Cultural Legalisms: Why does it matter?
[First three parts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3]
Is it right to rock the boat? Why take on an issue with otherwise orthodox Christians? Can’t we just forego tattoos, alcohol and certain music in order not to offend certain Christians?
No. We might not drink, get tattoos or listen to certain music due to personal taste and some other reasons, but there have been two major issues that are now plaguing the church due to our legislating these matters for all Christians:
1) We have lessened the role of the Bible for directing our lives, and made the Bible conform to our worldview, rather than let the Bible inform our worldview.
a) THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST:
If you listened to the Mark Driscoll sermon, you will have heard of his conversation with an abstentionist, where he brought up the fact that Jesus drank (John 2, Luke 7:34, Matt 11:19), the man then replied “well maybe he shouldn’t have.” When your worldview makes you holier than Jesus, there’s a problem. Jesus encouraged drinking in social settings (John 2) and in a culture that did have problems with drunkenness (Matt 24:49, Luke 21:34, Acts 2:15, Rom 13:13, 1 Cor 5:11, 1 Cor 6:10, etc.) Christ and Scripture’s warning is against drunkenness, not drink. Saying Scripture mandates otherwise, thus, is trying to have a worldview inform the Bible.
b) THE ANALOGY OF WINE
Not to spend too much time on this, but I would encourage people to read Jeremiah 48 and Isaiah 63. Starting to see wine as evil can poorly color the symbolism of wine here and other places (such as Song of Solomon)
2) Cultural Legalisms have resulted in the retreat of the church from culture.
We are no longer missional, bringing the gospel to those in diverse social groups and professions. If a missionary converts a person and sends them back to their tribe, he is considered successful. If a minister converts a punk rocker or tattoo artist and sends him back to the punk scene or tattoo parlor, is he any less missional?
What of tattoo artists and winemakers? Some say we should not financially spend our money this way supporting those industries (correcting God's "oops" in Det 14:26). Others say they must leave their profession first. One born-again tattoo artist in Alabama decided not to, instead choosing to share the gospel while he draws tattoos. So far, he has converted 22 people! On a similar note, the Southern Baptist Convention wishes to shut down the ancient profession of winemaker rather than letting someone be a Christian and a winery worker. Driscoll tells the story in another sermon of a winery owner that attends his church that made a special "Cana feast" wine with the story from the Bible and a gospel message on the label.
Demanding people not enter these professions demands membership in a particular social group as a pre-requistite to Christianity and the gospel. That is obviously wrong and anti-missional.
No. We might not drink, get tattoos or listen to certain music due to personal taste and some other reasons, but there have been two major issues that are now plaguing the church due to our legislating these matters for all Christians:
1) We have lessened the role of the Bible for directing our lives, and made the Bible conform to our worldview, rather than let the Bible inform our worldview.
a) THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST:
If you listened to the Mark Driscoll sermon, you will have heard of his conversation with an abstentionist, where he brought up the fact that Jesus drank (John 2, Luke 7:34, Matt 11:19), the man then replied “well maybe he shouldn’t have.” When your worldview makes you holier than Jesus, there’s a problem. Jesus encouraged drinking in social settings (John 2) and in a culture that did have problems with drunkenness (Matt 24:49, Luke 21:34, Acts 2:15, Rom 13:13, 1 Cor 5:11, 1 Cor 6:10, etc.) Christ and Scripture’s warning is against drunkenness, not drink. Saying Scripture mandates otherwise, thus, is trying to have a worldview inform the Bible.
b) THE ANALOGY OF WINE
Not to spend too much time on this, but I would encourage people to read Jeremiah 48 and Isaiah 63. Starting to see wine as evil can poorly color the symbolism of wine here and other places (such as Song of Solomon)
2) Cultural Legalisms have resulted in the retreat of the church from culture.
We are no longer missional, bringing the gospel to those in diverse social groups and professions. If a missionary converts a person and sends them back to their tribe, he is considered successful. If a minister converts a punk rocker or tattoo artist and sends him back to the punk scene or tattoo parlor, is he any less missional?
What of tattoo artists and winemakers? Some say we should not financially spend our money this way supporting those industries (correcting God's "oops" in Det 14:26). Others say they must leave their profession first. One born-again tattoo artist in Alabama decided not to, instead choosing to share the gospel while he draws tattoos. So far, he has converted 22 people! On a similar note, the Southern Baptist Convention wishes to shut down the ancient profession of winemaker rather than letting someone be a Christian and a winery worker. Driscoll tells the story in another sermon of a winery owner that attends his church that made a special "Cana feast" wine with the story from the Bible and a gospel message on the label.
Demanding people not enter these professions demands membership in a particular social group as a pre-requistite to Christianity and the gospel. That is obviously wrong and anti-missional.
Why we must not share legalisms, and oppose them:
Some would say this is a small matter. But Paul raises it to a high matter saying one should fight against calling good evil : "So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:16-17
Cultural Legalisms mis-construe the Christian life as a battle of the good Christians against the evil “out there.” But the battle of good and evil is in the heart of every man, not merely of good men versus bad men. Therefore, it is good to keep the gospel offensive to believers as well as non-believers. Gal 5:11.
Some would say this is a small matter. But Paul raises it to a high matter saying one should fight against calling good evil : "So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:16-17
Cultural Legalisms mis-construe the Christian life as a battle of the good Christians against the evil “out there.” But the battle of good and evil is in the heart of every man, not merely of good men versus bad men. Therefore, it is good to keep the gospel offensive to believers as well as non-believers. Gal 5:11.
Then, we should also remember, we are not called to sin in drunkenness or ludeness on our bodies. We are called to that dangerous thing of Christian liberty, remembering that we are called to liberty, but not to avail the flesh. And we are called to be all things to all people, that we may win some.
5 comments:
"The perfect life aint coming through without a scratch"
"Now this might hurt a little, new lives begin with little pains"
Good song too you know.
Get your point. Still I think tattoos are largely rebellious in a conformist sort of way. Never saw one and thought "cool" or "hot" or anything like that, but like you said that is taste.
You do remind me of one of my former hair dressers though. She was young immature and covered with tattoos and body piercing. She really mutilated her body in my opinion. But as soon as I sat down in the chair for my hair cut it had to seem the strangest thing to everyone around to see and listen to her and I talk about our love of Christ, and music.
I take it back. Derek Webb has the worlds coolest tattoo!!
Yeah, I have no tattoos and no desire to get a tattoo. But Derek Webb's 5 solas was cool! At one time I kinda thought something in Greek or Hebrew would be cool, but I hate needles so no thanks! Always thought if I would be embarassed to hang it on my wall, it might be stupid as a tattoo. To each his own.
Now I also hate most Christian praise music so don't get me started on taste...
Truth.
Anybody ever read "Drinking With Calvin & Luther?"
"Emitte lucem tuam, et veritatem tuam."
Indeed, "Drinking with Calvin and Luther" is a fun and funny book. I like the story about Calvin finding Phillip of Hesse's lack of taste in wines a greater fault than his polygamy! Funny.
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