Christian Liberity: A Sermon You Won't Hear On Sunday!

 
     The Apostle Paul, in my opinion, was the greatest preacher and teacher other than Christ himself.  Paul was a very educated man who had studied Jewish Law and Rabbinic Traditions under the most celebrated scholar of that time Rabbi Gamaliel. Paul had been a persecutor of Christians, and was present and witness the stoning death of Deacon Stephen.  The Lord had plans for Paul and hand picked him to be His ambassador, teaching and preaching the New Covenant Gospel to the Gentiles. For you who don't know, we are spiritual descendants of the Gentiles so we should pay specific attention to the scriptures as they address the Gentiles. We all should be grateful to Paul for bringing us the gospel of the New Covenant.
     After Paul's conversion, the Holy Spirit gave him significant grace, faith, gift of celibacy, endurance, charisma and the manifestations of the "fruits of the spirit', to complete the mission that was set before him.  In Galatians 1:13 Paul tells them, 'For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measures and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.  But when God  had set me apart even from my mothers womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus."
     Paul is telling us that He is no ordinary minister! He tells us that he was not trained in a Christian Seminary, or  trained by flesh and blood (other men), but received all of his information directly from heaven.  Ordinary ministers, usually receive their call to preach by the instructions and assistance of others and by others.  Paul lets us know that this was not the case with him,  that he received all of his information and authority from Christ Himself. Paul also tells us that he was able by the direct influence of Christ to overcome all his prior indoctrination and teaching against the doctrine he now preaches.
     Why am I starting off my essay on Christian Liberty talking about Paul and his education and his conversion?  I am doing this because of what I hear, or don't hear on Sunday's, that does not match up with what Paul teaches in the scriptures. If I have to make a choice between what Paul says and what I hear in a sermon, I will always side with what Paul says, because he had been ordained by Christ and directed by the Holy Spirit.  Today many ministers preach and teach what has been passed down to them during generations of word of mouth and denominational interpretations of their elders.  This preaching, with the exception of, social justice, has been very legalistic, subjective, leaning towards their personal conscience rather than what the scriptures proclaim. This practice has placed a very heavy yoke of legalism on the people listening to these teachings.
     At one time, in history, the Black Minister was the most educated person in the congregation, now he may be one of the least educated. We have many ministers who proclaim themselves  Doctor, so and so, who have never earned a BA or MA, and somehow were able to get their doctorate in divinity. What ever happened to humility?  Why would you try to be something you are not.  Once they speak, or attempt to compose a composition their true status is often evident. In Matthew 23:5-8 Jesus tells the Pharisees that they were only interested in public attention, honor at the banquet table, the chief seats, and the respectful greetings of Doctor/Reverend by men. In Matthew 23:12 Christ said that "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles themselves shall be exalted."  I guess this is another scripture that these folks neglected to read, or felt it was written for others and not them.  I am amazed at what I hear coming out of the mouths of some T.V. preachers and from the pulpit disguised as the gospel of Jesus. I am further surprised at the emotional exhibition and yelling of Amen that comes from the audience while this is being preached. What's going on, can't people tell the difference between scriptural truth, personal opinion, or man driven doctrine? 
    Let's start with Mark 7:6 when the Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, "Why walk not thy disciples according to the traditions of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? He answered and said to them,  that it had been prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, this people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is is far from me.  He goes on to say that they put aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things they do. Jesus uses the example of washing pots and cups as outward traditional works which has not much to do with salvation, liberty, or the gospel of loving our brothers and sisters.
     Then Christ goes on to give them a concrete example of one of the commandments that they had replaced with their man made traditions.  In Mark 7:10, He tells them how Moses had told them to honor their father and their mother; and whosoever curseth father and mother, let him die the death. In Vs 11, He tell them how they have taught the Law of Corbin,( that is to say) that they taught the people that they were to give to the church first, before taking care of their needy parents!  He then says in vs. 12 that because of this teaching you have made it impossible for the people to help their mother and father.  In vs.13 He tells them that by teaching this they were making the word of God of none effect through their tradition which they have delivered: and many such like thing you do. This practice of teaching man made traditions and doctrines, as the word of God, continues in the church today!  How many of us grew up hearing that women should not wear pants, wear makeup, that dancing is a sin, that drinking is a sin, that tithes is a NT command and should be paid before any thing else, etc?  Jesus just said in Mark that you should take care of your parents before you take care of anything else, even the church.  Have you ever heard Mark 7:10-13 preached in your church?  Why not?
