Bible Anomalies
The Law
The
Church:
The church should
follow whatever laws the leaders of that particular church decide
should be enforced. These
laws are to be enforced without regard to whether they have any
biblical authority.
The
Bible:
The laws of the Old
Testament were given to the Nation of Israel only, are oppressive
and impossible to follow, and are replaced with one prime
commandment and four minor laws.
The Hypocrisy of Church Law
It is hard to fathom how the
mainstream Bible based church has arrived at the choice of doctrinal
concepts it now follows. Through a series of decisions by the early
church leadership almost every law and principle has been changed or
discarded altogether. When doctrine could not be modified or
abandoned new doctrine was created to suit the need. Every aspect
of church structure is added, from the buildings it inhabits to the
pastor that leads it are additions not to be found in scripture.
The doctrine
of choosing a day to call its members to worship has been added,
there is no day for the church to meet for worship in scripture.
While adding a day for worship the church discarded the day
specifically commanded as a day of rest actually making the act of
resting on the seventh day an offense. The High Sabbaths that God
commanded were also abandoned while ancient pagan celebrations were
added and they were altered to suit the needs of the church.
The very
financial foundation of the church, the tithing laws, have been
grossly corrupted and abused. They would be judged as extortion by
fraudulent means, if a court of law could challenge them. Not only
the means of exacting tribute from the membership is wrong, the use
for which the funding is spent is wrong.
Most
importantly the New Testament edicts clearly pronounced as doctrine
have been altogether ignored. The church proudly uses the name and
sacrifice of Jesus while teaching and practicing doctrines contrary
to the doctrines he personally taught. Not surprising is the fact
that Jesus recognized and warned against this enigma even in his own
time:
·
Matthew 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.·
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
The
Oppressive Laws
As non-Jewish members began to enter the fold, some of the
more rigid members demanded that all new male members, Hebrew or
not, be circumcised, young and old.
This prompted a debate during which the harshness and
unobtainable nature of the Jewish Law is pointed out:
Acts 15:5 But
there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed,
saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them
to keep the law of Moses.
6
And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this
matter.
7 And when
there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them,
Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice
among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the
gospel, and believe.
8
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them
the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their
hearts by faith.
10 Now
therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the
disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
The
Change
After the matter of compliance with the Jewish laws is heard,
James announces the decision not to require the new members to
follow the whole of the law but to honor only four minor laws:
Acts 15:13 And
after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and
brethren, hearken unto me:
14
Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to
take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is
written,
16 After this
I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which
is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will
set it up:
17 That the
residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon
whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the
world.
19 Wherefore my
sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles
are turned to God:
20
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of
idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from
blood.
The
Change Becomes Doctrine
The apostles and elders decide that this change should be
immediately announced to all the members and do so with hand-carried
letters:
Acts 15:22 Then
pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send
chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas;
namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the
brethren:
23 And they
wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and
brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles
in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out
from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying,
Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such
commandment:
25 It
seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen
men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
27
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the
same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay
upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and
from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep
yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Acts 21:21 And they are informed of thee, that thou
teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses,
saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to
walk after the customs.
22
What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for
they will hear that thou art come.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men
which have a vow on them;
24
Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with
them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those
things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but
that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written
and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they
keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and
from strangled, and from fornication.
The
Prime Directive
All throughout the ministry of Jesus one important principle
was emphasized, love. He
declared this to be the basis of all love and prophecy.
Matthew 22:35.
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question,
tempting him, and saying,
36.
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37. Jesus said
unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38. This is the
first and great commandment.
39.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself.
Mark 12:28.
And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning
together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him,
Which is the first commandment of all?
29. And Jesus
answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel;
The Lord our God is one Lord:
30.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:
this is the first commandment. 31. And the
second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
John 13:34. A
new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another.
35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye
have love one to another.
John 15:12. This
is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13. Greater love
hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
The
Law is a Curse
Galatians 3:10. For
as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it
is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things
which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11. But that no
man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for,
The just shall live by faith. 12.
And the law is not of faith: but, the man that doeth them
shall live in them. 13. Christ hath
redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:
for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
2 Corinthians 3:3.
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of
Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit
of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of
the heart.
The
Golden Rule is the Law
Matthew 7:12. Therefore
all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even
so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
The
Good Samaritan Defines the Law
Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and
tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal
life?
26 He said unto
him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do,
and thou shalt live.
29
But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus
answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and
wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance
there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he
passed by on the other side.
32
And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on
him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he
was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil
and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn,
and took care of him.
35
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave
them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and
whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour
unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus
unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
The
Law and the Truth
John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by
Jesus Christ.
Not
Under the Law
Romans 6:14 For
sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law,
but under grace.
Who
Can Enforce the Law?
John 8:5 Now
Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what
sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to
accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the
ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself,
and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first
cast a stone at her.
Acts 13:39
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from
which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
39 And
by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye
could not be justified by the law of Moses.
John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none
of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
An
In-Depth View of the Law
If
one is interested in a thorough explanation of the true implications
of the law, this can be found by a complete and careful reading of
chapters 2 through 8 of the Epistle to the Romans.
The
Conclusions
It would seem, from what has been presented, that the strict adherence to Hebrew law demanded by churches is in direct defiance of the authority of the apostles. As such it is also a contradiction of Jesus himself. This of course does not refer to members of the Jewish faith. For those who are quick to point out that Jesus followed the law, it should be remembered that he was a Jew and the edict presented above was directed at the non-Jewish members of the church.
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