Freedom in Boundaries

Boundaries should not be drawn in sand. Sand shifts and moves too much, leaving unclear lines where boundaries once were. Boundaries in our lives are a good thing.

Contradictory to what they would have you to believe, kids, adolescents and teens need and want boundaries in their lives. They will kick and scream that they do not, but they do. They just do not realize it yet. This understanding doesn’t come until much later.

I’ve started teaching a class for twelve and thirteen year olds at church. It’s a new class and we are rather developing it as we go. Week One, I laid out the boundaries. Having raised a few kids over the years, I know boundaries are the grease that help the wheels go around. Without them, things come to a screeching halt! So, Week Two, we reviewed the boundaries. Week Three, there was no need to revisit the boundaries, they haven’t changed. No one is confused about what and where they are because I made them very clear from the beginning. It takes nothing more than a slight raised eyebrow in the direction of anyone toying about near a boundary line to bring them back to reality of the boundary line.

Yet, in the face of more structure, these kids are fired up about this class and are responding positively. It’s all very rewarding to see this. They have fun, learn and are required to come up to a higher level of understanding and behavior than before and they like it! They are challenged and made to actually ‘think’ about what they think about. Then, they are told they will be held accountable for decisions and actions. We haven’t had the time yet for this accountability to manifest yet but they know its coming. Still, they are excited about this class.

I rather feel like a tour guide sharing the details about a hiking trail. I get to talk about the beauty of walking with Christ they will experience, educate them about the forks in the road they will encounter and warn them of the inevitable pitfalls waiting ahead in the life of a young person living a Christian life in a world that mocks rather than embraces our choice.

As baby Christians, we stumble along, don’t we? As mature Christians we stumble long, too; this time we are just more prepared because we know Jesus is walking along side us.

We, too, have learned the comfort and joy that can be found when we live within the boundaries of a Christ-filled life. Some come to that knowledge kicking and screaming about having boundaries. Many think the boundaries of a Christian walk must be confining and restrictive. I’ve heard people say they would do the church thing later in life after they’ve had their fun. How sadly miss informed are they?

God-placed boundaries are not made of barbed wire but of time tested love and concern. He knows the trouble we will get in to left to our own devices and so He has provided His boundary lines to be available to us in written Word, the Bible. Having such we are held to a higher level of expectation and accountability. Within the boundary lines, however, we are free to run and play; to build our families and find the area God would have us serve. It doesn’t feel like a burden to have these boundaries but freedom to dream higher than we could before because we know the Lord of Creation inspired and authored our dreams. We are able to accomplish more because we can do all things through Christ.

My new class is not unique. It’s the foundational stuff a Christian walk is made of. The goal is to equip these kids to face the world just ahead of them; to help in the transition from children to young adults. We, the kids and I, will learn together as we walk this out. I have long believed that we should never stop learning or growing. When you cease to learn, you die. I can’t wait to see what the Lord teaches me through all this!