There is a church in a far away city that calls itself "the church of the rules", when you enter someone will get in the door indicating that such people are accepted on the spot, saying: "Here we welcome all those who have a good life, those who have no problem with sin, those who do not smoke, drink alcohol, or speak with words bombastic, who do not lie, those who do not have sex out of wedlock and never commit adultery. " Many people arriving at the site feel happy to learn that the church is what I always dreamed of, yet overwhelmed to see in a mirror and not be in the right condition for access.
A man who always dreamed of a church and, on reaching the door and welcome you receive as confrontational, he felt that if he accepted his condition would be outside the church for what he said: "This is the place I was looking away of those who do such things. " In saying that the person who was at the entrance allowed access.
Upon entering the atrium, the wall is very visible that a regulation is required to read before going further, this will detail those things that should save for admission as members of The Church of the rules " , such as how to dress, his walk, what foods are forbidden to eat, etc..
After reading it decides to go forward in time to when that would start the service.
As in many congregations the worship leader was responsible for opening worship, first explaining how it should be the behavior while God be praised, saying "we have a God of order so all in complete awe we'll stand and sing these beautiful hymns, all of our congregants remember that dancing is a sin because it causes emotions in others and the clap or raise their hands is not allowed in this place. " Starting
praise could breathe a bit of a tense, as if a funeral was taking place in that place where even a simple cough to provoke anyone breaking the order.
After this period passes before the pastor who began his speech made a sign to those employed to collect the tithes and offerings to pass front where they put the baskets in which they deposited the offerings. After doing this the pastor addressed a few words saying: "Beloved brethren in the church of the rules, God put us here for the sole purpose of manifesting the perfect life, now collect tithes and offerings because we know who does not participate in this God is who steal, do not forget that we carried out two annual audits to verify their income and thus prevent someone in the congregation could fall into sin. "
As the worship band plays a tune without voice, each person goes to deposit their tithes and offerings to face prosecution under the gaze of the shepherd who did not lose a moment that amounts deposited. After spending the congregation once again pass the brothers in charge of collecting tithes and offerings and put a security lock to each basket so that anyone could access them but only the leaders.
The attacker was a little preaching, the pastor was devoted to pointing out things that were sins, constantly putting an example of holiness and perfection of it, generating an effect on the audience of admiration for him, but also repulsion themselves In his speech the pastor ended with this sentence: "we are called to holiness and who can not meet all of these sets of rules you just have to wait for the trial the consuming fire of God. "
Leaving that place was a relief, but to turn a load as each attendee know the tremendous struggle that would have to make in your strength for the next Sunday to be ready to again enter the church of the rules " .
It may sound funny I'm telling this story, but the purpose for which I write is that you can reflect on those practices that we have within our congregations, which do not come from God, but were made by men.
exaggerating things a bit as I did in the story, meet the "church rules", which no doubt Queen hypocrisy and sin, since one of the main things we learn is that we have not come to God, nor can we find a way to do it, but He was the one who took the initiative by sending his son Jesus Christ by which We have free access to his presence.
Undoubtedly the law had a very important purpose and this was to reveal the human condition so that in this way could manifest grace without law there would be no sin, but because of her sin has been understood by the both man and the reality that we all sin, being that death is a separation from God, who originally (before sin) had a relationship face to face.
God today is looking for people to understand that the Christian life is a series of rules which must be met to get to heaven or to have this relationship with God, but that the Christian life is a living relationship, the which was restored by Jesus Christ, so we are no longer under the bondage of the law, but we've been having a real freedom.
This is not trying to say there is no longer obey the law or follow what the Bible says, but try to put in perspective as we were not designed to be in slavery but in freedom and this allowed us to love God freely seek to please Him.
When someone is subject to the law this person only has feelings of frustration as he realizes as rich young man mentioned in the Bible that was sad because their substance was great and was not willing to relinquish them (Luke 18:18-27), to this we can religious calling.
The origin of the word religion in the Bible means, worship or obedience to God out of fear, I believe that today God is calling men to leave all religion that prevents him from approaching him and have a real relationship of trust no longer a prosecuting God but the God of love who was willing to give up his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
The Christian church should be a place where everyone who has lived subject to sin and religion, can come close to finding a loving relationship with the creator of the universe through Jesus Christ, but while we're focused on the rules as that church in a city far away from the way you speak, only lead to frustration in people and that these forces will continue fighting to achieve something that God has given us as a gift.
they bind heavy burdens and grievous to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to help them. Before you do all their deeds to be seen by men. Mat 23:4-5
0 comments:
Post a Comment