There are Pharisical Pastors who try to make believers think they need to attend church services on Sundays and if they do not they are violating the Sabbath. Here is what Jesus Christ said about the Sabbath and keep in mind it will not please the legalistic religious leaders of today who want a distant God: "Jesus was walking one day through some grainfields with his disciples. It was on the Sabbath (notice that neither Jesus or His Disciples are at Syanngogue/church!), the Jewish day of Worship, and his disciples were hungry; so they began breaking off the heads of wheat and eating the grain. But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, "your disciples are breaking off the law (Rabbinical writings). They are harvesting on the Sabbath (which is not allowed because it is working on the Sabbath)." But Jesus said unto them, "Haven't you ever read what King David did when he and his friends were hungry? He went into the Temple and they arte the special bread permitted to the priests alone. That was breaking the law too. And haven't you ever read in the law of Moses how priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? (great point Jesus! Priests work on the Sabbath by doing rituals, worship, readings, and etc, so the Sabbath is not their Sabbath!) And truly One is here who is greater than the Temple! (Jesus talking about himself). But if you had known the meaning of this Scripture verse, I want you to be merciful more than I want your offerings,' you would not have condemned those who aren't guilty! For I, The Messiah (Son of Man) am master even of the Sabbath." (Matthew 12: 1-8, TLB).
I love the last line where Jesus says, "For I, The Son of Man, am the master even of the Sabbath." What Christ is saying is that He decides what needs to be done or not done on the Sabbath! It is God who dictates what should be happening or not happening on the Seventh Day (Sabbath) not men! Yet we as Christians have decided to follow the Neo-Pharisees who convince us that we must be at church on Sundays and do certain things over other things we could do. We are taught we must attend a church service, worship, listen to a pastor or priest give a sermon, pray and then go home. But what if the Lord tells you to stay home and rest because you are getting sick? What is the Almighty tells you to go to the Mall because someone there is going to meet you and hear the Gospel? What if the Lord wants you and your friends to fellowship and eat some grain at Panera Bread instead? That is the crux of what Jesus is getting at, the Sabbath is under the Savior's dominion, not the sons of men!
Jesus illustrates this further when he says, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27). Christ is making it clear again, that this special day was suppose to be a day of rest. It was to be a day of rest that meant you do not work in the fields to get paid like a Farmer would, but you may work In the field if it means having to get some grain to make bread for dinner so that you and your family can have nice meal together. There is work for the purpose of making money, and work that will be required of us everyday because it is even work to eat, it makes our bodies work! (think on that Pharisees!).
Instead of letting people rest in the presence of the Lord and let the Holy Spirit lead people to do what they should do each Sabbath; Church leaders have created a system that puts, "heavy loads and burdens on people that they themselves will not lift with one finger." (Matthew 23:4). The yoke or burden of having to attend church services so people think you are a good Christian or feeling obligated to volunteer and help at the Church is a heavy load. Believers are already burdened with their own lives and the tribulations they are facing. Instead of helping fellow brothers and sisters in Christ with emotional support, spiritual support, and even in some cases relief in the form of giving a gift of money, time and son on to help another Christian in need; church leaders ask them to enlist in more work and figure out how to handle it on top of their already hectic life.
Now there are some that would use the counterargument that to slight or ignore going to Church services is violating the clause, "do not neglect the gathering of (Christian) believers." (). But St. Paul does not clarify how this is to be done! You could gather with brothers and sisters in the Lord at the Movie Theater or at a park! Also, in the days of St. Paul and the Early Church took place in houses, not synagogues and church buildings!
It is important to have the faith reaffirmed and if going to church services does help you reinforce following Christ and you enjoy the Holy Spirit at worship, then you are going for the right reasons. But if you feel obligated, that you must attend to look like a good Christian or that can never miss a meeting; then you are actually bound by the yoke of the Pharisees that Jesus Christ preached against! For the Lord our God is not a harsh taskmaster. No Jesus himself said, "Come to me all of you who are heavy laden with burdens, and I will give you rest from your heavy yoke. Wear instead my yoke, for it is easy and light, for I am gentle and humble; and you shall find rest for your souls because I give you only light burdens." (Matthew 11:28-30).
Comments
Post a Comment