     The Book of Romans is considered, by many scholars, as the book that describes and explains 'the 'Doctrine of the Christian Church.'  Paul, in Romans 14, addresses and describes who are Strong and Weak Christians.  What Paul says in theses scriptures are a complete reversal of what I had been taught in Sunday School and Church Services.  Paul says in Romans 14:1 Now accept the one who is weak in the faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgement on his opinion. Then is Romans 14:2, He tells us that the Strong Christian, has faith that he may eat many things, but he who is a Weak Christian eats vegetables only. In(vs.3),'The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat, is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. (vs 4) 'Who are you to judge the servant of another?  To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Paul goes on to give the example of how one person regards one day above another, and another regards every day alike.  Then in Romans 14:5 he tells us that we must fully be convinced in our own mind, or our conscience. Dr. Larry Keefauer & Clare Weaklery in their book on the personal reflections of John Wesley relate Wesley's reflection on the concept of conscience.  'Wesley states that Paul tells us that conscience is from God.  He says it is the faculty or power implant by God in every person.  Through his conscience man perceives what is right and wrong in his own heart or life, emotions, thoughts, words, and actions.  He sites Romans 2:14,15 in which Paul says, "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law,  do by nature the things contained in the law, these things having not the law, are a law unto themselves. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another."  Paul is telling us that people who have not yet hear the gospel have the law written on their hearts by God.
     In 1 Corinthians 10:23 Paul tells us that all things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Paul is saying that if God did not declare it a sin then it is lawful to him. In Galatians 5:13 Paul said ye have been called to liberty; only use not liberty for occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  In 1 Corinthians 10:29 Paul says, 'Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other for why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? Why are others judging me for decisions I make that are between me and God and not sinful or evil?  Colossians 2:16  tells us that no one is to act as our judge in regard to food or drink or respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath Day, thing which are mere shadows of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.  In 2:20-23 Paul ask us that if we be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world are we subject to ordinances? Touch not; taste not; handle not, which are to perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrine of men. By what authority do they call things sin that God has not declared sin? By their own conconscience and insecurities!
     What is Paul saying?  That Christ has given us liberty and we are free from all those ordinances and rule set by men in the church.  We have been taught that Strong Christian are the ones that can  follow the rules set forth by the church or denominations.  Paul tells us that it's the Strong Christians that  enjoyed the freedom from man made rules and legalism. He tells strong Christians not to flaunt their liberty or misuse it, or cause another to stumble by it.  Let me say it again , it is the weak in the faith that need rules for all aspects of their spiritual lives and believe that all others should do the same.
     Bob Deffinbaugh made a very important observation when he said, " While 2 Christians may disagree on whether or not a Christian should drink wine, or eat certain foods, no Christian should dispute the fact that lying, stealing, and immorality are sins.  These are biblical and moral absolutes.  All Christians should agree that love is the greatest commandment and if they don't show love they missed the spiritual point of the gospel.
     John Wesley states, "The Bible is a lantern for a Christians travel. It lights all his paths. This alone is his rule of right and wrong.  It show him what is good or evil."  He goes on to say,"Nothing is evil, but what the Word forbids, either by words or undeniable inference.  Whatever the Scriptures neither forbids nor requires is neutral. Those matters are neither good or evil."  What happens in our churches is that our ministers treat those neutral matters as sin and evil, thus misrepresenting the Word of God.  Why do they do this? Using Paul's definition of of a weak Christian one could only conclude that we may have weak Christians preaching in our pulpits on Sunday morning's.  A writer at Loyola University describes those who are weak Christians as condemning, self righteous, and will accuse others of doing wrong even when they have done nothing wrong.  These individuals will keep others in bondage and exalt themselves above others.  It is the holier than thou syndrome.  In today's church there is very little independent thinking, we are a bunch of Christian Robots who can't tell the difference between scriptural doctrine and man made doctrine as stated in Mark chapter 7.  Those who have been indoctrinated with the religious oral tradition, of the elders, are not open to see anything in a different light. Their belief system is so strong that when they read scriptures they read to enhance their existing bias knowledge base.  Have you ever written a paper, and when you finish had someone edit it?  The editor found that you had left out key words, and phrases that you knew you included?  This happened because in your mind you read in these words even though you were not writing them down. A situation like this happens when many people read the scriptures.  They read into the scriptures things that are in their psyche/mind and that they strongly believe.  However, they don't have an editor to alert them.  The Holy Spirit is to be our spiritual guide and editor when we allow Him to do His work.!
     In the book of James we learn that the Law of God is a perfect law, and nothing can be added or deleted.  We must take the scriptures and read, digest , internalize and act.  Max Baxter's commentary on the Book of James calls a religion without liberty a vain religion.  He describes a vain religion as one with much show to appear religious in the eyes of others.  People are more concern at appearing religious than being religious.  In vain religion there is much censuring, reviling ,and detracting of others.  Vain Religion also causes people to readily speak of the faults of others, or to censure them as holding scandalous error, or less wise, than them."  This is what Christ was saying to the Pharisees when he told them of their concern for washing pots and cups.
