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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-11-12, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015. PAGE 13. By Pastor Ernest Dow Living Water Christian Fellowship (EMC), Blyth Is it possible to be law-abiding and right-living without being legalistic? Or is there something that’s supposed to be more important for religious folk than merely keeping the rules? Andrew Farley, in his book The Naked Gospel,maintains Christians are meant to live in freedom from the law. He writes: “Taking the Ten Commandments away from a believer can be spiritually akin to taking a safety blanket away from a child. The child may feel insecure, but removing the crutch is essential to helping them become mature... The law was never intended to serve as a foundation for the Christian life... Paul teaches that believers are led by the Spirit and are not under the law. Thus, even the Ten Commandments are not designed to guide our daily living... We’re also informed that sin gains an opportunity through commandments, including the ‘Big Ten.’ The law causes sin to increase, not decrease. Therefore, we can expect more struggle and more sinning if we adopt the law as our guide for living. Conversely, our release from the law directly results in a release from sin’s power. Apart from law, sin is dead.” What? We’re not even to go by the Ten Commandments as guidelines for daily living? Who suddenly threw the rule book out the window? We’re aware that Jesus criticized the Pharisees for tithing herbs while ignoring the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness (Mt. 23:23). We are thankful the Jerusalem Council rejected the demands of some Pharisees who insisted in Acts 15:5, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” We like to be able to enjoy our bacon and pork chops! But isn’t Farley taking it too far to rule out even the Ten Commandments? In fairness to Farley, while downplaying the Ten Commandments, he does acknowledge the essential role of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. He writes: “But we shouldn’t ignore the purpose of the law today. The law is holy and perfect, and it has a particular use in the world today. It’s designed to convict sinners of their depraved state. It shows the dirt on the face of humanity, but it can’t offer a solution. Only Jesus Christ cleanses us from the sin that the law reveals... Although the law plays an important role in the world today, it has no place in the life of a believer. The Spirit living in us is God’s superior replacement for the work of the law. In fact, what the law couldn’t do in its inferiority, Christ has already done through placing us in perfect standing before God. Our calling is to break free from the law and cling to the Spirit alone as our guide for daily living.” The person living by legalism and rules will always find themselves checking their list, perhaps eyeing what’s just on the other side of the line. The emphasis is on restriction and containment, not liberty. Imagine a horse on a ranch just outside the barn in a corral; it’s running around and around the perimeter of the corral, looking for an opening, wanting to get out perhaps for some greener grass, or perhaps it’s a lusty stallion panting, “Gotta get me a mare!” They’re not enjoying the space they have; their whole focus is on what’s constraining them. The horse is a slave: bound by the fence, yes; but also drawn or pulled by their desire, their passion. Across the yard lies an old dog, over on its side basking in the sun’s rays, legs splayed apart carelessly. The dog’s water bowl and food dish are just outside the porch door. The dog’s master is sitting in a swing on the porch reading the newspaper. There’s no fence holding the dog in. It’s not anxious to go running off far from home; maybe it’ll go check out the back 40 to see if there are some rabbits or mice, but it always comes back up to the house. Why? Because everything it wants is right there. It has what satisfies it most. There’s no pleasing the horse, hence the fence. The fence is like the law. As soon as you tell someone they can’t have something - that’s what they want! Legalism prompts you to look for loopholes; the law itself awakens inferior desires. Romans 7:5 – “For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.” What passions or desires will you choose to please? Gal 6:8a – “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction...” Feeding those passions plunges you into the downward spiral of the ‘deeds of the flesh’ in 5:19-21. But God has better things in store for those who come to Him, who seek and desire Him. Gal. 6:8b – “The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Along with the numerous ‘fruit of the Spirit’ in Gal. 5:22f; as Paul observes, “Against such things there is no law.” What possible need could there be of a law against love, joy, peace, goodness, and so forth? Are you like that stallion, anxiously pacing the inside perimeter of the fence, longing for something that’s forbidden? Or are you like that dog who doesn’t need a fence, satisfied in having his Master near, and what’s already been provided? Maybe Andrew Farley is right, we don’t really need the Ten Commandments, the “Big Ten”. Those who yield to Christ have the Spirit inside to be that ‘Counselor’ Jesus promised. Really, there’s not that many commands needed: Paul writes in Gal. 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Carrying each other’s burdens, eh? Gal. 5:6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE.” Paul’s yearning for believers is to realize they’re not slaves to traditions and customs and “should” and “shouldn’ts”; they’re free when they receive Christ. Yet it’s a freedom with a heart that cares. Gal. 5:13f – “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph’s Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS MINISTER Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. All Welcome MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224 Sunday, November 15 There Must Be Something In The Water Sunday, November 22 ~ Guest Speaker: Angie Lannon Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m. MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed. Children Welcome getlivingwater.org Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Nov. 15: Matt.25:14ff Evangelical Missionary Church Tues. 7:30 pm Wingham Small Group “DANIEL PLAN #6: “Winning with the Hand You’re Dealt” THIS FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 7:00 pm FREE MOVIE! “Do You Believe?” 250 Princess St., Brussels 519-887-6388 www.bmfchurch.com Pastor Ken Gazley Guests Welcome Jesus Is Lord! Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Worship Service 10:00 am Sunday School 11:15 am MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15 Nursery care available 519-887-9017 Worship & Sunday School - 10 am Coffee & Snacks - 11 am We invite you to join our church family in: Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, November 15 Brussels Business & Cultural Centre at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Everyone Welcome! SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen BRUSSELS WORSHIP SERVICE AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 am All Welcome United Church Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div. Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224 blythunited@tcc.on.ca Church bookings: 519-887-6377 Other concerns: 226-963-1175 From the Minister’s Study Can you be right-living, but not legalistic?