Are there limits to “no limits”? Throughout history mankind has had the tendency to push the known limits and beyond. Discoveries in medicine, space, oceans, and the human cell have been the result of mankind’s drive to go further than anyone has gone before. Even running a 4 minute mile was seen as an impenetrable barrier until Roger Bannister broke it in 1954. Since then over 1400 athletes have broken the 4 minute mile and over the last 65 years, the record has been lowered by 17 seconds. The sound barrier was also considered a limitation to flight until 1947 when Chuck Yeager broke it in his X-1. Today flying through the sound barrier is only an annoyance on the way to hypersonic flight.
Science, medicine, and physical achievements are constantly being pushed to the limits and beyond. Unfortunately, so also are immorality, extravagance, and cruelty.
One of the conundrums of living a counter cultural kingdom life is the polarity between limits and no limits. Our culture says, “If it can be done, it should be done” or “If it can’t be done, it still should be done”. Breaking barriers through science has resulted in greater comfort, better health, and increased longevity, but it has also created ethical dilemmas.
Constantly bombarded with the message of “No Limits”, children are told they can be whatever they want to be including whatever gender they want to be. A recent leadership book, No Limits, has the subtitle “Blow the Cap Off of Your Capacity”.
As a follower of Christ, we need to re-evaluate the “No Limits” mantra. Debt, adultery, fatigue, and broken relationships are all symptoms of exceeding limits. Initially, we can usually get by with it, but eventually it comes back to bite us.
Our “no limits” culture pressures us to accept the mindset of faster, higher, better, and more as being normal. That expectation removes all boundaries and easily leads to hubris, dissatisfaction, disappointment, and addiction. Living on a budget (setting limitations) is not simply good financial advice; its application fits the rest of life as well.
Scripture teaches that one of Satan’s strategies is to distort God’s good design by twisting it to feed our self-centered rebellion. It all started in the Garden of Eden and continues to the present. The story in the Garden involved both beauty and boundaries. The boundaries were rejected, however, and the rest of history is the story of both the success and failure of God’s people to recognize, live by, and enjoy the limits set by God.
Scripture teaches that boundaries and limitations are part of God’s ordered creation.
- You have established all the boundaries of the earth. You have made summer and winter (Psalm 74:17).
- And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation (Acts 17:26).
Beyond the obvious moral boundaries the questions remain:
- Are there limits and boundaries for kingdom living?
- If so, who sets them?
Jesus is the supreme model of one who chose to set limitations on Himself in order to accomplish a higher purpose.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8).
Paul is another example of someone who set limits for himself. He disciplined his body (set limits) and made it his slave (self-control) so that he would not be disqualified, could finish his race of faith, and receive the wreath of victory that would never fade (1 Corinthians 9:23-27). Paul did not depend on his culture to set boundaries for his life. Rather his kingdom commitment set the boundaries.
Growing up in the mid twentieth century, the culture around me theoretically supported a kingdom life- style. Its morality and values had deep roots in the Judeo-Christian worldview. But as that support faded with the onslaught of moral relativism, we can no longer rely on the culture (even the church culture) to set our limitations and boundaries.
An apprentice of Christ and His kingdom sets his/her boundaries based on an increasing intimacy with Christ and asks “not can I, but should I?”
Questions for reflection
1. Is there an area of life that needs boundary clarification?
2. What are the biblical principles that can help set wise boundaries?