Although Christians hold to a general body of rights and wrongs or moral code, they seem to have difficulty in identifying what that code exactly is. Some will cling to the Ten Commandments, but others shun the Old Testament completely and believe that the Law of Christ, loving God and one's neighbor, is the only true guideline that we have. Add to this Paul's cryptic "Christian liberty," and you have individual Christians running around, all deciding for themselves, their own code of morals and ethics. We also have the "thou shalt not judge" anyone enthusiasts, leaving true believers without a clue as to how we really are to live, at least in the details.
From Torah portion, "Re'eh - Behold" we read the following:
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 (KJV)
26
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
27
A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
28
And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
From this we see that God had given the Israelites detailed descriptions on how they were to live. They would be blessed if they obeyed God's commandments and would be cursed if they did not. God also said this:
Deuteronomy 12:8 (KJV)
8
Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.
"Doing what is right in your own eyes" is clearly an idea that God despises. Yet, this is often how Christianity determines what is right and wrong.
"Yes, we got a divorce. God wants us to be in a happier place."
"Yes, I buy lottery tickets. If I win, I'll donate some to my church."
"Yes, we're living together. We're saving money and besides, marriage is just a piece of paper anyway."
"Yes, we go to church on Sunday, or Tuesday. God doesn't care what day we worship."
"Yes, I eat bacon. God doesn't care what we eat."
This fuzzy moral code is really a figment of our imaginations. Christians are living contrary to the Word of God and somehow they believe that God is pleased.
Deuteronomy 12:32 (KJV)
32
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
What God has commanded, He intended His people to observe and obey. Rather than trying to determine on our own what is right and wrong, He has given us His guidelines in His entire Word, the Bible. It's about time we fully paid attention.
God does not care what day we go to church. We should worship Him continuously. True believers know exactly how we are to live through the bible and the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteHi, Richard! Thanks for commenting!
DeleteI agree that we are to worship God continuously and that the Bible and the Holy Spirit inform us as to how we are to live.
However, I disagree that God doesn't care about the day we set aside specially for worship. Exodus 31:13-17 is clear that the seventh day is the Sabbath and it is to be kept forever. Verses such as Romans 14:5 are taken out of context and are misleading. "One man esteemeth one day above another, another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." If we believe that Paul was saying that the day didn't matter, that we can choose whatever day we want, he is, in effect, saying we can do whatever is right in our own eyes, which God has negated in Deuteronomy 12. Rather, Paul was speaking about those things that are not expressly dealt with in Scripture. Remember, the Jews had added many "rules" to Jewish life that God had not commanded. This was Paul's emphasis. Please read my commentary on Romans (on this blog) for a more indepth look at this passage.
The verses you mention do not say we are to worship on the Sabbath. It just says it is to be a day of rest, not worship.
ReplyDeleteRichard,
DeleteYou are right about the Exodus passage. I used it to show that Sabbath is to be kept forever. Leviticus 23:3 states that there is to be a holy convocation on the Sabbath. NIV uses "sacred assembly" instead of holy convocation.
Leviticus 23:3 (NIV)
3 "'There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.
I stand corrected.
ReplyDeleteMay God Bless! I hope you stop by again!
Delete