Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
When We Bind Burdens Too Heavy to Bear
“But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.” (Acts 15:5)
It can be difficult for us in a different era and with a different cultural backdrop to understand how pernicious the circumcision question was. The issue of circumcision was a vital connection to the Jewish law – all males were required to be circumcised according to Moses’ law. To question the necessity of circumcision was to overthrow over a thousand years of historical precedent.
A modern equivalent for Christians today is hard to find. Every tradition and custom of today is only in its infancy in comparison. So, let us get to the heart of the matter. The problem wasn’t circumcision – it was the requirement of circumcision. Many early Christians practiced a variety of Jewish traditions from circumcision to keeping the feasts to avoiding unclean foods and behaviors… these were perfectly allowed. What wasn’t allowed was binding these traditions upon the lives of others. We are bound by Jesus’ law and no other. We can have opinions about holidays or behaviors outside of the realm of Scripture (and believe me; I definitely do!)… but to require others act as we do in such areas is to place ourselves upon the throne instead of Jesus.
Christians are to be fanatically conservative about our adherence to what the Scriptures command and equally liberal in our acceptance of others who make different choices in areas of personal judgment. If the Lord saw fit to not bind such things, we ought to curb our enthusiasm to create new rules where He has not.
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites
Today’s Reading: Acts 15:1-9
Questions to ask:
- How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
- How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
- What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
- What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?
This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul. If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision
