Monday, March 2nd

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Tuesday, March 2nd

Tradition vs. the Gospel

Why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been ale to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.

—Acts 15:10-11

If the music we listen to is any indication, Americans have a certain amount of disdain for rules. A quick scan of iTunes indicates that there are more than ten songs in recent years with the title “Breaking the Rules” or “Break the Rules.” We like to make our own decisions, live free and unhindered, do our own thing—and we have the sound track to prove it.

But there’s an interesting flip side to our perspective on rules: even if we don’t like them for ourselves, we tend to take delight in making sure others toe the line. Think of it this way: when we’re pulled over for a traffic violation, we have plenty of rationalizations for why we should be exempt from the consequences. But when someone cuts us off or zips around us in the turn lane, we want them to get what’s coming to them. This is true from the time we’re young. A child may glibly ignore his mother’s admonition to share with his sister, but when there’s something she won’t share with him, he happily points out her rule-breaking—even resorting to tattling, if necessary.

So why do we have such an affinity for the rules, especially when it comes to making sure other people follow them? Perhaps it’s because black-and-white rules give us a sense of control. If we can put everything in a neat little box, we can be assured of who’s in and who’s out, who’s right and who’s wrong. And we can feel satisfied and self-assured that we are okay.

The problem with this mentality is that it falls apart when it comes to spiritual matters. No amount of rule-following can ever save us; only the blood of Christ can do that. And there’s no way for us to smugly judge the state of another person’s soul by the external rules they conform to.

We don’t usually think of it in these terms, but as Christians, we can make an idol of legalism, putting the rules first in our hearts, before Christ. There’s a dark side to this kind of rule-worship in terms of community too. When we start caring more about our manmade rules than about people, it can cause deep division among God’s people.

The early church faced a similar dilemma regarding rules and what was required of followers of Christ. As the believers knew, there are some things we choose to do and not do out of a desire to obey God and become more like him. But following God’s commands should come out of an overflow of love and gratitude; it is not a prerequisite for salvation.

As the early church grew to include Gentiles, the believers were faced with a new dilemma. These converts hadn’t grown up with Jewish customs, meaning they hadn’t been circumcised. Some church leaders thought this tradition was necessary for all believers, while others strongly disagreed. This was a huge issue that threatened to create a schism in the church and hamper the work God was doing.

This is where Peter’s wisdom came in. He reminded his fellow believers that Jesus came to make our yokes easy and our burdens light. His sacrifice was enough to save them—and it is enough to save us today.

Question: What are some of the human rules and traditions that threaten to divide the church today? What do you think Peter would say if he were giving advice to us?

—Stephanie Rische