Jesus’ admonition of the Pharisees still reverberates today.
Painting by James Tissot
Many have used His words to reject legalism and instead embrace a more liberal form of theology. To accomplish this goal they must first find ways to dispense with the clear and authoritarian teachings of scripture.
This is done by developing “new ways of reading and interpreting religious texts.” Some call this “historical criticism” and use it to undermine the meaning and authority of the text. What’s really going on is an effort to undermine the binding authority of the Bible within the church; which has always been the goal of Satan! Bill Brewer coined this effort as the three Rs; where intellectuals Reinterpret, Reevaluate, and/or, Repudiate Christ’s teachings.
Their purpose is to present a more popular form of Christianity that they claim is more in touch with the progressive thinking of today’s world. As Chris taught last week, this point of view misses the heart of Christ teachings. Christ specifically told His disciples that their aim wasn’t to be popular, but rather, they should adhere to the truth!
Unfortunately, Satan has made much progress in perverting the word: recently an article, joyfully reported there are over 3,300 so called Christian congregations in the U.S. that welcome openly gay, lesbian, and transgendered couples into their fellowship. While that is truly disturbing, we must understand that the problem is not just a liberal one; the same three R techniques; Reinterpret, Reevaluate, and/or, Repudiate Christ’s teachings were used by the Pharisees and are now being used by some who embrace a legalistic view of scripture.
In their efforts to preserve the pure teachings of Christ there are those who have fallen into the same snare as the Pharisees; building traditional hedges around the Word; then enforcing these traditions, as if they supersede God’s word. Remember what Jesus told the Pharisees… in their attempts to keep God’s word pure, they themselves had become the very pollutant they so vigorously guarded against!
The result of this back and forth, liberal versus conservative, tug-of-war can result in believers jumping from ditch to ditch and missing the road completely. Fortunately, most members of the Body know better; when they read the Bible they have absolutely no problem understanding its clear teachings and principles of a right relationship with God.
As we’ve said before, we are not looking for a balance between legalism and grace; rather Christians are called to totally commit to the teachings of Jesus; to become more and more Christ-like every day. This commitment reaches far beyond a legalistic understanding of our relationship to Christ. While at the same time it resists the efforts of those who seek to cheapen God’s Grace.
As always, the answer is found in scripture: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” 1Pe 3:15-17
In service to our Lord,
– Rod Ellison
