Rules, Laws, Restrictions

What is it about rules?
Why do we have so many laws to abide by?
Are we living in an age of so much restrictions?

These are just some of the questions that I have been mulling over in my head over the past week or so.  I think I may be just over thinking some things, but let me rant for a little bit.

In the Old Testament there are rules, and LOTS of them.  There is rule and restriction for everything you could possible imagine.  So much so that it tied the hands of the people who lived within all of these restrictions; they didn't really have a choice to do what they wanted, or act the way they wanted.  They were subject to a bunch of rules.

When Jesus came to earth He not necessarily questioned what the rules and restrictions were, but He questioned the purpose as to why they were there.  Some of the rules were legitimate and had a purpose, but others...not so much.

Now I know where you think I am going, but I am not going there.  I am not this guy that thinks there should be no rules on anything.  I believe in an ordered society where people are kept accountable and there are consequences for actions.  I believe this to be true not just in our country and place of residence, but in our churches as well.  It is important to have order.

The problem that I see is at what point do these rules, laws, and restrictions hinder a person's relationship with Christ?

Is there a set number?  Maybe after 15 rules, then it is hindering the relationship with Christ?  Or maybe 30? 50? 10?

In the Old Testament there were over 600 rules that the Israelites obeyed.  That's a lot of rules.  On some levels it denied anyone else the ability to enter into a relationship with God because if they weren't obeyed by, then you're out (not exactly, but you see my point).

This brings me to the bigger question of all of this.  One that I have been wrestling with since I spoke on Christmas Day 2011 at my church:

Why did Christ come to earth?

I think He came because He didn't want just a bunch of law followers with no soul.  He wanted people.  People that have hearts and have freedom.  Freedom from the constraints of rules, laws, and restrictions.  Following Christ means freedom.  Freedom to live the way, I believe, God intended it in the first place: to be in a relationship with God.

Let me state clearly again.  I have no problem with rules.  Without them there is anarchy and people take advantage of everyone and everything.  There needs to be rules.  But at what point do rules negate the reason why Christ came (to bring freedom)?

I questions rules, laws, and restrictions when they deter us away from a relationship with Christ; when following Him becomes following a bunch of rules.  That has been done before, and, maybe, worked for a time, but it's not the way God wants it anymore, or He wouldn't have sent is Son, Jesus.

So I'll ask the question again,

Why did Christ come to earth?

Let me know what you think.  

I appreciate your comments and thoughts!

Till next time.

Music, or what we refer to as 'worship' in churches

Christian music used to have many genres; from adult contemporary, to rock, to R&B, it used to have as many as mainstream music. Now, 'worship' dominates the Christian music industry.

Do I have a problem with the music, no, not at all. What I do have a problem with is calling it 'worship music', or in our churches calling it 'worship' because if we call it solely that then we miss the complete definition of what worship is: a life completely and solely dedicated to following Jesus Christ; a person devoting everything about their self to God. Singing songs of praise is just a part of worship.

What I am struggling with more and more of late is not the people putting out music that can be sung corporately in a church, but making a living on videos of others worshipping and putting out album after album.

Am I saying that putting videos together of others worshipping is a bad thing? No. For some it encourages them in their journey with Christ; it helps them.

I guess i just feel uncomfortable with people making money on videos and on 'worship' music.

A friend of mine was telling me of the congregation that he goes to and that they don't sing any of the mainstream 'worship' songs that are available to sing legally at a price (check out CCLI for more information). Instead, the congregation writes their own songs and sings them. He said that some of the songs aren't the best, but for some reason it just feels right.

Is there something wrong with what we have coined as 'worship'? I just know it's bigger than songs, videos, bands, and music.

To make money off of 'worship' just doesn't sit well with me.

This is what's on my mind.

Let me know what you think.

The Underground Church

Over the last week I have been reading through a book called "Tortured for Christ", which has been informative to say the least; stories upon stories recounted from Richard Wurmbrand, founder of "The Voice of the Martyrs".

I guess I really don't know what to say about the whole thing; I am speechless regarding what I could explain and my opinion on this. The truth is none of us in North America truly know what it is like to risk our life for our faith. Sure, maybe at school we stand up for our faith and people laugh and make fun of us, but being made fun of and having a gun pointed at you and if you don't renounce your faith you will be shot are two completely different things.

In Canada we have it so good. We don't have to hide our identity at all in life, yet we are scared to talk about Christ with others. For the longest time I was ashamed to bring my Bible out on the subway because I didn't want to get into conversations about it.

What does this say about our faith?
What does this say about my faith?

The Underground Church across the world are meeting in attics and basements and buildings knowing that if they get caught they will be subject to imprisonments, beatings, and other forms of torture, or death. But, they still meet.

We in free countries are debating ridiculous things about the Bible, meanwhile, people all across the world are being killed for simply believing.

At first, upon reading this book, I thought the writer was just complaining to much about how the Church in the west is just too self-centered that we can't see people dying across the world, but he is right.

How many of our churches in North America are praying for these people across the world?

How many of us, as individuals, are praying for these people?

How many of us even know that that this is going on in our world today?

How many of us know that Christians are hunted in places like Somalia like we hunt deer and other animals here in Canada?

We are so self-centered here in North America that we can't see it and I include myself in on the 'we'.

The book has made me think a lot about what I am concerned about on a daily basis. I don't know what it's like to be a person who has been tortured for my faith, or imprisoned, or killed for my faith.

This is just what's 'on my mind...'

Let me know what you think. I want to hear your thoughts.

Andrew


***For more information on 'The Voice of the Martyr's' just type it in Google and you will find it.