When a Church Makes Extra Rules

DON'T DO THIS AND DON'T DO THAT.

I'm just mad as a mother bear robbed of her cubs.

Why do some churches make up extra rules that aren't even in the Bible?

The Background Story
This is our dear friend Daniel, who lives in Russia. He was a youth pastor. He ministered in the city of Bryansk. His pastor kicked him out of the church last week. WHY? Because Daniel plays modern music during the youth services. The kids shamelessly clap along to the drums and guitar. The pastor says, "It's not Christian." He says that DANIEL IS A SINNER. If anyone from the youth group talks to Daniel, that person will be kicked out of the church, too. Now Daniel has lost all of his friends and his ministry.

He is in his early 20's. He was giving concerts with his brothers and brings the gospel to the small towns, he was sharing with teenagers on the street, he was organizing trips for his youth group. He was changing lives. NOW WHAT? Now where will he go? I hope he doesn't quit.

No music is wrong. Music is just mathematics. How can numbers be a sin? Only the words are important to God. It is very wrong to do this. The Christian life is already so hard for some people. The pastor doesn't need to make it harder. The people on the outside of the church look at all those extra rules and say, "That's so senseless. Those Christians are crazy." Then they discount us all.

Update: Daniel's youth group has decided to join him in an all-night prayer meeting for this situation. So at least the youth haven't bailed out on him. He has decided to use the city park for his concerts and worship services, but he is missing some musical instruments that I assumewere provided by the church.

After the "night prayer" as Daniel calls the all-nighter, they went to the church for Sunday services. To the youth group's surprise, the head deacon LOCKED THE DOOR so they couldn't get in!! Unbelievable. Deeply wrong.

Our brave friend Daniel didn't let his group just scatter, they launched an impromtu DEMONSTRATION! They put Bible verses on posters and played their evil banned music, worshipping God on the church steps. Russian history being made!

...And Another Thing
While we are discussing the matter of ruined lives because of condemnation, What about that person who in church who actually IS a sinner? How would THEY be received at a church who can't even get past the fact the some believers listen to electric guitars? (When I was struggling sinner with all of my legalism, my church friends were very gentle with me and my crazy ideas.) There absolutely MUST be sinners in church. Otherwise, how will they ever grow? It's sure not going to happen very fast outside of church. If all the people in my church were already mature believers, how much could they possibly learn from me? Not much. All I could do is learn from them. That would make me lazy, because I could never give or share. The ones living the ideal Christian life are probably already leading or serving. Do any of us want to go to a church where it's all leaders and no one in the pews?

What did Jesus say? "It is not the healthy who need a physician." Religion isn't a crutch. It is the whole hospital.