A friend commented to me yesterday how she had attended a meeting of her mom's friends, and all they talked about was what they could and could not do. A meeting of rules. From clothing, to patches, to where they would go, or not go, and who and how they would do it-all they did was discuss rules. Which left her feeling uncomfortable, for what if she didn't know all their rules and violated one? Would they discipline her, she was trying to obey, or would they make a one time exception? What if she wanted to join, would she have to learn all the rules? What if she didn't agree with all of them, but just wanted to visit them once in a while, would that be another rule? And if there was no rule for that, would they make another, based upon existing rules? What if she had just come along for the ride? I think you get the idea.
We visited Shipshewana, Indiana on our last trip. An Amish colony, which has been turned into a tourist attraction. With the promise that because they are Amish-a group of religious people who traditionally shun themselves from the world, but somehow have opened up to the idea of free enterprise, that all would be OK. No pictures was once the rule-OK here. A simple life-not once you open a business. And where once they had private lives, now they were open to the public, by their invitation via billboards, for all to see their hypocrisy. OOPS, did I say that? Seems an income from being Amish is acceptable, at least to this colony, but will put them at odds with more traditional Amish. More rules-I think you get the idea.
Legalism is what the Bible calls it. When Moses came down with the Ten Commandments, God also gave man over 600 laws to live by-we were so screwed up we had to be told right from wrong. But Moses had the condensed version, and soon that was too many. So Jesus, knowing how confused and immoral we could be, took it down to two. Love God first will all your heart. Simple enough. Then love your neighbor as yourself. And enjoy life, free from rules, which only point out our shortcomings. And that no one can or has ever been able to keep all of.
Keep that in mind next time you invite someone to your meetings, or church. They are already buried by laws, which bring death, according to Jesus. Take riding for instance-do you wish to spend your free time being told how to ride, where to ride, and that you may be too slow, or worst too fast? Where is the freedom in being told what to do? Or when? Or how? Or with who? Do you prefer to be out riding, enjoying the roads and time you are allowed, or arguing over rules?
Simply put-if you have no morals, based on Jesus' commandments, you need rules. So next time a church gives you a book on what it believes, or a set of rules, or a handbook of what the club rules are-I pass. They spend more time on laws than what their initial purpose was. Let nothing get between you and God. I want my freedom, that same freedom Jesus died on the cross for. He didn't die for more rules-but to free us from them-it is called mercy and grace. Try that for a rulebook, based on love. He loved us first, because without Him, we never could have loved at all.
So keep the main thing the main thing. Feel welcome in my church, home, or club. Safe in the knowledge that with fewer rules to break, I have less chance to break them, and so do you. But with one simple law-love, we both have a better chance to keep it.
A simple law, for a simple people. Aren't rules fun?
So you can enjoy your meetings-I'll enjoy the ride. It's called love. The first rule broken when you make other rules. Think about that next time you invite someone over.
And you wonder my many don't return, or come when called?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com