Death at the dance!
“And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’” – Mark 7:9-10
Please don’t tell anyone but I should have been stoned outside the city gate a long time ago. There are probably secret religious Nazis still looking for me! According to the Bible (Leviticus) I should be taken outside the city gates and stoned!
It’s one of the top ten and this is what most legalistic followers of today think we should follow so if you will just let me know who wants to cast the stones I will send you my address and we can get this started – I cant run any longer!
Am I crazy? No I am just following the same logic pattern that must prevail if we are to stick with the top 10 commandments.
Am I saying the law is bad? NO! Just know why the law was created – it was created to make me see my need for Christ NOT to evaluate my righteousness!
One problem with the law is it changes with time and culture – only Jesus doesn’t change!
So let’s look at how we as a culture “have a fine way” of changing the law and essentially limiting Grace because we believe we are still under the law:
1) You shall have no other gods before me! Unless they make you feel comfortable – you know like make more money so we are more comfortable and everyone knows that making more money means I take better care of my family – and then there are just little things making my hobby a god but well – God knows I need to relax – lets don’t even get into favorite sports teams and how we worship stars and other folks.
2) You shall not misuse the name of The Lord your God! Well unless its not really His name – like “gosh” or “golly” – I mean they have passed the test of time so they are ok now right – wasn’t that like 100 years ago when they were bad and there is a statute of limitations on this right?
3) Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy! Ok except for running to the store for just a little bit – and watching football on Sunday even though it makes thousands of people work well you know even God likes football right? Have to stop at the station for gas so I can get to church – but that is for a good cause so I am sure God wont mind.
Get the idea – do I need to go on? Yes I know the old idea – well I will pray about it and God will forgive me right?
So then you admit to willfully sinning? Or could it be that we are no longer under the law as the Bible says?
Did I sin? Yes I have sinned – big time! Did God forgive me at the point of accepting Christ? YES – HUGE TIME! In addition to that at the point where I accepted Christ and “ALL things became new” I came under Grace and left law!
I AM FREE!
I so needed this right now for some reason. Thank you so much as always Bob.
Praise God! So glad to hear it brother!
The condemnation we heap on ourselves and the guilt and shame – it should have all hung on the cross and stayed there!