Most people understand the concept of “house rules” by about the age of 7. When you’re a guest in someone else’s “house,” they, as the authority, set the rules.
Imagine losing a hand of blackjack at a casino. As the dealer shuffles away your money, you explain to him that you and your buddies typically play by a different set of rules. Those are the rules you prefer, and they seem the best to your group.
Are you expecting to get your money back? Of course not. When you’re in their house, you play by their house rules.
Now consider this: I’ve been driving on the right side of the road since I got my driver’s license. It’s how it’s done here in America. But if I found myself in the UK tomorrow, what’s going to happen if I continue driving on the right side of the road? It’s going to be a disaster.
Can you imagine if I thought I had the authority to change their house rules? “Listen, I’m too open-minded to drive on the left side of the road. As far as I’m concerned, driving on the right side of the road is the best way to do it. In fact, if you disagree that driving on the right side of the road is appropriate, you’re intolerant. Because science.”
That sounds ridiculous, I know. And yet, it feels on par with the “woke” ideology floating around our country.
I believe that many of our differences can be summed up by looking at who’s House Rules we’re playing by.
As a Christian, I believe that the God of the Bible created our universe and everything inside of it, including you and me. Therefore, I’m playing by God’s house rules, which are prescribed in the Bible. Under those house rules, I fail daily. I’m not perfect. That’s why I need a Savior named Jesus.
For those who reject the Bible as their standard for morality, who’s house rules are you playing by? Without the absolute truth of the Bible as their standard, there are countless good-hearted people out there whose house rules are dictated by other people. Have you noticed that what is right and wrong is a constantly moving target under this ideology? That’s what happens when humans attempt to re-write rules that they have zero authority over.
Consider this parable that Jesus told: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” -Matthew 7:24-27
The storms of life will inevitably come. If you’re wise, you’ll build your house on the absolute truth, the stable rock that is Jesus Christ. If you’re woke, you’ll build your house on constantly changing quicksand constructed by people.
Who’s House Rules will you play by?