When Robots Laugh

When I was a kid I really enjoyed Science Fiction. One of the popular themes involved robots. A recent movie, I Robot, with Will Smith was one of the great works in print of that time. But you also had Lost in Space with its Robot, “Danger Danger Will Robinson”! I’m sure you can all think of that. But there was an inherent similarity to all the robots of the Genre. They lacked emotion. They had no heart. Even though they may be programmed to think and assimilate data and make human like decisions, they lacked that intuitive drive that separated humans from the machines.

They could say “I love you”. But it would lack the warmth of a spouse or child saying it. They could tell you a joke, but the timing would be off and the humor would fall flat. They could laugh but all you would get is a dry monotone, “Nyuk nyuk nyuk!” Even if it was an advanced robot that sounded more and more human there was still that flaw that was keeping them short of being a human.

The robots were always shallow, no matter how complex their making. The robots’ actions were always calculated, no matter how random the data they assimilated was. The robots were always hollow in their imitation of man. They lacked those human qualities of originality, intuitiveness, and the random, often chaotic, spark of creativity.

I always found the possibilities of the robots fascinating. But in the stories, you always saw the robot as the underdog. Every thing was so “ordered/predictable” they were held back from becoming whole. Their inherent sense of order prevented them from being human-like.

I look at my life today and see some of the same issues. I become so set in a routine that I stop being alive. I contain my life in the comfortable box of sameness that I’m at home in. To challenge that box makes me uncomfortable. I don’t like to change, and I try to find those I can be with that are similar. If others are like me, then it must be ok. We are the example, and the rest of you are broken, and if you are nice we’ll help fix you and make you like us. 

In my spiritual life I find the same struggle. Let’s take something as simple as being obedient. I identify something that I’m not obedient in. I set myself to task on it. I might line up an accountability partner. Eventually I’m not disobedient anymore. Look what I accomplished! Now when I look at other people with the same struggle I had. I know the way. Let me help you. Listen to my advice. All of this is good, mostly. But it can get to a point where it rots inside. And we identify ourselves as further along than those that still struggle with whatever it was. We start ranking ourselves. And then we start creating factions. And when we try to enforce that others do what we did we can cause dissension.

But, if it was a sin issue why wouldn’t you have others do it too? Why wouldn’t you enforce it and help them? Maybe it’s not a sin issue for them. In Romans 14 there is a story about judging others sins. The interesting thing, in the example the one who found the act sinful, was the one of lesser faith. The one that didn’t find a concern over what he ate sinful had the greater faith. The message Paul makes in this story is if you are God’s, be God’s, and let those who are God’s be His as well! So my question would be, how can you hold that person to the same standard as you? If you have overcome a sin struggle and hold another accountable to it, how can you be sure you are doing the right thing?
The point I wish to make isn’t when to hold your brother accountable. But that obedience can become such a focus for us, we lose sight of God. Our goal is to walk to God. It’s to get closer to Him. Sin may separate us from God, but the way it separates us is to make us flee Him. God isn’t afraid of our sin. He doesn’t flee us, we flee Him. In Genesis 3 when Adam heard God trudging through the forest, Adam knew he was naked and he was afraid of what God would think. Fear drove Adam from God. God sought Adam out, and fixed the sin issue for Adam.

Gen 3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God moving about21 in the orchard at the breezy time22 of the day, and they hid23 from the Lord God among the trees of the orchard. 3:9 But the Lord God called to24 the man and said to him, “Where are you?”25 3:10 The man replied,26 “I heard you moving about27 in the orchard, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”(NET)

So when we decide to become obedient, are we doing it to get closer to God, or do we do it because we fear His judgment? Are we running to God, or running away from sin? Did the fig leaf with Adam make him any closer to God? He still hid, and the fig leaf covered his concern.

Some people become so obedience focused; I wonder if they still see God? The Pharisees are the easy first example. We know they were so focused on the law that they didn’t recognize the Messiah who walked right in front of them and proved Himself over and over. They were focused on their obedience that became how they measured themselves. They were not focused on God. They had lost their focus.

If I stand on the corner at my church and just look, I can see about 7 different churches. WHY are there 7 different churches for the same God in less than a half mile circumference? The reason is each one is the result of seeing something that the others did wrong. So they had to start a new denomination, or a new church to not be wrong. Who had the stronger faith there? It caused division. Paul says that is of the flesh in Galatians 5.

