So, we were talking about rules. Or, as the Jews would have said "the law." I have thought about this before in the context of what Jesus said in Matt 5:17-20
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
Whew. He also says in John "If you love me, keep my commandments." I love that Jesus said what he meant!!
So, back to this conversation we were having. There are a lot of people who believe that Jesus, at some point, did away with the regulations and guidlines that are necessary to live a Christian life. No, let me rephrase that, because we in America have given that its own messed up meaning. There are many people throughout the world, who hold to the belief that at some point Jesus did away with necessity to follow any guidlines or rules in order to be Christians. People believe that, because Jesus died for us, that we are just good to go no matter how we live. If that's the case...just go ahead and throw away your Bible. You don't need it. You're good. Somehow, I don't get that from "unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and pharisees you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
Come on, people, we are not following the Pirate's Code here, where we can say, "well, it's more like a suggestion."
Let me use an example that an awesome friend of mine gave. Our parents raised us to be, hopefully, responsible and successful people. In order to do this, they raised us in homes with rules to follow, and they gave us very clear consequences of what would happen if we didn't follow those rules. No child can just flip flop their way through life with no rules or guidelines and expect to come out on the other side as a model citizen. All parents want their children to be successful, and I believe that God wants us to be successful as Christians! I believe that God truly wants us to be with Him in heaven some day.
So, did God give Israel the law so that Jesus could come along and tell us we don't need it? Did He say, at ANY point in scripture, that keeping His commandments was just a temporary thing? How can we be expected to live a fruitful life as Christians if we don't have to follow any rules. Just pray this one prayer this one time, and you are good. From then on, no rules. No, Jesus actually taught the exact opposite. He gave us very specific rules, and they all mirror the original 10 Commandments. Now, do we have to follow all 618 or whatever laws of Jewish tradition? No, but the law of God, the 10 Commandments (along with any addendums Jesus may have given) is still very much in place.
Jesus is constantly telling us to "do what I tell you" and to "do the will of the Father." Think about the house on the sand. Why did it fall to ruin? "He who hears my words and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation."
What happens to the tree who bears no fruit? What happens to the salt who loses its flavor? Can we lose our flavor? Oh yes, we can. What happens to the evil doers?...death.
In Luke
12:45-46
"But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful."
Uh, oh.
5 comments:
Ohmagosh! I will comment more on this in a few. But for now I just want to know who said that about parental guidlines? I wanna hang out with them. :-)
My comment in a few will pertain to guidlines set forth by the church. And how there is a governing body for all churches not just us catholics. (The word catholic actually means universal. So it still makes me giggle that there are so many branches of churches and divisions from those churches and spin offs. Sorry, rambling.) But seriously, there usually is a governing body for all churches. If there are rules, laws, guidelines why do people think its ok to blatantly disregard and ignore them? I'll return momentarily when I get my wits about me.
Ok, here's another tid bit. Sorry these are all coming in individually but that's just how my brain works so deal.
We, as Americans, are a society of overindulged, snobbish, pouty, cry baby, 'but I didn't get my way', 'that hurt my feelings', people. Any time something is a little uncomfortable or more work we get upset, write a letter, make a protest, stand up to be heard and walk away somehow feeling validated.
I see this in organized religion too. Oh, don't say that, they might get upset. Or get their feelings hurt. Or might stop coming to church. Ok! That's awesome! WAKE UP! Do you think God made the laws he did in the hopes that people wouldn't get offended? Or that Jesus came to make it so easy that we can change things because it is too uncomfortable or just ignore the parts we don't like? Nope. He came so that we can have everything we could have ever wanted. Love, hope, community and SALVATION. It wasn't easy for Him. He suffered. And B A D bad too. That didn't give us a get out of jail free card. We aren't entitled now. We are charged as CHRISTians to live Christlike. This is a new way of life for me. And I gotta tell you its H A R D. But I love it. I am filled with grace everyday. Amen!
The law is the law. The commandments are the commandments. They can't be changed or altered because we don't like how hard they are. I pray that individuals have more accountability in their own spiritual life. Don't do things superficially. Don't take the Eucharist when you were just out 2 days ago having a homosexual experiance. Don't pretend. God can't be fooled. He knows. And you'll pay the price in the end. A worse fate than if you just went blindly through life. But you stood up and became catholic. Be accountable.
Same thing for other faiths. Don't gossip and be hateful all week and then sit in the pew sunday pretending its all ok.
If you see this, pray for that person. Pray for their conversion. Pray until your knees bleed. They ignore the guidlines and what it truly means to be Christian. Its not going to be easy. But you bet your tookus its going to be worth it in the end.
I've got my eyes on the prize. Thats to be with my Father in heaven for eternity.
God bless!
(Sorry for the soapbox rant)
Stephanie
Stephanie, if I remember who made that comment about parents, I'll let you know ; )
As for your soapbox rant, AMEN!!! It is hard, and we never achieve perfection until we see heaven; however, that is not a pass to live as we want in the now. You know, St. Paul taught us to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." That doesn't say easy, does it? Jesus also promised that we would be hated, persecuted, etc.
Pray for your enemies and those that hurt you. Like you said, when you see that person thumbing their nose at the Body of Christ by living in sin and claiming a true faith, pray HARDER!!!
Yes, we have rules, and no, it doesn't just apply to Catholics!! Luther and Calvin both believed strongly in church authority.
Thank you for commenting!!!
You are most welcome. Maybe I can have lunch with that person if you ever remember.
See you in the a.m.
In Christ,
S
I found this today and I wanted to share. It kinda follows the 'law' discussion. Let me know what you think.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2080401,00.html
Post a Comment