Church
Marks Gospel records,
“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.
The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:23-27.
Here is a classic example of legalism. Jesus and his disciples were walking through a grain field on the Sabbath. They were hungry so they took some heads of grain rubbed them in their hands to remove the outer part and ate the rest.
The pharisees interpreted this as Jesus and his disciples harvesting the wheat and threshing it. In other words doing work. Something forbidden on the Sabbath.
The Pharisees forgot that God’s rules are made to make mans life better. Not designed to restrict Man.
In this case the Sabbath was intended to give ones workers one complete day of rest. Something doctors today say is a very good thing.
Today we have well meaning groups in Christianity that say we should worship on the Sabbath and not work. While others say we should worship on the Sunday.
The bottom line here it makes no difference as long as we take a day to assemble with others of our faith. Take time from our labours and worship God.
Unfortunately over the years, over the centuries, well meaning Christians have created a rule book of do’s and do not’s.
I can remember a time when You had to go to church in your best Sunday suit or dress. Shined shoes hair perfectly done. Women not allowed to wear makeup of any kind or jewelry.
I can remember some of my Christian friends would not play games at home. They never turned on the television or radio. Although playing praise music on the record player was allowed.
Now there was nothing wrong with any of this except I found that if at times formed a barrier, especially if the person didn’t have a nice suit or dress to wear.
The constant emphasis on the do’s and don’t on the superfluous things like watching televison on a Sunday or playing games was also a problem for some people. Thus they turned away from church and unfortunately Christ.
Somehow I don’t think Jesus worried about how a person dressed he accepted everyone. Everyone felt comfortable in his presence. He placed no barriers between people and worshipping God. Nor should we.
I know from experience that having a church that is open to everyone produces results. My wife and I recently moved to a new Church. It’s a new congregation small in number but growing.
For a number of years it was an outreach of a larger church reaching out to the people living on the street.
That larger church we were a part of is a come as you are church they didn’t care what you wore to church as long as you came out. That church went from four hundred or so to a congregation now of over three thousand.
As for our congregation like I said it is small but growing. We are very much a come as you are church. No one wears suits. Not even the pastor. Women do wear dresses but the majority wear pants. Blue jeans are the norm for some men and women. No one bats an eyelid no matter how you’re dressed.
The message our congregation wants to give to the world is that God loves you no matter who you are, and wants to have a personal relationship with you.
While service starts at ten thirty, for those who come early there is coffee tea and other drinks as well as confectionaries free of charge. As a result people come early and have a time of fellowship both before service and after.
New comers are welcomed and get a chance to know and meet people.
To me this to me is how church should be. No barriers just open arms and a listening ear showing the Love of Jesus.
Please think about it.
Marks Gospel records,
“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.
The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:23-27.
Here is a classic example of legalism. Jesus and his disciples were walking through a grain field on the Sabbath. They were hungry so they took some heads of grain rubbed them in their hands to remove the outer part and ate the rest.
The pharisees interpreted this as Jesus and his disciples harvesting the wheat and threshing it. In other words doing work. Something forbidden on the Sabbath.
The Pharisees forgot that God’s rules are made to make mans life better. Not designed to restrict Man.
In this case the Sabbath was intended to give ones workers one complete day of rest. Something doctors today say is a very good thing.
Today we have well meaning groups in Christianity that say we should worship on the Sabbath and not work. While others say we should worship on the Sunday.
The bottom line here it makes no difference as long as we take a day to assemble with others of our faith. Take time from our labours and worship God.
Unfortunately over the years, over the centuries, well meaning Christians have created a rule book of do’s and do not’s.
I can remember a time when You had to go to church in your best Sunday suit or dress. Shined shoes hair perfectly done. Women not allowed to wear makeup of any kind or jewelry.
I can remember some of my Christian friends would not play games at home. They never turned on the television or radio. Although playing praise music on the record player was allowed.
Now there was nothing wrong with any of this except I found that if at times formed a barrier, especially if the person didn’t have a nice suit or dress to wear.
The constant emphasis on the do’s and don’t on the superfluous things like watching televison on a Sunday or playing games was also a problem for some people. Thus they turned away from church and unfortunately Christ.
Somehow I don’t think Jesus worried about how a person dressed he accepted everyone. Everyone felt comfortable in his presence. He placed no barriers between people and worshipping God. Nor should we.
I know from experience that having a church that is open to everyone produces results. My wife and I recently moved to a new Church. It’s a new congregation small in number but growing.
For a number of years it was an outreach of a larger church reaching out to the people living on the street.
That larger church we were a part of is a come as you are church they didn’t care what you wore to church as long as you came out. That church went from four hundred or so to a congregation now of over three thousand.
As for our congregation like I said it is small but growing. We are very much a come as you are church. No one wears suits. Not even the pastor. Women do wear dresses but the majority wear pants. Blue jeans are the norm for some men and women. No one bats an eyelid no matter how you’re dressed.
The message our congregation wants to give to the world is that God loves you no matter who you are, and wants to have a personal relationship with you.
While service starts at ten thirty, for those who come early there is coffee tea and other drinks as well as confectionaries free of charge. As a result people come early and have a time of fellowship both before service and after.
New comers are welcomed and get a chance to know and meet people.
To me this to me is how church should be. No barriers just open arms and a listening ear showing the Love of Jesus.
Please think about it.
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