But we aren’t to worship with someone who is wrong are we? These things are IMPORTANT, we baptize fully, we don’t sprinkle. We believe we speak in tongues, they deny that we do. We believe that we should meet on Saturday the ORIGINAL Sabbath, not on Sunday. God never said to stop the Hebrew festivals so we still do them. The list goes on and on and on and on. Each one of these is one more failure that resulted in dissension. It’s one more division. It’s one more victory for Satan. It’s one more confusion for a seeker to face. The only good that comes for it, is the sense of accomplishment the ones splitting off to make the new church feel when they succeed and secede. It’s about the people, not about God.

That is the point that Paul is making in his letter to the Colossians.

Col 2:13 And even though you were dead in your27 transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless28 made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. 2:14 He has destroyed29 what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness30 expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 2:15 Disarming31 the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.32
2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days – 2:17 these are only33 the shadow of the things to come, but the reality34 is Christ!35 2:18 Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths36 about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.37 2:19 He has not held fast38 to the head from whom the whole body, supported39 and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.40
2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits41 of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world? 2:21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” 2:22 These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are42 on human commands and teachings.43 2:23 Even though they have the appearance of wisdom44 with their self-imposed worship and false humility45 achieved by an46 unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.47
Paul talks about people who are making issues with things that appear to be “holy” and describes them as the “shadow” of the things to come. He is referring to the law being destroyed in Col 2:14. Not so much the law, but it’s authority over us. This is the shadow of the reality which was to come. The reality is, in Christ there is a growth that is from God that supersedes these rules that are designed by man and perceived by them to help them grow.
Some people argue that Paul must have addressed specific issues the Colossians had. That it would not apply to someone worshiping on Sunday instead of Saturday. Or someone that was a smoker. These are rules that are obvious everyone should avoid and are good rules. The point is, that we can get lost in the rules, and lose focus on God. These rules are a “fleshly” indulgence. The rules will fail; they are destined to perish with use. However, real growth grows from God. So why don’t we make seeking God our focus? Why don’t we seek Him even when we are in sin. If we seek Him, He will help us to grow. He will not keep us from Him, but will help us find Him.
This is what Paul was explaining to the Philippians.
Philippians 3:8 More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things – indeed, I regard them as dung!10 – that I may gain Christ, 3:9 and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness11 – a righteousness from God that is in fact12 based on Christ’s13 faithfulness.14 3:10 My aim is to know him,15 to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings,16 and to be like him in his death, 3:11 and so, somehow,17 to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
3:12 Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.18 3:13 Brothers and sisters,19 I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded:20 Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, 3:14 with this goal in mind,21 I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God22 in Christ Jesus. 3:15 Therefore let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view.23 (NET)
Paul explains that what is behind him, is behind him. It is done and over. His focus every second of every day is to get to God. He explains this is his mindset even as a mature believer. Paul’s aim is to KNOW God. To know him you must have an experiential relationship with Him. To have that you must not flee Him and try to fix your own sins. Drop the fig leaf and let Him clothe you as he does the flowers and the sparrows.
The focus Paul describes does not deal with obedience. Its primary focus is on God. We are to feel freed from the guilt of the Law, so we may seek Him. Only He can help us mature. There is nothing we can do to become mature without His hand.
In Galatians, chapter 5 Paul mentions that we are freed for freedom’s sake.
Gal 5:1 For freedom1 Christ has set us free.
Phil 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present,35 there is freedom.
If you read at the end of chapter 4 Paul is explaining that the inheritance of Abraham needs go to the son of the free woman. Paul is addressing this to those who are under the law, to describe this new covenant they would live under as belonging to Christ. When Paul says it was for freedom we were set free, the concept of freedom is mentioned twice. Is it a redundant or even an awkward sentence? If you were set free, of course you had freedom; there is no need to word it that way. Christ set us free. Or, Christ gave us freedom. The specific mentioning of being set free, for a freedom could mean the second freedom is not JUST the result of being freed from the law.
We weren’t freed from the law so we could run rampant in our freedom as some would like to read this verse.
I Peter 2:16 Live38 as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves.39 2:17 Honor all people, love the family of believers,40 fear God, honor the king.
We see Peter coaches us to use the freedom as God’s slave. To serve what is God’s. We are to be his instrument for righteousness.
Paul says as much when he addresses the Corinthians.
