Club rules
Most clubs have rules. When I was growing up, they brought in new national laws that you had to wear a helmet when riding your bicycle. It was annoying at first, but it has saved a lot of lives.
But here's a strange law for you - 50kg of potatoes or more could leave you with a fine of $2,000 in Western Australia. Under Section 22 of the Marketing of Potatoes Act 1946, anyone found selling, delivering or purchasing 50kg or more potatoes could face a heavy penalty!
Some rules make sense. Other rules seem a bit weird. Or maybe there is a context for them that we don't understand.
As the gospel went out to Gentiles (non-Jews) in the early church, many became Christians. It was awesome! But then some people decided that these new Christian Gentiles also had to follow some old Jewish rules, otherwise they "weren't really Christians"!
Here's how it went:
Acts 15:1-4
1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
So there was a problem. Then Paul and Barnabas went with some others to sort this out with the church elders and the apostles. They reported all the good stuff that was happening. But then...
Acts 15:5
ACTS 15
The Council at Jerusalem1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
So some people didn't like this. These Gentiles had joined their country club and weren't following all the old rules. Instead of following Jesus, the Pharisees were holding up the old laws of Moses. Peter (the chief apostle) stood up and explained why this rule of circumcision doesn't apply anymore...
Acts 15:11, 19
11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
...
19“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
So simple. It's through grace we are saved - God's undeserved kindness. Not by following laws or customs. So, he continues, let's not make it difficult for the Gentiles to be Christians!
How often do we make it difficult for people to be Christians? Jesus made it simple. Trust him and put your faith in him. Make him your Lord and King. That's not easy to do to begin with, but with God's help we can. So let's not add any more onto that!
For example: Does a person HAVE to join a Bible study group to be a Christian? No! They are saved by grace. But it's a GREAT thing if they do.
Do they have to go to church? Well, what if they can't? Sick. Infirm. Remote living. Living in a country with no church meetings they can access. Of course, they don't HAVE to. But it's SO GOOD when we can - it's important to help us and make the Christian life EASIER.
Do we have to dress a certain way? Or read a certain Bible translation or sing the right Christian songs? No. No. No.
Circumcision? No.
There are lots of things that help us in our Christian walk, but there is only one thing that brings us into the Christian life - faith in Jesus. Let's be careful to help people walk the Christian life, and not make it harder for them.
What can we do at our Sunday gatherings to make it easier for people to join us each week? Got any ideas?
Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for making it so simple for me to have eternal life. Help me to remember to keep putting my trust in you and to make you King in every part of my life.
Please help our church to make it easy for people to find Jesus and make him their King as well. Help us to remove anything that might unnecessarily make the walk of faith difficult for people.
Amen.