Bible Verses that Preach Against the RULE FREAKS
How to Test Your Denomination's Rules
The silly rule that the early churches struggled with was an Old Testament regulation concerning circumcision. Imagine the preacher telling you to get some of your privates trimmed off in order for you to go to heaven!!!!! Galatianss 5:6 "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
If someone's rules do not come from the verse, " Love GOD and your NEIGHBOR as YOURSELF," it is suspicious. If there are no commands in the Bible that say, "It's a sin," then it's not a sin.
So many people would come to Christ if they knew they would not need to listen to all those extra laws. Jesus said that His yoke is EASY and His load is LIGHT. (see Matthew 11:29-30)
What the Bible Says
Colossians 2:20 says: Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Romans 14:16 "Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil."
It seems that the pastor in Russia thinks that tradition is more important than souls repenting. He is trying to do right, but he is doing wrong.
Matthew 15: 1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don'?t wash their hands before they eat!" 3 Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men."
Here's a good one! 1Ti 4:4 "For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving." Now, don't go overusing this one, thinking it applies to marijuana and such.
Real Life Stories
My boss Mary and my husband's boss Dave both came from legalistic churches who made up extra "sins." Both have fallen away from the church. Both are angry and hurt.
I, myself, was in an organization in Wichita called Teens for Christ. It was headed by Dane Massey. He fired me because I no longer believed that Christian rock is a sin. It didn't matter that I had raised my own financial support. It didn't matter that I had a good ministry. It didn't matter that I offered to avoid actually listening to the music. I was forced out. I am still out of full time Christian service. That was in 1985.
My good friend, Jill, turned away from church for many years because of it's legalism. Her father owns a DJ franchise. They condemned her for her association with secular music. It took her many years to come back to God. Her best friend fell away at the same time. The friends has never returned.
Conclusion We must preach against these misconceptions. We must deal strongly with those who deceive, and show them the devastation that they have caused. We must tell them the stories of the fallen. We must comfort those who have been ploughed under by sharp blades of the pharisees. We must share in their hurt and anger. We must erase the image of God as they see Him, and show them the true God, who wants only what is good for us. Show them the God who wants us to enjoy all the blessings He has given us.
Add your own story!
The silly rule that the early churches struggled with was an Old Testament regulation concerning circumcision. Imagine the preacher telling you to get some of your privates trimmed off in order for you to go to heaven!!!!! Galatianss 5:6 "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
If someone's rules do not come from the verse, " Love GOD and your NEIGHBOR as YOURSELF," it is suspicious. If there are no commands in the Bible that say, "It's a sin," then it's not a sin.
So many people would come to Christ if they knew they would not need to listen to all those extra laws. Jesus said that His yoke is EASY and His load is LIGHT. (see Matthew 11:29-30)
What the Bible Says
Colossians 2:20 says: Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Romans 14:16 "Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil."
It seems that the pastor in Russia thinks that tradition is more important than souls repenting. He is trying to do right, but he is doing wrong.
Matthew 15: 1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don'?t wash their hands before they eat!" 3 Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men."
Here's a good one! 1Ti 4:4 "For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving." Now, don't go overusing this one, thinking it applies to marijuana and such.
Real Life Stories
My boss Mary and my husband's boss Dave both came from legalistic churches who made up extra "sins." Both have fallen away from the church. Both are angry and hurt.
I, myself, was in an organization in Wichita called Teens for Christ. It was headed by Dane Massey. He fired me because I no longer believed that Christian rock is a sin. It didn't matter that I had raised my own financial support. It didn't matter that I had a good ministry. It didn't matter that I offered to avoid actually listening to the music. I was forced out. I am still out of full time Christian service. That was in 1985.
My good friend, Jill, turned away from church for many years because of it's legalism. Her father owns a DJ franchise. They condemned her for her association with secular music. It took her many years to come back to God. Her best friend fell away at the same time. The friends has never returned.
Conclusion We must preach against these misconceptions. We must deal strongly with those who deceive, and show them the devastation that they have caused. We must tell them the stories of the fallen. We must comfort those who have been ploughed under by sharp blades of the pharisees. We must share in their hurt and anger. We must erase the image of God as they see Him, and show them the true God, who wants only what is good for us. Show them the God who wants us to enjoy all the blessings He has given us.
Add your own story!
posted by Anita the Sandy at 12:09 AM
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