On Legalism and Love

During today’s sermon, Rev Mike mentioned a few examples involving the youth ministry. While they were all very valid points and actually good that they were addressed, I think there could be some additional thoughts that can be included.

The thing we want to avoid is Legalism. Whenever there are rules, there is a chance legalism may rear it’s ugly head. However, to claim that we are completely under grace and therefore have no need for rules is equally false. What we always try to achieve is the right balance of Rule and Grace.

For example, Pastor said that he hoped church members would be committed to attending Prayer Meets at least once a month. It can be misunderstood to mean we must all attend prayer meet at least once a month. (I think if we want to be legalistic – missing prayer meet is a SIN!) Yet Pastor said that he wasn’t forcing us to do that because what he really wants is for us to come once, taste and see that Prayer Meet is good and thus come again. Or regularly attend Prayer Meets.

The key is this – we must WANT to come… if we taste and see that Prayer Meet is good, we will WANT to come back again…

Thus what we really hope is – every member of CHS will WANT to come to Prayer Meet.

In the same way, what we really hope is – every Point Com Youth will WANT to go home early, dress sensibly, refrain from drinking alcohol, make friends carefully and date responsibly.

Now, if you DON’T SEE THE VALUE of going home early etc, of course it won’t be easy to abide by the rule. (especially since there doesn’t seem to be any punishment for breaking the rule!)

So, the question is, What is the Value? Where is the Value? Do I get anything out of it? (Ok… Can’t you do something because it is right but doesn’t seem to benefit you? =P but this question is not impt). Why must I do it?

I think that its always hard to follow rules when our focus is on the Sin… 

i.e. The Rules say DON’T DO THIS. 

If you do it, it’s a sin, its wrong etc. Let’s turn it around.

Let’s focus on Love. We all like to talk about Love… feels better… Our focus should be on Love. Love says DO THIS.
Jesus said If you LOVE ME, keep My commandments.

So the question dear youths, dear church members, dear me, is - Do we love Jesus?

“Wah, you win lor Ps Ben. So if I don’t follow the rules means I don’t love Jesus lor…”

Well, the Bible says Honour your Father and Mother… That’s a commandment… do you love Jesus? If you do, you’ll keep this commandment.

Dress sensibly? “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! – Matthew 18:7
So how? Do you love Jesus?

I was led to this passage during Pastor’s sermon. John 21:15 – 17

The main focus was this question – Do you love Me MORE THAN THESE?

Whenever you fail to see the point of doing something that curbs you, when you have to do something that restricts you and you haven’t seen the point of WHY, remember that Jesus asks this question of all Believers – Do you love Me MORE THAN THESE?

More than what?

Son, do you love Me more than your freedom? That you would choose to go home early and spend time with your parents and family. That you would pray for them that they may come to know Me. That you would do your best to present yourself as a good testimony to My name.

Daughter, do you love Me more than the attention of the boys and men around you? Do you love Me more than the desire to dress sensually? For you are worth far more than an object of desire. Do you know that I love you so much I gave up my dignity and life for you? So do you love me more than these? That you would dress sensibly. That you would dress to impress but not tempt.

Children, do you love Me more than your rights? That you would say alright, for the sake of those younger than me, I will not drink; I will be careful with the way I joke; I will be early; I will practice on my instrument; I will submit first to those You have placed in authority and seek clarification when I cannot understand.

As I mentioned earlier in this entry, Jesus asks these questions of ALL believers, young and old, lay and clergy, leaders and members.
How would YOU respond to Him?

With lots of love,
Ps Ben.

Below is an excerpt from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: John 21:15 – 17

Secondly, Lovest thou me more than these? pleion touton. 1. "Lovest thou me more than thou lovest these, more than thou lovest these persons?" Dost thou love me more than thou dost James or John, thy intimate friends, or Andrew, thy own brother and companion: Those do not love Christ aright that do not love him better than the best friend they have in the world, and make it to appear whenever they stand in comparison or in competition. Or, "more than thou lovest these things, these boats and nets--more than all the pleasure of fishing, which some make a recreation of--more than the gain of fishing, which others make a calling of." Those only love Christ indeed that love him better than all the delights of sense and all the profits of this world. "Lovest thou me more than thou lovest these occupations thou art now employed in? If so, leave them, to employ thyself wholly in feeding my flock." 

So Dr. Whitby. 2. "Lovest thou me more than these love me, more than any of the rest of the disciples love me?" And then the question is intended to upbraid him with his vain-glorious boast, Though all men should deny thee, yet will not I. "Art thou still of the same mind?" Or, to intimate to him that he had now more reason to love him than any of them had, for more had been forgiven to him than to any of them, as much as his sin in denying Christ was greater than theirs in forsaking him. Tell me therefore which of them will love him most? Luke vii. 42. Note, We should all study to excel in our love to Christ. It is no breach of the peace to strive which shall love Christ best; nor any breach of good manners to go before others in this love.