However he said something very good. Since I don't have the words in front of me (it was an audio book), I can't quote him. But his basic idea was that we should love our brothers and sisters in Christ instead of criticizing them. We should be thankful that we have them whether they meet up with our expectations or what we think God's expectations are.
Bonhoeffer was in prison waiting for his martyr's execution during the writing of the book, so he was longing for Christian fellowship. He didn't want others reading to take it for granted either.
So what about our brothers and sisters in Christ? Are they are too "conservative" or too "liberal"?
We should not criticize them, but we should love them. I have always believed this personally, but I have been thinking a lot more about it lately. I believe it, but do I live it? What about going out of my way... out of my comfort zone to show that love?
It is interesting that during my devotions, this book by Bonhoeffer, and Jasmine's blog(a copy posted below) all tie together. Love our neighbor. If he or she is more careful than I am in their walk. Is it my business to criticize them?
We might say, "Well they are judging me!" My response would be "Are you assuming this? And what if they are???"
We might think, "They aren't following this Biblical rule" My response would be, "How do you know if they have light on that issue or not?? And what if they do have light? Does the Bible give us permission to criticize them?"
I am commanded to LOVE my neighbor! Does the Bible say "love they neighbor IF...."?
Matthew 22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Ouch! Verse 39 says on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. What about I Corinthians 13 "The greatest of these is LOVE"? We can be "liberal" or "conservative" but what does it profit us at all if we don't have love? I can say I love someone until I am blue in the face but how am I SHOWING my love?
Love shows itself through our treatment of others. Are we being friendly, kind, ARE WE PRAYING FOR THEM?
I have a couple of blogs I truly enjoy. I don't know these ladies personally but their blogs are great. They make me think; they uplift me spiritually. Jasmine's blog is one of them (Jasmine is 18 years old!). Her post has a lot to do with labels. I think Christians should shy away from labels and LOVE (regardless of the other person's actions)!
With my thoughts added, this will make a longer post but it is definitely worth the read:
Here is the link to her blog with the blog post below it:
http://joyfullyathome.blogspot.com/
"Pharisee"
I'm sure most of my readers have heard this word thrown around a lot in Christian circles. I know I have, especially after our elders preached through the Gospel of Mark a couple of months ago. It's sad to say, though, that usually, when I hear the word, "pharisee," people aren't talking about the group of men in the Bible whom Jesus addressed again and again; they use the word "Pharisee" or "pharisaical" to describe brothers and sisters in Christ that they see as "legalistic."
Now, the dictionary definition of Pharisee is a member of a Jewish sect of the intertestamental period noted for strict observance of rites and ceremonies of the written law and for insistence on the validity of their own oral traditions concerning the law, but our "Christian" definition has become a bit different. I've learned that, no matter what people say, their definition of a Pharisee is anyone who is more serious about the law of God than they are.
It seems sad to me that, many times, when Christian men and women are committed to learning the law of God and obeying it out of love for Him (1 John 5:2-4), they are accused of "pharisaism," a word I can't seem to find in my Bible... maybe it's not in the ESV?
The sin of the Pharisees was not striving to obey the Lord's commandments. The sin of the Pharisees was thinking that, through obeying these commandments to the letter (which no human can ever do, because we are all sinners incapable of righteousness without Jesus), they would be saved (Matthew 5:20). They were adding to Scripture, creating laws around laws to fit their own purposes. Their sin was a heart issue! (Matthew 15:7-9) Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no place in God's Word where the word "pharisee" is applied to blood-washed Christians living out the Lord's commandment to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, and our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39).
They weren't obeying the Lord's commandments because they were saved; they were obeying the commandments thinking that through them, they would be saved.
We can not obey the law to the letter; it's impossible, because we are fallen, sinful humans. We can not be saved through obeying the law, because the only way to achieve salvation is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). There are parts of God's law, I believe, that are not binding on us today (ceremonial law, for instance, was, I believe, abolished by the death of Christ on the cross). But I do believe that "all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17-18), and that we would do well, as followers of the Lord, to search the Scriptures, to learn, cherish, and delight in the law of the Lord.
This does not make me a Pharisee. This makes me a Christian.
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him... ~1 John 2:2-4
This train of thought was sparked by reading "By This Standard: The Authority of God's Law Today" by Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen. I encourage anyone interested on the subject of biblical law to read with it. Whether or not you agree with every word Dr. Bahnsen says, this is definitely a book that will get you thinking more seriously about the Word of God. Click on the book in the Amazon widget on my sidebar to have a closer look.
5 comments:
Interesting. I think I will check-out that book that you mentioned in your post, although I don't know WHEN I'll be able to read it, as I have order ALOT of books lately that I am currently trying to read.
Also, I think the term Legalist is not such a negative "label" for those reforming in their thought on Christianity. According to the dictionary (not a direct quote since I don't have my dictionary near by), but it's one who adheres to strict laws and regulations. Well, couldn't a true follower of Christ be called a "Legalist?"
Christ requires that we must follow his commandments. These commandments could seem "strict" to those who don't follow Christ. So, those who sometimes call out the name "Legalist" on others may need to re-think their thinking.
Mrs. Lady Sofia,
Great thoughts and insight! I like what you said about "legalist".
My pastor comes from a VERY strict background. Black ties only, plain clothes and colors...etc.
He isn't that way now (although he lives very carefully), but that is his background... even so, he still has a high regard for the people he grew up with.
In the past I would have been tempted to scream Pharisees or legalist in a derogatory way about people that way, but my own heart would have been wrong for judging their strictness. I wouldn't have been doing it in love. Regardless if these people would think I was a sinner or not, I would have been sinning to judge their reasons for living carefully just as much as if I had judged one more liberal than myself.
I haven't yet finished "Life Together by Bonhoeffer" so I am not sure if I would agree with everything but it certainly is good for the heart to be challenged to love others more! I know what you mean about reading... so much to read, so little time!
Thanks so much for stopping by!!! :-D
Good thoughts, my friend!
So true. Funny, I've been thinking A LOT along this line too recently. I guess what it boils down to is none of us are perfect! We have to be careful not to get caught up in our own self righteousness, that we see everyone else's faults but not our own! Good thoughts. Thanks for sharing.
Big Amen, Kelly. :-)
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