1 Cor 9:19 For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people.8 9:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law)9 to gain those under the law. 9:21 To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law. 9:22 To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some.
So we are freed from the law. We are under the Law of the Christ, which is to Love God and your neighbor. Part of that love is sharing the Gospel to people in our lives, in a way they can receive it. It’s not about forcing them to bend to our way of thinking, but to introduce them to Christ. In other words, it’s not about teaching them our rules that they must follow. It’s about helping them find Him. There is but one teacher, and that is the Spirit. The rest of us are just tools or catalysts for His lessons to others in the world.
So, concerning obedience are we to be obedient or to ignore the law and go hang out in the parlors of sin and talk about God? The answer is, I don’t know. I don’t know what you are to do. That is between God and you. What might be a sin for you, may not be for others. What might be a sin issue for others may not be for you. You may have a place in life where you can reach people the rest of us can’t. You have the freedom to do that. But, God is the decider of this, not me, and not you. So seek God.
Don’t abandon obedience. But be wiser in what you obey. Is it focused first on seeking God, or is it focused on fleeing sin? There a billion ways to flee sin, but do they all lead to Christ? Adam fled sin with a fig leaf, and he still fled from God. And God had to fix Adam’s sin, the fig leaf was inadequate. If Christ’s atonement has answered our penalty for sin, why do we still flee the sin, instead of running home to the Father?
There is much to be gained from obedience. Romans 6:22 tells us that once you are freed from sin, and become slaves to God (or obedient to Him in vs 16) you receive a benefit that leads to sanctification. Through obedience you receive a benefit. Obedience isn’t necessarily the benefit, but through this obedience is the benefit attained.
If God is going to change your heart and mind, it isn’t going to be through philosophy. It will be through life. He will take you through life over and over until what He wants from you becomes second nature and natural. He won’t coach you through film or books on how to swing the bat left handed. He will put you in the box and pitch to you until it becomes as natural as the old way was. We are to be reprogrammed and retrained. We have a purpose now that is not for US but for HIM and His.
In Hebrews 12 Paul talks about discipline. The word there for discipline isn’t about a spanking or being grounded, although that could be part of it. The word for discipline also means military training, or sports training. It could mean to learn a new discipline. The word could be used for training as well. Take a look at how it’s presented when Paul speaks on the topic.
Hebrews 12:7 Endure your suffering7 as discipline;8 God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 12:8 But if you do not experience discipline,9 something all sons10 have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. 12:9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from11 our earthly fathers12 and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?13 12:10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. 12:11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful.14 But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness15 for those trained by it. 12:12 Therefore, strengthen16 your listless hands and your weak knees,17 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet,18 so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.(NET)
So, what does this have to do with a robots laugh? I’d ask you to consider what you strive to be obedient in. Then ask yourself, why do I desire this area of obedience? What is your motivation? Do you fear what others will think if they know? Do you really fear what God will think? Do you think it is better for you? Do you worry that it separates you from God? Is your search for God hollow and mechanical, like the robot’s laugh?
God knew the issues in your life before you were born. He knew if you’d accept Him or not. He knew the issues that you would still struggle with even AFTER you had made a commitment to Him. Guess what, He still chose you and accepted you. So why do you fear Him? He sought Adam out, and fixed his sin sufferance. He sought Israel time and again after they had abandoned Him. He has proven Himself so we don’t have to prove ourselves. Jesus didn’t die because of some magic quality in His blood. He died so we could recognize how much God loved us, to give up His son, so we could be assured we were welcomed home.
The death of Jesus was even more pointless when you realize this. But it shows how important it was for the Father to help us to learn He was waiting for us to come home.
The most important question I have for you is this. Does your desire for obedience take you closer to God, or does it build yourself up? Can you still seek God and be disobedient? Yes, absolutely! Should you abandon obedience? Absolutely not! But keep it balanced. We are to flee sin. We are to obey Him so He can teach us. We are to struggle with that obedience as it says in James 1 and Romans 5, so that we can learn patience and perseverance. Do we learn to be patient in ourselves? No. We learn to be patient and to persevere to let Him show His way, so we can become MORE dependent on Him. Paul faced death, and he praised God, because the reason for that trial was to teach Him to be MORE dependent on God.
If we make God our focus, If we focus on the goal, If we walk to that goal with all of our heart, God will meet us along that path, and empower us to finish the path we have started. Do you trust what you can do for Him? Do you trust what He has promised He will do for you? Or do you want to take charge and show him how you can get there on your own?

Philippians 1:6 For I am sure of this very thing,9 that the one10 who began a good work in11 you will perfect it12 until the day of Christ Jesus.(NET)
Philippians 4:13 I am able to do all things9 through the one10 who strengthens me.(NET)
James 4:8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.10