the rules with a wicked glee. But, as to following them with the same wicked glee, I think that only applies to others…
