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Do religions have too many rules?

Have you ever taken a look at the rulebook for a professional sports league? The Official NHL Rulebook lists hundreds of specific rules and regulations. Everything from penalties, to the flow of the game (“The time allowed for a game shall be three (3) twenty-minute periods of actual play with a rest intermission between periods.”), to the size and shape of the rink (“The official size of the rink shall be two hundred feet (200′) long and eighty-five feet (85′) wide. The corners shall be rounded in the arc of a circle with a radius of twenty-eight feet (28′)”).

If the rules and regulations were all a person knew about the game of hockey, they would likely conclude that it is not only probably quite boring, but also that it must be the most restrictive and oppressive activity in the world! Thankfully hockey is much more than merely its rulebook. Still, rules are necessary. Imagine trying to play a game without any rules! In the comic strip Calvin & Hobbes, the young boy Calvin created just such a game: Calvinball. The comics centered around the chaos that would result whenever they would try to play the game without any rules.

Similarly, popular speaker Nicky Gumbel describes his experiences trying to referee a childrens’ soccer game. The normal referee was late, and so he was temporarily pressed into taking the role:

There was a number of difficulties with this: I had no whistle, there were no markings for the boundaries … and I did not know the rules nearly as well as some of the boys. The game soon descended into complete chaos. Some shouted that the ball was in. Others said it was out. I wasn’t at all sure, so I let things run. Then the fouls started. Some cried, “Foul!” Others said, “No foul!” I didn’t know who was right. So I let them play on. Then people began to get hurt. By the time Andy [the official referee] arrived, there were three boys laying injured on the ground … but the moment Andy arrived, he blew his whistle, arranged the teams, told them where the boundaries were and had them under control. Then the boys had the game of their lives! (from “Alpha: Questions of Life,” 88-89)

Gumbel asks the question: Were the boys more free without the rules or were they in fact less free? This is the paradox of anarchy. Think of most of the freedoms that you cherish: Things like being treated fairly, having the right to speak and vote, owning possessions without constant fear of having them taken, and living a life of liberty “in pursuit of happiness.” All of these are guaranteed and facilitated by having rules which restrict certain “freedoms” (like being free to steal other peoples’ property or to silence others from speaking) in favor of others (like the right to own property or have free speech).

But what about religious rules? Aren’t they just an impediment to our freedom?

In the same ways as a lack of sports rules will lead to less real freedom, lack of rules for life will eventually also lead to less real freedom. Dr Victor Shepherd describes the difference this way: “When the Bible speaks of freedom, however, it means something entirely different; it means the absence of any impediment to acting in accord with our true nature … The free person is simply the person for whom there is no impediment (inner or outer), no obstacle to her living as the child of God that she is by faith.” (from “Do you love me? And other questions Jesus asks,” 35-36)

The distinction between Christianity and all other faiths is that while Christianity has rules, it’s not about rules. C. S. Lewis, the late Oxford and Cambridge university professor who was also author of the popular Narnia series of books, was once asked what belief was unique to the Christian faith. “Oh, that’s easy,” he replied, “it’s grace.” Every other religion makes rules the basis of a person’s right standing with God. But in the Christian faith the rules first point out how a person has fallen short of God’s standard. That realization leads a person to God’s grace. Then those same rules serve as direction to live out lives of gratefulness. This is done not to earn anything, but in gratitude for what has been freely given.

Yes, many people (and churches) use rules like weapons to wound others through guilt and intimidation. Or they may be used as oppressive weights to burden people and drag them down. Perhaps you have experienced that yourself. But if you have, it may be time to consider that using rules this way is part of a broken system. And the true system is much more beautiful and burden-free. Watch the video Religion: Why it Isn’t Working to explore this idea further and let us know what you think!

Related reading:
Why is it so hard to forgive? – Licensed counselor Lynette Hoy explores this important topic
Discover purpose – What’s so amazing about grace?

I wonder what the first-century Christians would think about a church that is basically a social club? I can understand why people would want a church that is comfortable, but maybe we should start thinking about church as a verb instead of a noun; something that we actively participate in rather than a place we visit once a week.

Have you had bad experiences with church? Or have you ever felt alone at church? Despite past experiences, there are some churches out there that get it right! While there is no such thing as a perfect church (I was once warned that if I ever found a perfect church, I shouldn’t join it because I would just ruin it) there are likely communities of faith that could become a home for you if you are willing to find them. There is actually an important reason why many churches fail: They’re focused on religion rather than on Jesus.