     Why is it more comfortable for preachers/ teachers to preach 90% of their sermons from the Old Testament?  When was the last time you heard a New Testament sermon or a sermon about Christian Liberty?  Paul had confidence in God's power and was not afraid to teach Christian Liberty.  If you will read the breath, dept, length, and height of the scriptures you can learn much about how Paul approached the people in his teaching and writings. The majority of the time Paul would start off a letter or sermon with remarks such as I thank my God always concerning you, then he continually reminded then of what Christ had done for them and the strengths, gifts and resource they had in Him.  Paul would tell the people to always remember what Christ had done for them, and that they should not give all that up and slip back into their old ways. He would tell them that in Christ they could resist evil and stand against those who would challenge their faith.  He would warn them against those who would teach them other doctrines that were different than the message of Jesus, and not to allow others, even angels to burden them with man made doctrines.  When was the last time you have come in contact with such a sermon?
     Why are things the way they are in church?  Why are certain parts of the scriptures never preached? Why are other parts preached over and over?  The Gospel is the "Good News" or glad tiding  of  redemption through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The man, in our generation, who most emulates the teaching of Paul is Billy Graham. He is almost never controversial, self-centered, because he always preached exactly what thus said the Lord. He preaches a pure and simple gospel of Gods love, grace, hope and deliverance.
      I think part of the problem in the Black Church is we give more importance to those things that affect our emotions, than those things that build and develop inner spiritual stability.  Another problem is we delegate the imparting of all biblical knowledge to other and take no personal responsibility.  We enjoy quoting scriptural sayings and phrases without any clue of the practical applications in our lives. In Psalms 119:99-100 the Psalter David tells us, ' I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation, I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed your precepts. In these scriptures David may be saying that his elders and teachers had become distracted by formalities of religious tradition and practices, and neglected the continued study of true essence of the scriptures. David continued to study and meditate on the scriptures which resulted in his increased scriptural knowledge base.  In Hebrew 5:11-13 the apostle tell the Hebrew Preachers that he had much to teach them, but they were dull of hearing.  He tells them that as long as they had been preachers they ought to be teachers, yet from what he has seen they need someone to teach them the elementary oracles of God, and that they needed milk and not solid food.  For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.  But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. I am not the one saying this, but this is coming from Paul's mouth. Paul is saying how can I depend on you to teach anything of substance when you are so lacking in knowledge and wisdom yourself!  If Paul sat through some of our current church service how do you think he would react?  Would he shake his head in disbelief, or would he shake his hear with a nod of approval.  Would he drop a note in the collection plate addressed to the Pastor, citing the directive of Hebrew 5:11-13!  We have some men in the ministry, today who need to stop teaching until they are properly taught themselves.  How do you know you don't know?  John 7:17-18 'If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, he is true, there is no unrighteousness in Him." 
     Many of the problems in the Black Church comes from the oral tradition model, or oral folkloric transmission of scriptural information. Scriptural interpretations have been past down by elders informally from generation to generation quite often with man developed doctrines freely added and never challenged by a learned and well read congregation. In the book of Acts we read of the people of Berea, whom we should try to emulate in our religious practice.  Act 17 tells us that, "The people of Berea everyday they studied the Holy Writings to see if what was being preached was true/correct."  The young preachers are often captivated with how the older preacher can stir up the membership, the number of people who become happy and shout during the message, and the number who walk the aisle.  They try to emulate their voice, tone, mannerisms and demeanor, never questioning the content and authenticity of the message.
     It appears, to me, that in the Black Church there is very little questioning of teaching, preaching, and formalities of the church.  If Martin Luther had not question the teaching and practice of the early Catholic Church, we all would be worshiping the Pope today.  Instead of questioning, we go from church to church trying to find something that we feel is missing.  What I have found is that many go to physical church to fulfill guilt, or to socialize, but look to certain television and radio programs for their spiritual food..  I once asked a friend why she gave money to a TV minster, and not to her local church?  She told me that she gives money to those who feed her spiritually. If you look on Facebook, or other social media outlet you will see people quoting and praising Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, David Jeremiah, Charles Stanley, Chuck Swindoll, TD Jakes, or Joseph Prince.  It is apparent that they feel that these individuals provide the spiritual food they need.
     Some of you will read this and say, 'I never looked at it this way before, and others will think I am so far off base that I must not be truly saved!  I am not afraid to question, or speak up when what I hear in church does not line up with I read in scriptures. May the Lords grace and love abound in your lives, and you enjoy the liberty of your faith and your salvation.  Those of you who are strong, show grace and love in your Christian freedom.  Those of you who are weak, don't project you insecurities on to others.