On gnats and camels

My wife just wrote the most farcical blog about 'Men's Modesty', which sarcastically turns the table of judgement against women to men.  She also touches on the absurdity of modesty of babies  (read it here).  Not only was it hilarious, but more importantly it was brilliantly on the mark.   As I tried to share my thoughts through commenting, I quickly realized I had to much to say to leave it as a mere comment, so thus the blog post before you.

I often feel like some people today live life like the Pharisees and Scribes of old that are actively straining at gnats while ignorantly swallowing camels of judgement and condemnation.  In the days of Moses, God wanted to give his people the higher law of the gospel, a law that would teach correct principles and allow the people to follow the spirit and govern themselves.  They rejected that freedom and panted for more rules and regulations.  They threw out thinking for themselves and wanted to be walled in by strict commandments, thus removing the risk of losing their way to heaven.  God obliged and they received the Law of Moses with it's plethora of restrictions.  In time, they replaced worshiping God in their hearts with worshiping the law He provided.  They lost sight of the it's purpose and underlining meaning.  Eventually, they crucified the very God that gave them their law, in absurd twist of irony trying to protect it.

Today while initially well intentioned, through time words of caution and wisdom become indoctrinated and canonized into cultural commandment.   In place of freedom to individually follow the spirit and govern ourselves, little by little people start building additional walls of restrictions and blame, trying to once again shackle the masses into an ever narrowing corridor to heaven.  Elusions of this my be made to restrictions against cola drinks, facial hair, ear piercings, tattoos, face cards and yes the wearing of bikinis--the immoral, virtue destroying two piece bathing suit!  Please.  At times it feels as if the desire to become a peculiar people is just for the sake of being peculiar!

Regardless of the ever glaring cultural condemnation of these 'taboos' the fact remains that their presence alone will not in ANY WAY prohibit one from entering the Celestial Kingdom.  Even more contradictorily obvious to their non-spiritually-disqualifyingness is the fact that any worthy member who also chooses to participate in these 'taboos' can still receive a temple recommend, remain completely worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and receive and magnify church callings.  That is to say that regardless of the violation of these seemingly arbitrary culturally based restrictions individuals can remain virtuous.  Yet this fact is completely contradicted by the unnecessary culturally-based shame that often accompanies these individuals for violating these 'taboos'.  In many ways, or so it seems to appear at times, it is more socially favorable to look righteous, than to be righteous.  It is easy to outwardly judge and thus those who are appear to be clean, but in fact are privately dirty, skate by unscathed, while those who are inwardly pure, but outwardly divergent will likely get the lion's share of looks and gossip.

One may be quick to say, that the outward is a reflection of the inward.  In some cases it may be.  Yet, are we justified to assume inward malice solely on the basis of an outward difference?  On the other hand, reason would scream madness if we likewise assessed the outwardly appearance of 'purity' as systematically indicative of an inward innocence.  For this reason we do not judge.  We do not assume.  We do not presuppose.  We simply love and seek to understand.

All else being equal...

...If a person drinks coke, they will not go to hell any more so than the person who eats McDonalds Big Macs, deep fried butter at the fair or more than their fair share of Crispy Cream doughnuts.  All are putting unhealthy garbage in their body, yet only Cola seems to 'offend' the temple of our body?

...A man who allows his facial hair to grow is no less spiritual or worthy of the spirit as a man whose chin is squeaky clean.  The same may be true for those with multiple ear piercings, a tattoo or the playing of face cards.  One may question the motivation to their presence, but alone does not disqualify one for the companionship of the Holy Ghost or diminish one's worthiness.

...A woman who wears a two piece swim suit is no less virtuous as one who wears a single piece suit.

...In a similar highly judged situation, if a young man decides not to serve a mission.  He will be missing out on a potentially amazing experience of service and love, but that alone does not disqualify him from eventually achieving all the blessing of heaven.  Let's not jump to believe that all is lost for that young man and endlessly shame them to feel that they are less than the potential they still have.

The core of this issue lies in the fact that sin is defined by the motivation behind the act, not the act itself.  If more time was spent getting to know the individual instead of instinctively assuming their guilt, one may find the innocence behind their behavior and the formerly unseen strength of their testimony and virtue.  In contrast, those 'perfect' people who love to cast out their eager judgment, gossip and shame are in truth the ones most guilty of offending the spirit.

I do not want to appear blind to the possible risks of these 'taboos', it is true that many of these things can lead to true sin, thus they might be considered gateway transgressions--for this reason we are counseled to avoid them, even if it is just to avoid the appearance of evil.  The honest of heart, therefore, should listen and carefully consider the admonitions given and thus potentially avoiding a future spiritual collapse.  That said, regardless of a councilors pure intentions, it is imperative to understand that these 'taboos' are not sin in and of themselves and therefore should not be treated or judged as being such. The fear of a future failing simply can not and should not be constructed into a present imperfection.

So everyone, lets take it down a notch.  Council is good, advice is great, suggestions are wonderful, but let's not get carried away to transform them into law.  The gospel has been restored and the Holy Ghost given, we have ascended enough to govern ourselves.  Let's not relinquish our freedom by building more pharisaical walls and restrictions.  Instead, let our judgements be nearer to God's as He looketh not upon our outward appearances, but looketh upon our hearts.