Traditions are part of family, part of our culture. What would you do if a tradition that some people choose to do (a long time ago) had morphed into being seen as a command from God that everyone must do?… Read More
Obedience as Worship
Jesus sternly rebuked both the scribes and Pharisees in this passage. Contrary to what they thought, Jesus does not welcome obedience that is divorced from the heart. Wedded to the teaching of elders, the Pharisees had long deviated from the… Read More
Do You Measure Up?
Measuring the spirituality of a person can be tricky business since everyone will evaluate people and situations from a particular set of personal values. If I value a specific spiritual discipline or activity, I will tend to measure the “spirituality”… Read More
Tightrope – Legalism and Lawlessness, Part 2
In the New Testament, our relationship with the Lord is often referred to as our “walk.” This is a great metaphor for the Christian experience, and we can extend it to walking the tightrope between legalism and lawlessness: to fall… Read More
Tightrope – Legalism and Lawlessness, Part 1
Theologically, legalism can is seeking to be justified before God through obeying the law of God. Practically, legalism is the attempt to please God more than Jesus ever could. When a person believes that our relationship with God hinges… Read More