Contact an online mentor today if you would like help connecting to a church in your area, or visit our online chat room.

Related:
Religion vs Jesus – This is the critical difference

Does God’s grace apply to you?

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of [the apostles] – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 15: 10).

Grace – God’s unmerited favor.
Grace – it sets Christianity apart from every other religion.

You have heard what God’s grace has done for us: forgiven our sins, given us a second chance, provided a way to be in relationship with God, given us eternal life. Have you thought about the effect God’s grace has on us?

Paul says that the grace of God was not without effect in his life. Think about who Paul was before he received God’s grace. He self-righteously persecuted followers of Jesus, believing that finding approval from God was dependent on meticulously following the law.

After Paul received God’s grace, he devoted his life to telling everyone the good news about Jesus Christ. He considered himself the “worst of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:16) but for the sake of the gospel he was stoned, flogged, imprisoned, shipwrecked and constantly in danger (2 Corinthians 12:23-27). He took three missionary journeys, started churches throughout Asia Minor, wrote much of the New Testament (13 letters/books) and was killed for his faith.

Paul says that this hard work was not his own, it was really the work of the grace of God in him. Simply stated, grace changed him. And it will change us, if we let it.

You know who you were before you received Jesus’ forgiveness. You are not who you were, even though you may have considered yourself the worst of sinners.  You are the loved, accepted, worthy child of God. Meditate on God’s grace and allow it to change you.

Great and awesome God, thank you for the effect Your amazing grace can provide. I want Your grace to change me. Amen.

Questions: How has God’s grace changed you? What keeps God’s grace from having an effect on us?

Are you tired of living a defeated Christian life? Learn how you can find significance.

“Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

“If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

The young man said to Him “All these I have done from my youth. What do I still lack?”

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven and come, follow Me.” (taken from Matthew 19:16-212, NKJV)

Are we “doing the commandments” or are we following Jesus? The difference between the two is the carnal mindset verses the surrendered Spirit-filled life. The carnal mind practices religion, knowing the rules and doing “all the right things.” The Spirit-filled life is a relationship with Jesus that knows His heart and His voice and lives in His presence and will, moment to moment.

When we are living in a carnal mindset, we can experience a lot of frustration, lack of fulfillment, difficulty in reading, enjoying, and understanding the Word, inconsistent prayer life, unanswered prayer, broken relationships, fear, discouragement, and a lack of the fruit of the spirit.

The experience of the Spirit-filled Christian is peace, joy, a love for and desire to spend time in His Word. It is a rich prayer life that brings results, faith, boldness, healthy relationships, and the ability to know His presence and recognize His voice in the Word, in nature, through others, or the still small voice in your spirit.

“If anyone serves me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor” (John 12:26 NKJV).

Living the Spirit-filled life is a decision we make each day. Ask yourself the question, “Can I honestly say that today I have done what God has asked of me?” If you have responded with repentance in the areas that He has convicted you of sin, stepped up and done the good works that He has put before you, and if your heart is to seek first His kingdom, then you are practicing walking in His will and His Spirit.

Lord, I surrender myself and my plans to you today, convict and forgive me of any sin that hinders me from hearing your voice and knowing your direction. Fill me up with your Holy Spirit that I can live this day engaged with you, knowing Your presence, and being Your hands and feet to the people around me.  Amen.

Questions: Can you honestly say that today you have done what God has asked of you? What is the result of a Spirit-filled life?

If billions of people all around the world claim to believe in God, why is the world so messed up? That’s the central question David Nasser asks in this thought-provoking video. Born in Iran, David fled the country with his family in 1979 when revolution broke out. His life journey took him away from religion and back again. In this video, he tells his story, and reflects on the question: Why does our world seem “not right”?

After you have watched the video above, consider the following:

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it?

Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, and there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Are you ready to choose a different path?

Jesus’ message is different from everyone else’s because He came to remake us from the inside out, not just superficially. Jesus came, and died, and rose again to wipe the slate clean. He was scourged, tormented, and finally nailed on the cross for humankind’s sins – this was all part of God’s plan to bring you and I back into relationship with him. God wants to be a part of your life … in fact, not just a part of your life, but wants you to live in full fellowship with Him. Is this the life for you?

God loves you and created you to know Him personally. He longs for you to have the kind of full life you were always meant to have. So why do people not experience this kind of life? People are lost and separated from God, so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love. Because of our sins, we justly deserve judgement. But God provided his Son, Jesus Christ, as the only provision for our sin. He died in our place, then he rose from the dead.

