"Everything is permissible"-but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"-but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 1 Cor 10:23-24
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it,
do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"?
These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.
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. Col 2:20-23
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it,
do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"?
These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.
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. Col 2:20-23
The Last Rule
I had been attending a church in Payson, Arizona, for a few months. This denomination had a long history of legalism, but over the years they had gradually gotten rid of the many rules they required of their members. At a meeting for people who were interested in joining the church, the pastor presented a straight forward description of a scripture based community. Then he said that they had six rules. Again, the rules were scripture based principles until he said, “We don’t drink.”
I knew that there was no prohibition on drinking in the Bible. While I don’t drink much, I do enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, so I said, “Do you mean you don’t drink to excess?”
The pastor replied, “No, we don’t drink any alcohol.”
I asked him why, since there was nothing in the Bible that said we should not drink any alcoholic beverage. On the contrary:
- Jesus’ first miracle consisted of producing a very large amount of wine towards the end of a wedding when the guests had already consumed all the wine prepared for the wedding. (John 2:3-10)
- Jesus and the disciples drank wine at the last supper. (Mt 26:27)
- Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine to help with his digestion. (1 Tim 5:23)
- We are just told not to “get drunk on wine.” (Eph 5:18)
All the pastor could say was that they had gotten rid of most of the added rules of their denomination, but they still had that one rule. I told him that I would not be able to join the church, because God was not telling me not to drink any alcohol.
No Rules At All?
There are many commands and rules in the Bible. In 2 Timothy 2:4-5, Paul says that “no one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.” So it is obvious Paul is not saying that we should not have any rules, or that we can throw out the Ten Commandments and all the rest of the things we are told to do or not do in the Bible.
False Humility
The key to this question is found in Colossians 2:16-18:
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. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize.
We obviously need rules in our families, our businesses, the military and the Church that allow us to function as a group. Paul makes it clear that we are to follow those rules. The problem then and now is that some people like to make rules not for the purpose of maintaining order within the organization, but to appear more pious or holy.
Jesus was very clear about this when he quoted Isaiah in Matthew 15:7-9, saying:
You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." (Isa 29:13)
The Delicate Balance
We should always obey everything God commands in His Word and or tells us directly. Sin is knowing what God wants us to do but not doing it; or knowing what God doesn’t want us to do, but doing it anyway. At the same time, we have to be very careful that we do not come up with rules for the vain purpose of appearing more spiritual.
Consider/Discuss
1. Share some examples of “rules made by men” in the Church today.
2. Does our church or denomination have any rules that go beyond God’s Word?
3. Has God given you a rule just for yourself that does not apply to others?
4. What does Scripture say should be the deciding factor in whether it is ok to do something?
Scripture Memory Verse
"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 1 Cor 10:23-24
Let's Pray! - Examination of Conscience for the Common Priesthood
I had been attending a church in Payson, Arizona, for a few months. This denomination had a long history of legalism, but over the years they had gradually gotten rid of the many rules they required of their members. At a meeting for people who were interested in joining the church, the pastor presented a straight forward description of a scripture based community. Then he said that they had six rules. Again, the rules were scripture based principles until he said, “We don’t drink.”
I knew that there was no prohibition on drinking in the Bible. While I don’t drink much, I do enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, so I said, “Do you mean you don’t drink to excess?”
The pastor replied, “No, we don’t drink any alcohol.”
I asked him why, since there was nothing in the Bible that said we should not drink any alcoholic beverage. On the contrary:
- Jesus’ first miracle consisted of producing a very large amount of wine towards the end of a wedding when the guests had already consumed all the wine prepared for the wedding. (John 2:3-10)
- Jesus and the disciples drank wine at the last supper. (Mt 26:27)
- Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine to help with his digestion. (1 Tim 5:23)
- We are just told not to “get drunk on wine.” (Eph 5:18)
All the pastor could say was that they had gotten rid of most of the added rules of their denomination, but they still had that one rule. I told him that I would not be able to join the church, because God was not telling me not to drink any alcohol.
No Rules At All?
There are many commands and rules in the Bible. In 2 Timothy 2:4-5, Paul says that “no one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.” So it is obvious Paul is not saying that we should not have any rules, or that we can throw out the Ten Commandments and all the rest of the things we are told to do or not do in the Bible.
False Humility
The key to this question is found in Colossians 2:16-18:
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. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize.
We obviously need rules in our families, our businesses, the military and the Church that allow us to function as a group. Paul makes it clear that we are to follow those rules. The problem then and now is that some people like to make rules not for the purpose of maintaining order within the organization, but to appear more pious or holy.
Jesus was very clear about this when he quoted Isaiah in Matthew 15:7-9, saying:
You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." (Isa 29:13)
The Delicate Balance
We should always obey everything God commands in His Word and or tells us directly. Sin is knowing what God wants us to do but not doing it; or knowing what God doesn’t want us to do, but doing it anyway. At the same time, we have to be very careful that we do not come up with rules for the vain purpose of appearing more spiritual.
Consider/Discuss
1. Share some examples of “rules made by men” in the Church today.
2. Does our church or denomination have any rules that go beyond God’s Word?
3. Has God given you a rule just for yourself that does not apply to others?
4. What does Scripture say should be the deciding factor in whether it is ok to do something?
Scripture Memory Verse
"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 1 Cor 10:23-24
Let's Pray! - Examination of Conscience for the Common Priesthood