A Vision Worth Sharing

This past week there was a post on the Fort Gibson Forum. It had a picture of a pretty horse walking down a paved road. He/she had a saddle and bridal but no rider guiding him toward a worthwhile destination. Not sure where the horse was headed. Though he looked confident, his owner had to come and rescue him. That is what God sees when he surveys the landscape. Many too bold and confident in life; however, perhaps they have never contemplated a life guided by Jesus.

Belief, confession, and invocation are incredible steps people must take to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Yet, there is something that leads a person through to these steps; with its absence people will struggle to sit next to us in church with a realized salvation of the soul. You and I have the key. Without it people will believe in something, confess to a particular way of life, and invite a host of ideologies into their lives that promise truth and meaning. Without the key we hold near to our heart, they will fail to find the abundant life that Jesus offers. They will wander aimlessly down roads without a guide.

1. Legalistic “righteousness” is motivated by the mind (:1-5)

What is it that you are passionate about? The Jewish leaders were passionate, energetic about the things of God. The Greek word used in verse three is zelos; it carries the image of the sound water makes when poured over a hot stone. They were obsessed over the moral and ethical extremes they presumed God intended. They majored on prejudging others and writing them out of the mercy and grace of God.

A couple of weeks ago, in a Bible study group, I made this statement, “It is more difficult to live by the relational principles Jesus modeled for us than to live by the 10 Commandments.” When working with Drug Court clients I would often meet in the judge’s office, along with the D.A and our clients’ lawyers. The Shelves in Judge Steidly’s office were full of legal books and manuals. I recall being in the courtroom where Judge Smith presided. There was a hearing in which he and a lawyer got into an exchange of citing cases related to various laws—the assistant D.A. and I sat dumbfounded. I imagine that is a picture of being around the Jewish leaders.

Paul was steeped in their tradition, following their teachings closely. His zeal led him to persecute the early Christians, if not killing them at least approving it. Paul could spit out the rule book. He could nail a person each time they violated a rule. He could argue that non-Jews were not children of God. He made a sharp distinction between who could and couldn’t enter the Temple. This world crumbled when he had an experience with God on the Damascus Road. With the authority and commissioning of the chief priests he was on a mission—not good for people of the Way; he heard God saying, “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me.” He was overwhelmed with by the mercy and grace of God.

There are Christians today who major on what I call “nitpicky legalism” and have a works theology. They give a head nod to salvation through faith; however, they quickly move toward a unscriptural idea that “doing good works and obeying laws earns and merits salvation. An illustration speaks to this. In Matthew 12:9-14 the Pharisees confronted Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. They were concerned with the “letter of the law”. They missed the spirit of the law.

A man in a church where I served didn’t go to any stores or restaurants on Sunday. One Sunday an elderly lady from our church ran out of gas, called him, and he talked about buying gas in a can to rescue as committing a sin.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees at this very point, saying, “You teach human traditions as if they were the word of God.” We have no right to heap up restrictions on people where God has no stated restriction.

Too many miss the spirit of the law. Why is the law important? While serving as a prison chaplain and interviewing for another position, I was asked about my view of the Department of Corrections policies; the records department has shelves lined with these. I shared that many came about as our predecessors faced issues, perhaps consequences, and didn’t want others to experience the same. The Book given to us from God is a guide for experiencing the abundant life.

The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I’ve come that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Paul wanted the Jews to be saved, to step out of legalism, and accept Jesus and his teachings. He had discovered himself that the approach of the Jews stopped short of REALLY KNOWING GOD.