We must individually trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know God personally, receive forgiveness for our sins, and experience His love: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12)

We trust God through faith. You can trust Christ right now by faith through prayer! (Prayer is just talking with God.) God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?

If it does, pray this prayer right now, and Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

Science has provided innumerable benefits for humankind. Due to its success, sometimes it seems like science has a monopoly on truth. But there are actually many things that science cannot prove. Our new article lists Five Things Science Can’t Explain. Here is a sample:

1) Existential Truth: Science cannot prove that you aren’t merely a brain in a jar being manipulated to think this is all actually happening. (Think of something like in “The Matrix”.) It also cannot prove that the world wasn’t created 5 minutes ago with the appearance of age (and with fake memories in your head, and half-digested food in your stomach, etc). However it’s still rational to believe that our memories are true and that the world is real.

2) Moral Truth: Science cannot prove that rape is evil. While it is possible to demonstrate, for example, that there are negative physical or psychological effects of rape, there is no scientific test that can prove it is evil. Science can describe how the natural world is, but moral truth carries an “oughtness” (how things should be) about it that goes beyond what merely is.

Click here to read the rest of the article!

Related reading:
A Scientist’s Search for Truth – Astrophysicist Hugh Ross describes his journey to faith.
Contact us with Questions – Talk with someone confidentially via email.

“Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for Me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?’” (Zechariah 7:5, 6)

God was challenging the people and the priests of that day. In essence, He was asking, “Are you really serving Me or are you just going through the motions?”  There are lots of religious things we do: tithing our money, attending church, caring for the poor, praying for the sick, celebrating holy days. Therefore, the same question hangs in the air for us.

Are we doing these things for God or just to make ourselves feel better? Are our activities merely religious duty or have our hearts been changed? Are we just going through the motions? Let us search our hearts and ask God’s Holy Spirit to reveal our attitudes and motivations. Then we can humbly seek His will and His way.

When we are truly seeking God, instead of simply participating in activities that look good, He will enable us to love unconditionally, to forgive those who have hurt us, to be unselfish and show compassion.

As Zechariah continues, “This is what the LORD Almighty says: Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.” (Zechariah 7:9, 10)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23, 24)

TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Is fasting right for you?

Questions: What are the areas where you have been going through the motions? What truths from God’s word do you need to return to, in order to change that pattern?

About the Author: Suzanne Benner

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15, NLT)

Every Christian is called to share with others what we’ve been given from God. But I’m often asked, what exactly are we supposed to share?

Here’s your message in two words: good news.

Mark says in our key verse today that we’re to tell the good news to everyone.

Do you like to get good news? Everybody does. Do you like to share good news? Most people do. At my house, we compete to see who gets to share the good news.

Now, many of us think, “The people I work with, my friends, they’re not interested in the good news.”

But, we’re dead wrong! They may not be interested in religion, but they are interested in the good news. The problem is not that our friends and co-workers aren’t interested; the problem is we’ve forgotten how good the good news really is.

Once you’ve been a Christian for a while, you forget how miserable it was to live without hope. You forget what it was like to worry where you would go when you die. You forget what it was like to have guilt, fear, regrets, bitterness, and boredom in your life—a life before Christ brought meaning, purpose, and significance.

What happens to most of us is that the longer you’re a Christian the more you tend to take for granted how good the good news really is. Likewise, most people who do not know Jesus don’t understand how good the good news really is.

If you go out on the street and ask people, “How do you convince God to like you?” most of them will probably say, “You’ve got to work real hard to get God’s approval and you’ve got to be really, really good. You’ve got to keep a lot of rules and you probably have to do some rituals. You’ve got to be religious. I’m none of those things, so I’m never going to please God or get to know him.” If that’s what some people think the good news is, it’s no wonder they don’t get too excited about discussing it.

But here’s the good news: you are able to enter into a relationship with God through an attitude of trust—trust in Jesus Christ—and not through a religion of rules, regulations, and rituals.

God says you get to know him just by trusting him. If you trust his Son with your life, you get forgiveness for your past, a purpose for living in your present, and a home in heaven in the future.

Is that good news? Do you think anybody you know would be interested in that?

The good news keeps sounding better and better because the bad news of the world keeps getting worse and worse.

Question: What is the Good News that people want to hear? And how will people know they need this good news without also hearing the bad news first?

About the Author: Rick Warren