Oh, and About All Those Rules…

Scriptural References:

• “8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces…16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely 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.”  Colossians 2:8,16-23 (NIV)

 

• “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” Matthew 10:14 (NIV)

 

• “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.” Acts 15:28,29 (NIV)

• “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12, 13 (NIV)

Application:

Too often, people who have been Christians for a long time make it a point to impose unnecessary burdens on younger Christians (not in terms of age, but in terms of the length of service to Christ). (Colossians 2:8,16-23;Acts 15:28,29)


Where did that come from?

• Maybe it’s a true hope that younger Christians don’t take the Christian life too lightly.
• Maybe it’s a casual “drifting” by the older Christians into a rules-based faith (aka “works”), forgetting the supreme sacrifice of Jesus already paid the full price for complete salvation.
• Maybe out of a desire to make Christianity an exclusive club.
• Maybe because the older Christians had it hard, and they think everyone should.
• Maybe because they themselves are all mixed-up about what Christian life is all about.

Whatever the case, we mature Christians need to do more listening than talking. Try to understand why a younger Christian worships and works out her or his salvation in their way. (Philippians 2:12) Apply scripture to their behavior—not to condemn, but to understand. Engage in healthy dialogue, never argue. If you come away with no agreement,  and maybe even a difficult confrontation, “shake the dust” and leave it to God to judge. (Matthew 10:14) Maybe you’re not the person He wants to correct that younger Christian. And consider this:

Maybe God wants to teach you something.


Prayer:
Dear Father, help us consider the other side and nurture, not battle, fellow Christians. Guide us, and protect them. Amen.