Liberty In Christ
The Muslims must face Mecca when they pray, they must be on their knees and bow down, head to the floor.
All Muslims must attempt to do the Hajj (visit Mecca) at least once in their lifetime.
While I was preparing to write this post I visited the Muslim rulebook and found a list of 735 rules. In Christianity we do not have those items as rules; however, some of those items we also follow because of common decency or proper etiquette.
Christians also keep many of the Muslim laws, because we, like they, have high moral standards; but we do not keep them because they are written as rules. I wonder if this is what Christ was referring to when he said, But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26.
All Muslims must attempt to do the Hajj (visit Mecca) at least once in their lifetime.
While I was preparing to write this post I visited the Muslim rulebook and found a list of 735 rules. In Christianity we do not have those items as rules; however, some of those items we also follow because of common decency or proper etiquette.
Christians also keep many of the Muslim laws, because we, like they, have high moral standards; but we do not keep them because they are written as rules. I wonder if this is what Christ was referring to when he said, But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26.
So, since Jehovah's spirit is indwelling Christians they do not need a long list of rules; they have supernatural guidance, if only they will take the time to nurture Jehovah's presence.
Our leader, Christ, did not like rules. He turned the whole idea of rules on its head. Instead of making rules, Christ reversed that way of thinking. Instead of saying, Do this or Do not do that, He said, Blessed are those who... However, because it is Christians' desire to please Christ they will follow the guidelines of the New Testament.
Christ reworded one very impressive Old Testament rule, And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. Luke 6:31. This rule covers common decency, honesty, etiquette, and all other areas of life.
For the Israelite community, there were the ten major rules. There were some other mundane rules also, but, it was the Jewish leaders, who over the years, devised many arbitrary, Thou shalts and Thou shalt nots. They ended up with 613 rules, including the Ten Commandments.
For the Israelite community, there were the ten major rules. There were some other mundane rules also, but, it was the Jewish leaders, who over the years, devised many arbitrary, Thou shalts and Thou shalt nots. They ended up with 613 rules, including the Ten Commandments.
All but one of The Ten Commandments of the Old Testament are repeated, in different words, in the New Testament; the book which Christians are to follow.
The one not repeated is Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Ex. 20:8. The remaining nine are enlarged upon by the New Testament preachers and writers. It is perhaps not surprising that the New Testament has as many rules as it does, after all, most of the New Testament writers were Jews.
Christ came to set us free from man-made rules. About this Saint Paul wrote, The Jewish law had many commands and rules, but Christ ended that law. Eph. 2:15 (NCV). Christ proved this when He performed the miracle at the Pool of Bethesda. John 5:1-15. It seems Christ could have healed the crippled man any day of the week, but no! He chose the Sabbath, to show the Jews that their man-made interpretation of the rules were of no consequence to Him.
The Pharisees were so upset that Christ had done the healing on the Sabbath, that they could not even appreciate the fact that the man who had been a cripple for 38 years, could finally walk. The best they could do is find fault with him for carrying his "roll-up" mattress on that holy day.
Christians do not need many laws about what to eat. The New Testament has only two laws about food:
Do not eat meat offered to idols. 1 Cor. 8.
Do not eat meat offered to idols. 1 Cor. 8.
Do not eat meat with blood in it. Acts 15:19.
We have no specific rules as to what to wear, or how to dress; except, to say, high Christian moral standards must always be maintained.
We have no specific rules as to what to wear, or how to dress; except, to say, high Christian moral standards must always be maintained.
Become a Slave if You Choose
What has the church, since Christ's day, done about making rules? There are many, many, and each separate group has its own set of man-made rules. Here are a few of them. I did not invent any of the following rules, they are all real!
- You must never eat meat from warm-blooded animals on a Friday. (Roman Catholic)
- You must never eat pork. (Seventh Day Adventist)
- You must not drink caffeinated coffee or coke. (Mormon)
- Priests, bishops, cardinals and nuns must not marry. Before the Roman Catholic Church had even begun to exist, Paul already warned Timothy about such an ungodly law. People will be forbidding to marry. 1 Tim. 4:3.
- If one invokes the holy trinity and makes the sign of the cross the sign must flow from the top down and then from left to right.
- No way! It must flow from right to left. Ostensibly because the Son of God is more important than the Holy Spirit is. And people have argued, and are still arguing, about that!
- A newborn must be baptised as soon as possible, in case it dies, at least it will go to heaven, not to hell! (Roman Catholic)
- Young people should get baptized before they get married. (Some Mennonites)
- People should never be baptised until they have made a personal choice to follow Jesus. Certainly, never as an infant! (Most Evangelicals)
- Unless you are baptized by immersion you are not really baptised and certainly not born again. (Some offshoots of the Evangelical group)
- Men must have short hair, women must never cut their hair. (Some Mennonites)
- It is alright for Christians to own and drive cars. (Most Christians)
- Yes, but the bumpers must be black; black indicates humility. (Black Bumper Mennonites)
- The Christians in the Bible did not own cars and neither should we. (Some other Mennonites)
- Musical instruments are not allowed in a worship service. (Some Mennonites)
- Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Psalm 33:2.
- Women should ... not come (into a church) in dresses that are too short or revealing or in slacks. Even before entering the church women should wipe off their lipstick. OrthodoxPhotos.com.
This makes one wonder, though, is it OK for women to wear dresses that are too short when they are not going to church?
- Rules are made and disagreed about to a point where congregations break-up;
- people who used to be friends can be friends no longer;
- families who used to be united are now scorned by each other simply because they hold some different theological or practical viewpoints.
Do we really need to be so hung up on so many little meaningless incidentals?
In the Gospel of John Christ prayed for The Church. His prayer has not yet been answered; He prayed, I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. John 17:11.
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