The Right Mix

Below is the daily Bible reading I am doing for the West Side Church. Please feel free to follow along.

In today’s reading (Mark 12) the overall theme is the opposition Jesus sees from the Pharisees, Sadducees, and other Jewish leaders. While the original role of these men was not overly horrible, through the course of time, they became wicked men. Jesus confronts their hearts time and time again.

I think there is a valid lesson we can learn from the Pharisees. This group was concerned with two thing: making sure everyone followed the law of Moses to an extreme, and making themselves look good. Now I think following God’s words and directives are very important, but there is a line we must draw. Legalism can be very wrong. Legalism pushes things to the extreme just the Pharisees did.

I think what we must find is that happy balance. We must be concerned with things like doctrine, correct living, but at the same time not forgetting the grace that we live under. When we get into trouble is when we consider things absolutes when in fact they are more matters of opinions. So what are you thoughts? Do you see your self as a border line Pharisee or someone living on the other extreme; not concerned with doctrine at all? If you feel you have a happy blend, how have you achieved that?

Examine yourself in this way …

Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes
and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the
synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and
for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.

Standing On Doctrine

Below is the Bible reading I am doing for the West Side Church. Please feel free to follow along.

Today’s reading (Acts 23) shows one of the core problems with the Sanhedrin during the 1st century. In vs. eight we learn that the ruling body of the Jews is divided among itself. We learn … "The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angles nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.” What separated these two groups was a very sharp disagreement over doctrine. In that day this was one of the main dividing lines between the Jews. It was a dividing line Paul knew he could exploit, and when he did it developed into a mighty war.

Before I go on I want to make a disclaimer: I feel doctrine is very important. I believe it is something we should teach. I believe it is something we should discuss and make sure we are following closely.

Now that my disclaimer is out of the way I want to say this. Disagreements over doctrine should not become test of fellowship. While we must strive to have pure doctrine, and correct doctrine, I believe fellowship shouldn’t halt just because we disagree. If we threw out every argument, every book, every article that sided for a doctrine we disagree with, then our knowledge and growth would be pretty slim.

I have seen some circles draw the doctrine lines as a test of fellowship. On this I would say they are wrong. I have seen other circles that haven’t worried about doctrine at all. On this I would say they are wrong. We must strike a healthy balance. In my Restoration Movement class we learned that one of the shibboleths of the movement was this: We are not the only Christians, but Christians only. Think about that. We should be seeking to just be Christians, not arguing over doctrine, but loving people as we try to win them to Christ. We should not spend time ripping each other apart over difference when a brother or sister is struggling in sin, debt, depression, or the many other things that plague our society.

I know that doctrine is important. So how do we find the healthy balance? How do we discuss our difference in a way that is building up not tearing down? When we figure that out, I believe many churches will see amazing growth.