Norm and I visited a Nazarene church on Sunday. The folks were very friendly. As soon as we walked into the door, a gentleman came up to Norm and said the main pastor belonged to CMA. Imagine that?!! Too bad we didn't get to meet him. He was on a weekend trip with some of the men of the church. They began talking motorcycles and I went straight to the coffee pot. I have decided from this trip that I do not like ANY kind of instant coffee-the regular stuff for me or nothing.. Oh well, it's not the end of the world.
I got my coffee and the pastor said it was time for the service to start. They allow drinks in the sanctuary so I carried my coffee in there with me. Very interesting going to a church different from your own. You find yourself just checking things out. Now, Norm and I know a little about the Nazarene because they and the Wesleyan Church have very similar beliefs.
They had a band with some young folks in it- long hair, flip flops young folks, playing the guitar, a keyboard player, and a saxophone player. Drums were there, but noone was playing them. Apparently a youth plays them and they were gone on a mission trip. The music was good, some were hymns put to a different melody than we are used to hearing, but the words were the same. We especially like the Amazing Grace song but didn't recognize the music to it.
The assistant pastor got up to speak and his topic was License, Legalism or Liberty-since July 4th is this week.
There are two extremes: License and legalism.
Legalism: These folks say you have to be saved and add good works Gal. 1:12. You have to obey rules to believe. They mix grace and good works. Gal 1:6-7. This is a trap that causes bondage and makes folks feel guilty.
Examples: Pharisees tried to trip up Jesus -He healed the man at the Pool of Bethsaida on the Sabbath. They were more concerned about works than the man. Jn. 5:9-10
Jesus healed the man's withered hand on the Sabbath. Mark 3:1-6 Right after this the Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus.. Interesting they plotted to kill Jesus on the Sabbath and that was okay??? Something to think about.
We do have to obey God's commandments. They are to be a blessing to us.
License: Gal 5:13-14 These are the folks who go to the other extreme- believe in Christ and do what you want. Jude 1:4 refutes this.
Rom 6:1, 15 refutes this also Jesus set up free from power of sin. Sin makes hollow promises
2 Tim 3:15 feelings are not more important than truth with these folks. They are not under grace but anarchy. We have even worse difficulties when we live like we want. This imprisons.
Liberty: Gal. 2:19 Not the absence of laws. This is a quality individuals have to control their own actions. Mt. 5:17 and Dt. 30:19
However, God does want us to obey His commmands. They are commands that protect us.
Gal 5:1 Stand fast in liberty.
Think about.. where are you in Christ? I want liberty in Christ.
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