I have to say I am always amazed by the dogma that people consciously choose to allow themselves to be bound up by. However, what I know about human nature is that certain personality types need to compartmentalize their religion because they cannot be comfortable saying, “I don’t know” and so they will go to great lengths to interpret Scripture to fit their determinations so they can be satisfied that they have all the answers. Personally I am very happy to wait for some things to be explained.
Many a denomination has been started by nothing more than the determinations of one individual and somehow many folks follow. In the modern age, to follow or not is often dependent on how many books the leader has authored. Credibility comes with ease of access.
I’ve had in depth exchanges with those who have elevated the day of the week to worship as the condition of being a ‘true and proper Christian’ - then there are those who reject the day of the week as important but still believe we should keep the Feasts. Those who require a certain way to eat or dress. Those who have made a religion out of signs and wonders. Those who believe all will be saved in the end so it doesn't really matter. Those who argue over what combination of letters is really God’s name that He must be called. Does that mean God only speaks Hebrew? Those who cannot grasp the concept that the last Temple has already been rebuilt, though not with hands, or that the right to be called God’s Chosen is an invitation open to all now, including those of the original tribes. No Greek, no Jew, no slave, no freeman, no man, no woman...
I observe with fascination as people make it so much more complex than it has to be and will go to great lengths to defend their complicated convictions as though it is their theology, not Christ crucified, that guarantees their salvation. I refer to this as much-striving. Sometimes I think it grieves God like it would a parent watching a child do everything he/she can to avoid doing the one thing he/she should.
I don’t argue though. It is pointless. I ask questions instead, knowing there will be no resolution but hope it gives pause and might inspire some independent Bible reading and research. This is how I sow.
LIke:
When Hezekiah destroyed Moses 700 year old brazen serpent (2 Kings 18:1-5) was it because he was tired of it and wanted to make a new one or because the Israelites had made an idol of it? If God didn’t mind an ancient artifact to be destroyed to make a point about the dangers of making an idea or thing into a substitution for God, did He make His point? If so, why do people still do it?
(2 Kings 18:1) Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. (18:2) Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. (18:3) And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that David his father had done. (18:4) He removed the high places, and brake the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan. (18:5) He trusted in Jehovah, the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor [among them] that were before him. (18:6) For he clave to Jehovah; he departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which Jehovah commanded Moses. (18:7) And Jehovah was with him; whithersoever he went forth he prospered: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
For Him,
Meema