Today's sermon was on Mark 3:1-6, about the Pharisees and Jesus' battle for the Sabbath. Now you see, the Pharisees (pious religious leaders back in Jesus' day) had some rules for Jews for the Sabbath (which back then was Friday night until Saturday night). The rules all went back to one basis statement: No work was to be done. That meant that a woman could not look in the mirror on the Sabbath for fear she might spot a grey hair and try to pluck it, which was work. No one could use water for fear a drop of water might splash on the floor, constituting washing the floor. As well, no one was allowed to: climb a tree, tie a knot, pick up a rock, sew a thread, wear jewelry, or even boil water.
How far they had come from, "On six days you are to work and on the seventh day, rest."
But it's not so much different from today. We can say, "Oh, we'd never be like those sticklers," but is that really true? Does this sound familiar: You made it a personal rule not to go to a store on the Sabbath (Sunday). But one Sunday after church you realize you're having company over and you desperately need milk. Well you could zip over to Wal-Mart, but then you think about all the other things you'd get at there that you don't need if you go. So you change your mind. No Wal-Mart. Then it comes to you. You can go to the gas station and get one necessity while filling up on another necessity (gas). So you come to think that it's okay to shop on Sundays - only to get the necessities, though. And before you know it, you're looking down on Sally, your neighbour, who goes to your church, because she went to Wal-Mart on Sunday.
How far we've come from, "On six days you are to work and on the seventh day, rest."
This rule-driven faith is a lie called legalism. Legalism basically means that you lose sight of Who God really is. Now I'm not saying that God doesn't have certain rules that we must follow, but tying a knot or going to Wal-Mart on Sunday is not forbidden in the Bible. When God says "rest," He wants you to ... wait for it ... rest. That may mean spending time with your family, or discussing the morning's sermon. It may mean going for a walk or watching a movie or reading a godly book. But let's not get caught up in the lie of legalism. Instead let's focus our eyes on Who God really is.