(Establishing the first end of the continuum - Legalism)
Exodus 20:8-10 (NLT)
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God.
“On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you.”
Matthew 12:1-2 (NLT)
“(One) time Jesus was walking through some grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them.
“But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, ‘Look, Your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.’”
Matthew 12:9-10 (NLT)
“Jesus went over to their synagogue, where He noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, ‘Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?’
“(They were hoping He would say yes, so they could bring charges against Him.)”
This was probably the first time this question had ever been brought up!!!
Here are some other things Jews cannot do on the Sabbath …
Brushing dried mud from boots or clothes (grinding).
Drawing blood for a blood test (slaughtering).
Tearing through lettering on a package (erasing).
This is certainly not intended to humiliate the people of the Jewish religion in any way but to bring a few examples of the direction that religious practices can take when men attempt to improve or amplify the law of God.
So, let’s take a look at the other end of the spectrum. (The Law of (godly) Love)
One of our memory Scriptures:
Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
“And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Romans 13:8-10 (NLT)
“Owe nothing to anyone - except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.
“For the commandments say, ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.’
“These - and other such commandments - are summed up in this one commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”
Colossians 2:20-23 (NLT)
“You have died with Christ, and He has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, ‘Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!’?
“Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline.
“But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.”
As you read through the New Testament; the teachings of Jesus and the letters to the churches you notice something very different. Every command on how to treat others or how to relate with God passes directly through the focal point of godly love!
Look at another one of our memory verses!
1 Peter 3:8-9
“Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love one another as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
“Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will bless you for it.”
Are there any rituals commanded or even suggested for the church in the Bible?
What about baptism? No rules whatsoever, just that if you are saved you should be baptized! Not how or when or where.
What about communion, the Lord’s Supper? No details on how it should be prepared or how the elements should be distributed or when it should be observed, just “Do this in remembrance of Me." Remember what I did for you …
As I was writing this sermon something just popped out at me. What IF Jesus had made a ritual out of communion? What if He had said, “Make the bread exactly this way and make sure the fruit of the vine is from only this type of grape and it can only be served under these exact circumstances, etc.” What if He had done that?
If He had done that then anyone could have fulfilled the requirements of the law by observing the letter of the law but He made it a matter of the heart because this “remembrance” of Jesus is not just a remembrance of His life but a remembrance of the change He made in your life when His sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary made a way for you to be saved!
When we look through the entire New Testament there is not one ritual defined that must be followed letter by letter.
There is no description of how music should be done in church, what instruments should be used, what tempo, etc.
There is no description of how a worship gathering should be constructed.
There are no specifics as to how to witness to others.
There is no description of what to wear besides being modestly dressed.
So, you see we have Religion -vs- Relationship
The Law (and what humans can do to it) -vs- the simple Law of Love
Don’t just take my word for this! Examine the Scriptures! If in the New Testament you find a command given that is not naturally obeyed by keeping the two great commandments then let’s take a look at it.
So, we have this broad spectrum with hundreds if not thousands of man made rules on one end and the law of love for God and others on the opposite end.
With that in mind let us test something.
This past Wednesday was Ash Wednesday - the beginning of the Lenten season.
What IS the Lenten season and how did it come into existence?
Lent is not something Jesus or the apostles or the early church ever observed.
It’s not found in the Bible.
And, it’s not found in church history until after a church council met in the early fourth century.
In the Church of The Nazarene in which I was raised we never observed Lent.
In other Protestant churches that did observe Lent it was more like giving up candy or ice cream or coffee or watermelon for Lent. A very simplified Lent.
Writings earlier than the fourth century AD suggested a 1, 2 or 6 day fast prior to Easter Sunday.
Another custom was a forty day fast starting the day that the early church selected as the day that Jesus was baptized.
Eventually, the 40 days of Lent (not really a fast) was associated with the forty days prior to Easter.
And, the period is now 46 days because Sundays are always a celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus and should always be a time of celebration.
Basically, the Lenten season begins 46 days before Easter with Ash Wednesday when ashes are placed on the forehead of the Christian as a sign of mourning over the spiritual state of the individual.
