“I dare you to step across that line.” Many of us while in our early childhood days made this very common statement. If the first dare didn’t work, it was on to “I double dare you.” Most of us remember many of the lines that were drawn by our parents, school officials and other individuals in authority. We would refer to these as rules. It is sad to say but in recent years, these “rules” have been translated into “guidelines” which seem to be interpreted as an option.
I know that this subject is not very popular in the “no absolute” philosophical world in which we live. One is constantly encouraged or enticed to walk close to the line, have the option to step across when convenient and still maintain the awareness the line. Therefore, the line between right and wrong is often so transparent that it is difficult to see the difference. I just heard this statement last week from a well-known Christian artist whom I would rather not identify; he stated with approval, “The older I get the more blurred the line between Sacred and secular becomes!”
There are areas that each of us must hold sacred and therefore, refuse to be enticed to step across the line. I heard the story of a little boy who got mad at his mother and decided to run away. He packed a bag and started walking around the block. A police officer saw him and asked him, “Sonny where are you going? You’ve walked around this block three times.” The boy stated, “I’m running away from home.” The police officer asked, “But why are you just walking round and round the block?” The boy replied, “You don’t understand sir; I’m not allowed to cross the street.”[1]
The safest place to walk is at a distance from the boundary. Trying to walk as close to the boundary as one can walk without stepping across is a difficult place to be. When personal boundaries are removed by society, it does not mean that it is an okay behavior. There is still a line between what is legally right and morally right. We must maintain personal boundaries regardless of what society tells us. We must be reminded that it’s never too late to repair or rebuild the boundary lines that have been damaged or broken-down. It is not “old fashion” to build those boundaries into high fences where it is not easy to cross.
One has the choice to stay within the boundaries or to cross them. The key to a life pleasing to oneself and to God is to learn to say no, before it is difficult to say no, when enticed to step across the line. We must not take the “dare” and step across the line because consequences are waiting on the other side!
“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom.”[2]
