CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

February 22, 2004

KEEP PRAYING FOR:

Our congregation                                                     David and Leon in the Navy

Our college students                                                various friends, co-workers and relatives

Our nation, military and leaders                              The Stolte’s in Germany

EVENTS:

Feb. 25 - The Passion of the Christ

May 6   - National Day of Prayer

FAMILY OR INSTITUTION

“For God said, ‘honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’  But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he is not to ‘honor his father’ with it.  Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition” (Matthew 15:4-6).

I came across a thought in an article on the faith and obedience of Abraham.  Paul Watson in talking about faith as not only professed but lived behaviorally said, “Such daily compliance with God’s directions is not the same thing as rule-keeping.  It is not legalism.  I can comply with all sorts of rules and regulations without having any relationship whatsoever with a state trooper or an auditor from the IRS.  Don’t have one; don’t want one.  Indeed, simply ‘keeping the rules’ can be a way to avoid having a relationship—which may be why legalism is so attractive to us” (Leaven, volume 11, number 3, p. 121).  What I hear him saying is that legalism is attractive because it does not involve relationship.  How true!

Legalism is dependent on rule keeping.  Consider the Pharisees.  Notice that Jesus showed their lack of concern for parents because they determined a gift to God was more important than relationship (Matthew 15; Mark 7).  Then there was the blind man healed by Jesus.  The Pharisees saw a violation of the Law, the miracle being done on the Sabbath, and questioned his blindness, but could not rejoice at his healing.  The reason; they had no relationship with the people.  Jesus of course when about developing a relationship with people, or attempting to do such.

Paul dealt with a similar problem in Galatians.  They were being quickly led away from Jesus, and would end up biting and devouring, provoking and envying one another (5:15, 26).  Rather they should be acting in love, seeking the best for others.  Law, any law, does not develop relationships.  A marriage license does not a relationship make.  It requires a man and a woman communicating with each other in a number of ways, developing a relationship of love, humility and giving.

Today, how we see “the church” will determine if we have a relationship with one another or not.  If one views the church as an institution, then we are looking at it as a legal body, with rules and regulations to be followed and obeyed.  More often the emphasis will be on forms.  How many people were in attendance?  How much was given?  Assemblies will be limited to a certain time frame.  People responding to the invitation can sit by themselves on the front pew, though we will pray for them.  If someone is not happy at this congregation, they can go to another.  The elders make all the decisions, the member are but to do or die.  Questioning of decisions is seen as an attack on the elders, a rebellion that must be put down. 

Institutional congregations have few, if any, relationships.  If any, it is because everyone sees everything in the same way, or those who don’t say nothing.  Preachers are hired and fired at the whims of the complainers.  Weak people are shunned or even condemned as unfaithful because they do not meet the legalistic demands of those in control.  Matters of doctrine have been settled and anything that is said differently, or questioned, or challenged, will require an accounting to the institution.  Institutions are cold and uninvolved.  People struggle alone because no one from the institution seeks to help.  If people do not come, then that is their problem.  Leadership will complain, judge, but will not go and counsel.  That means getting involved and maybe seeing things differently.  That is uncomfortable so they will maintain the status quo.  The legalists believe they are right because they keep the rules and regulations.

The church that sees itself as a family has a different attitude.  People are important.  Assemblies keep in mind the importance of encouragement and building up each other (1 Corinthians 14).  We become involved in each others struggles, joys, hopes and disappointments.  Time is not a factor, relationship is.  We want to pray for one another and listen as those in pain express their anxieties.  We cry with one another and we laugh with one another.  Asking questions is welcomed.  Challenging traditions is not seen as heresy or evil but as seeking “why” we do things and are they beneficial.  Individuals recognize that the individual is not important, the family is.  Humility, seeking the best of others, building a relationship with each other through fellowship and teaching become important. 

This relationship goes further than just humans.  It is seen in a continuing development of a relationship with God through Christ.  Out of a loving response to God, we do the things that are pleasing to Him, not because we have to or are forced to, but because we want to.  It is based on our love for Him.  Do we make mistakes?  Yes.  Are we perfect?  No.  Are we dependent?  Yes but not on ourselves or our abilities to keep rules and regulations.  We depend on a loving, gracious and merciful Father who has brought us into a redemptive relationship through Jesus Christ. 

That is the difference between an institution and a family.  The institution is dependent on the ability of its people to keep the rules and regulations and to swiftly deal with disobedience.  The family is dependent on God’s love, knowing that though imperfect, God still loves us (see 1 John).  A family holds each other accountable understanding the difficulties of living in this world daily.  The institution is only concerned with the forms being kept within the institution, and even at that, limited to what it wants to accept or reject. 

Which is easier?  No doubt the institution because we can check off what we do and be satisfied.  The family requires involvement in pain and joy, suffering, struggle, and hope in apparent hopelessness.  The family allows for mistakes, challenges people to grow, and offers humility as a way of life.  Simple choice, isn’t it?

                                                                                             George B. Mearns