But not all borders are easily identified. Take for example where is the boundary of our solar system. When I was a kid we were all taught that Pluto was the last of the 9 planets in our solar system. So to many, that defined the end of our solar system. Simple right? Then Pluto got demoted from a planet to planet-like object. Did the boundary move in to Neptune then? No. It just changed our definition of a planet. Some scientists thought the edge of our solar system goes out to the Heliosphere, which is the point at which our solar wind from our sun meats the incoming solar wind from other systems and changes direction. But even now there are speculations that is not correct as there is mathematically proven theories that there may well be a Neptune sized planet circling the sun way past this that could be the cause of comets from the far regions of space to enter our system every several thousand years or so.
So where does our solar system end and the rest of the galaxy begin? No one really knows and there does not seem to be definable boundary to point to either.
Another one of those invisible boundaries is where is the boundary between personal faith and public policy. Where does my faith-sphere end and the public-sphere begin? Does it end when I leave my church or Christian school? What about in my house or on my front lawn? What about my cars bumper? What about my time at work? Does it cease to exist in these realms?
This question is as old as time itself. In ancient Rome, the public was expected to show their allegiance to the emperor by coming to the city square and lighting a candle and saying "Caesar is god!". Today some get their heads all out of joint over just the use of "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, but here you were asked to say the leader is God himself! Imagine today having to say "Obama is god!". Would that be appalling to almost everyone in our country? This was an issue with the early Christians. This statement of faith went in direct opposition to their core beliefs. But by their non-conformity, they placed themselves in a perilous place as many considered them to be "traitors" to the empire and worthy of death.
In Israel, the Jews also took issue with the worship of the emperor. Ancient Romans had on their coin "To the Divine Augustus" which called Augustus a god. Jews took issue with this and often refused to use the Roman coin because it made them break the 1st command (Thou shalt not have any gods before me). When Jesus was asked if they should pay taxes to Caesar (this was before the Rome gave them the new coins) Jesus asked for a coin and asked "Whose image is this and whose coin is this?" and the crowd answered "Caesars", to which Jesus said, "Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and to God that which is God's". Meaning, Caesar minted the coin and therefore owns what is printed on it. You did not mint it therefore you are not held responsible for what it says. We are to give to God and others what God demands.
Does Jesus give us a definable border? Not exactly. In some ways I think Jesus is telling us "There are no clear answers here. You figure it out for yourselves".
Today in our country no one is going to prison for their faith (yet) and no one is being thrown into a den of lions for anyone's viewing pleasure, but some are being forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to a government for their non-conformity of paying homage to gay marriage. To these brave people their faith was not left at the doorway of the church. They were not the bigots others in the media have made them out to be. Instead they have reached out to the gay community with love and respect to show them that their decision has nothing to do with "hating gays" but instead not wanting to make a confession that was in direct conflict with their faith. This invisible boundary is like the Heliosphere mentioned earlier where the solar wind pushing out from our sun meets the solar wind of other stars pushing in. To them, making a gay-wedding cake was a confession about marriage that was not in keeping with their biblical faith that marriage is only between a man and a woman and is no different than lighting a candle and saying "Caesar is god!" or minting the coin that calls the emperor a god.
Today the external solar-wind is strong and seeks to subdue those of faith with large fines and court ordered "re-education classes" and regular government reviews on their progress. These cases may well be the proving grounds for other cases that may arise in the future. If people of faith must subdue their beliefs when in conflict with the state, then there may be no boundary left from which to fight or resist.
To be fair, there have been times when the faith wind blew too strong and extended farther than what it should have. This happens whenever a group, no matter how noble, comes to power as the majority. We want to make our own little heaven on earth rather than wait for the real one that is to come. We wrongly imprisoned and put into mental hospitals the homosexuals and labelled them deviants so we didn't have to interact with them. We ostracized divorced woman and treated them shabbily along with woman who were victims of domestic abuse or rape. These were wrong. We shut the doors to these people and cut them off from any conversation we might have with them in the future.
To some extent, faith is personal. Some have it. Some don't. We just have to let them go. Take for example, Jesus interaction with a "rich young ruler" who wants to go to heaven but doesn't want to sell all his possessions and follow Jesus as he was requested. The gospel writer says, "at this the mans face fell and he walked away sad because he had great wealth". Did Jesus order him to be beaten or punished? No. Did he call him names? No. Did he beg for the man to come back? No. He simply let him go and kept open the communication channels if the person in the future wanted to change his mind.
We must be the same way in the dealings with those who have no faith or are opposed to how we believe. Disagree but love them anyway.
In the end I think we must all agree that there is no defined boundary or border to say, "this far you can go and no further". The "winds of change" will strengthen and weaken over time and the boundary will move and someone will always be unhappy with where it is located.
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