Colossions 2: 13 - 17 NKJV
I was reminded once again this week of something long ago, something whose time has more than come to be put away for good. I'm talking about the church killer we know as christian legalism. I say church killer because I call it for what it is. For legalism and tradition in the modern church are just a few of the things people cite as reasons for leaving the church. Now, most people don't simply "leave" the church but just find a congregation which will be more hospitable with fewer regulations and requirements. Bro, if I wanted requirements and regulations I'd join a club! Personally, I don't see the need for some of the same old song and dance routine which most modern churches have become. I know that I've said it before, but I'm pretty sure that I can predict the course of almost any church service around given the chance. See, you have the intro music festival, this draws you in and is meant to get you pumped up for the Lord. Then the fun statrts, you'll have a prayer session and tithing plate passed around before you get to the encore performance of the pulpit pounder telling you what you need to be doing. Sound familiar to anyone? That's the old ball and chain of christian legalism. Now, I have a few close friends who bristle at the fact that some of my writings are directed against the modern institutional church. My answer to them would usually be, what are you afraid of? What are we afraid of? Brother, if some guy stopped me on the street and demanded money from me and then tried to justify it all by making me feel guilty for not listening to him, he and I would definately have a problem. So, why is it that we tolerate this same behavior from our churches? Especially when we no longer need to. Yes, those days are gone thankfully. Or, should I say that they've never left us?
1Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; aand he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
Romans 14: 1 - 6 NKJV
I recall a conversation I had with a pastor in a church I used to attend. It seems that a few of the elderly in the congregation, including my mother, were uncomfortable with the volume level of the sunday morning praise and worship music service. As I addressed these concerns to the pastoral music leader I was informed that the "younger" church goers liked it that way! Really? I guess this was my first introduction into the world of church politics and christian legalism. I can do without it. From the looks of the ever shrinking congregations around the country, so can a lot of other christians. We are told in a few places in the new testament that those days of the old church are over and done with. Yet we still cling to them by means of our own traditions. The apostle Paul tells us in Colossions that it is through Christ Jesus that many of these so called requirements which were against us were put to death by Jesus Himself {Colossions 2:14}. Once again, in the book of Romans, Paul tells us that God is able to make the man who observes religious rituals to stand as well as he who does not observe them. Imagine that. So, when did it become more about rituals and less about Christ? Probably when mankind hijacked religion from God. Does God make His home in a church building? NO {Acts 7:48}. Yet we are told repeatedly that we are to gather in "Gods house" each sunday like good christian soldiers do. Why? Because our own traditions tell us that it's the thing to do. All too often God is lost in the shuffle.
I have often been inspired by the words of the physician Luke as he describes the early church of the followers of Jesus in Acts 2. Here we see early christians meeting in each others homes worshipping Jesus while living in true christian community. Giving to those in need while coming together and breaking bread in happiness in the name of the Lord. Yeah, I'd take that over any modern institutional church. What you don't see in this example of the early church is a central place of worship (chruch building), loud music nor a pulpit pounder telling the people they needed to be more like Jesus. The truth is, we already have Jesus in us{Galations 2:20}. What is interesting is that that early church was nothing like we see today, and yet the Lord "added daily those who were being saved." Imagine that.
44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added qto the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2: 4 - 7 NKJV
~Scott~
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