We often see throughout the gospels where the Pharisees, (religious individual) would challenge Jesus’ teaching’s. The fact that the religious had gotten so distracted by their religion and laws to keep that they missed the point of everything has bothered me for some time now. I would read the passages of these religious people and the burdens they would put on others, the judgment they would pass, the self made rules, the pride and the wanting to be seen of others, and I would ask myself, “how could they have possibly been so blind to what was going on”? It would enrage me to see the fact that these people were literally witnessing the Son of God in their midst, and His grace and mercy and teachings, and when it comes down to it they became hung up on “rules”. Choose your word as you please, rules, laws, commandments, or what have you, but at the end of the day, they are still rules. So, in my frustration at how someone could possibly miss the BIG PICTURE it dawned on me that I myself was not far off from just being another hypocritical Pharisee.
And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!
Mark 7:6-9 (ESV)
And this hit me like a ton of bricks. I had to repent and ask God for forgiveness for rejecting the greatest commandment of all which is loving God, and also to love others. I know, I know, it is wishy washy to talk about love all the time. But seriously, I am holding to what I’ve always known, “the traditions of man” and I am forsaking His greatest purpose for each of us; just LOVE Him, and love others.
The problem I then had to sort through, (might I add, still am) is all the laws.
What about all the laws? What about the rules? Yes, indeed we are to live a regenerate life and we are new creatures, therefore we must put the old man to rest.
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations--"Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" (referring to things that all perish as they are used)--according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Colossians 2:6-23 (ESV)
By putting the old creature to death and becoming a new creature we must allow the fruits if the Spirit to grow and flourish through our life. Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And though there may be an appearance of wisdom in man made religion and asceticism let us fight that urge to follow it. I strongly suggest you read the entire chapter of Galatians 5 at this point and ponder whether you are following the true religion. Love. Feel free to share any thoughts or opinions with me. And if you would like to talk further with me regarding this topic please, please do not hesitate. Let us journey nearer to Jesus together!
