There are two things that I believe are necessary for a civilized culture: Discipline and accountability.
Both of these things are achieved by “rules”. The Cambridge Dictionary defines “rules” as “an accepted
principle or instruction that states the way things are or should be done, and tells you what you are
allowed or are not allowed to do.” So, we see rules as a particularly good thing.
But can you have too many rules? Religion, for instance, has an abundance of rules, and they vary
according to each religion’s concept of a supreme being. Over the years, Christianity may have become
the leader in number of rules. But that is understandable, I suppose, because rules are formed as
humans seek ways to keep the commands of God, accurately. And we certainly want to do that, don’t
we?
Therein lies a certain danger. If imperfect humans lay down the rules for keeping the commands, not
only do we come up with a whole bunch of rules, but we also begin substituting keeping rules for a
relationship with the Lord. It certainly happened to the Jewish leaders as they defined several hundred
ways to keep the Ten Commandments. When Jesus appeared on the scene, the Jewish hierarchy was
very concerned with His take on keeping the rules.
Jesus did the opposite of those who took Ten Commandments and multiplied them into hundreds. He
condensed the ten down to two: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There
is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12.30-31) We still, however, struggle with how to be
obedient to those two commandments. Can a Christian hide Easter eggs? Don’t Christians know that
Christmas is a pagan holiday? Halloween is the devil’s celebration and Christians should shun it. Can a
Christian dance? Can a Christian smoke? Can a Christian drink? We can quickly swallow camels while
swatting gnats.
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a
New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the
reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17). Let the Holy Spirit reveal truth to you, instruct
you, intercede for you and focus on His wisdom.
Say good things about your Savior and His church on this bluff.
Both of these things are achieved by “rules”. The Cambridge Dictionary defines “rules” as “an accepted
principle or instruction that states the way things are or should be done, and tells you what you are
allowed or are not allowed to do.” So, we see rules as a particularly good thing.
But can you have too many rules? Religion, for instance, has an abundance of rules, and they vary
according to each religion’s concept of a supreme being. Over the years, Christianity may have become
the leader in number of rules. But that is understandable, I suppose, because rules are formed as
humans seek ways to keep the commands of God, accurately. And we certainly want to do that, don’t
we?
Therein lies a certain danger. If imperfect humans lay down the rules for keeping the commands, not
only do we come up with a whole bunch of rules, but we also begin substituting keeping rules for a
relationship with the Lord. It certainly happened to the Jewish leaders as they defined several hundred
ways to keep the Ten Commandments. When Jesus appeared on the scene, the Jewish hierarchy was
very concerned with His take on keeping the rules.
Jesus did the opposite of those who took Ten Commandments and multiplied them into hundreds. He
condensed the ten down to two: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There
is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12.30-31) We still, however, struggle with how to be
obedient to those two commandments. Can a Christian hide Easter eggs? Don’t Christians know that
Christmas is a pagan holiday? Halloween is the devil’s celebration and Christians should shun it. Can a
Christian dance? Can a Christian smoke? Can a Christian drink? We can quickly swallow camels while
swatting gnats.
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a
New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the
reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17). Let the Holy Spirit reveal truth to you, instruct
you, intercede for you and focus on His wisdom.
Say good things about your Savior and His church on this bluff.