These ashes are supposed to be made by burning some of the palms from the previous Palm Sunday (a man made ritual).
In Europe they sprinkle the ashes on your head. In the US they make a cross on your forehead.
A person can decide how long they wish to wear them that day.
In some churches you can get “Ashes to Go” in a drive-by fashion!
OK. That’s the beginning what about the rules for the rest of the Lenten season?
This comes from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
There are two elements - abstinence from eating meat and fasting
There’s nothing wrong with that is there? After all the Bible does call us at least to fast, doesn’t it?
Abstinence (from eating meat) on Ash Wednesday, all Fridays during Lent and Good Friday
Fasting + Abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Now, as we think about this - is this an activity that would naturally flow out of loving God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength or is it something which has been created by the religious desires of men no matter how good intended?
Definition of Abstinence from meat:
Abstinence laws consider that meat comes only from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep or pigs - all of which live on land. Birds are also considered meat. Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consomme, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are technically not forbidden. However, moral theologians have traditionally taught that we should abstain from all animal-derived products (except foods such as gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs, which do not have any meat taste). Fish are a different category of animal. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, (cold-blooded animals) and shellfish are permitted.
And, that’s just the law regarding abstinence from meat.
What about Fasting? When you fast you don’t eat, right? Well, not so fast!
Here’s the fast definition of the fast that you a religious person would use to guide their fast during lent.
In the Fast observed during lent you can eat one regular meal and two small meals which do not contain more food than the one regular meal. Is that by volume or weight of the food or perhaps the calorie count? Is it OK to eat a gigantic “regular” meal so that your “smaller” meals can be larger? How legalistic do you want to make it?
Now, here’s an observation …
In all they years I have been alive, never once, during the Lenten season have I heard someone ask, “In what way do you hope to draw closer to God during Lent?”
And, I have never heard someone ask, “How will you be more like Jesus because you observed Lent this year?”
What do they always ask? What did you give up for Lent?
What do they always say near the end of Lent? I can’t wait until Easter Sunday so that I can have candy or ice cream or coffee or meat or whatever again!”
Now, the stated purpose of the Lenten season is “above all else, to prepare men for the celebration of the death and Resurrection of Christ…the better the preparation the more effective the celebration will be. One can effectively relive the mystery only with purified mind and heart. The purpose of Lent is to provide that purification by weaning men from sin and selfishness through self-denial and prayer, by creating in them the desire to do God’s will and to make His kingdom come by making it come first of all in their hearts.”
That sounds good doesn’t it?
Let’s talk a little bit about the Church of The Nazarene - what do we believe?
We are a holiness denomination. We believe that by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us that we can live lives that are in alignment with His will. That we should live lives so closely intertwined with God that the moment we step out of His will our spirits are immediately convicted and with a broken and contrite spirit we immediately ask God for forgiveness and to strengthen us in that area of temptation.
But, what does the Bible tell us?
John 14:23 (HCSB)
“Jesus answered, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.’“
Relationship, relationship, relationship … our walk with God is all about relationship! Just looking back over our memory Scriptures …
John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.
And out of this flows our relationships with others …
Rolf Kleinfeld’s post on Facebook yesterday said,
Oh God, help us. We need Your spirit to guide us, to give us a spirit that yearns to obey You! Help us find/create a quiet place every day to ask You for renewal, for fresh cleansing, to keep us going, to be joyful in You. We praise Your Name!
What about these songs we sing?
I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.
And the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me and He talks with me.
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.
This is the air I breathe - This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me
This is my daily bread - This is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me
Father I adore You, I lay my life before You. How I love You.
In the morning when I rise (3x) give me Jesus
We bow our hearts we bend our knees - Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes from evil things - Oh LORD we cast down our idols
Give us clean hands give us pure hearts - Let us not lift our souls to another
Give us clean hands give us pure hearts - Let us not lift our souls to another
And oh God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks Your face oh God of Jacob
And oh God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks Your face oh God of Jacob
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Is it OK to observe lent, striving for forty days to grow closer to Jesus or should that be our goal every day of the year, becoming more like Christ?
