Red Flags on Gray Canvas

Let me paint this picture for you:

• "God thinks Christian contemporary music is wrong."
• "The KJV is the only inspired version of God."
• "There's no way God could be in that."

What's wrong with these statements?

I call these red flags because every time someone says something along these lines (where they state a position of God on something) they are actually saying that God has given them a divine revelation. Apart from scripture.

I.e., with some exceptions, try to prove these statements or another dogmatic statement using the Bible.

Ever realize how much gray area we live in as Christians? We create pharisaical rules and then assign God's name to them so we can live in a black and white world. Black and white is easy. I'm convinced this is why Islam is growing so fast. Example: if you're a woman wondering what you can wear to be modest, then it doesn't get any easier than a rule from the Qur'an saying you need to wear a hijaab that covers your body from head to toe. Sure, the rule may be overkill in cases, but you can hang your hat on it, right?

Isn't this true for us as Christians in many cases? Take my own background: independent, fundamental Baptist (in the deep South, no less). There are spoken and unspoken rules regarding dress, music, piercings, tattoos, Bible translations, mission boards, universities, etc, etc, etc.

Why? Think about Old Testament times under the law. We blame the rabbis and pharisees of old for creating all of these rules, but when you study the reasoning, it is quite noble (in its original inception). They were trying to create what was called a "fence around the Torah." In other words, God gave a commandment with dire consequences if you broke it. Men added to that hoping that if they set stricter rules people would be less likely to break God's laws. The problem is obvious....those rules became "gospel" and the criteria by which your spiritual success was measured.

Sound familiar?

Now think about what those rules do to a "pre-believer"? They already don't measure up. "Jesus, what a friend for sinners", indeed! Wonder why many don't want to ever step foot in a church. (Never mind that Christ ALWAYS went to where they were on their own ground (and not by asking if they were sure they were going to Heaven), but that's another post!)

Under Christ's sacrifice, under Grace, the parameters have changed, right? Rather than changing behavior from the outside in (following a bunch of rules), Christ gives a new heart...His heart, and the Holy Spirit to boot. Sure we have that sinful nature to contend with, but we now have a Holy Spirit that can tell us between right and wrong. And as Paul says, what may not be appropriate for someone to do may be appropriate for someone else. Hmmm, dangerously close to moral relativism, huh? Sounds like gray area to me.

Maybe what we do when we create our set of rules and criteria is teach those who follow them, including ourselves how NOT to listen, how NOT to develop a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Ever wonder why children who grow up under these conditions go off the deep end (maybe leave the church altogether and not return to another form of it until later in life if at all)? I have a feeling it has something to do with this...these people have been told this is what God wants but they never get to "hear" it from God....ergo, "God must not be trying to talk to me. This is just my parent's values."

Not to say that there is not right and wrong, and God hasn't stated His position on many things. Good night, we have a pretty length book giving quite a bit of "advice", right? There are many rules (especially that parents create for their children) that are meant for protection (similar to the fence around the Torah). But rather than focus on a rule, why not focus on listening to God's "still small voice"? Rationally think through these questions with me: Does He want us to do right? Yes. Does He want us to be made more into the image of His son? Does He want to develop a closer relationship with us? Of course. Now ask yourself: would He do this with a bunch of rules and regulations, or would He want to develop our "spiritual ear" so we can sense His heart? "Pray without ceasing" wasn't advice to ask God what we want every second of the day. It is learning to have a two way conversation with Him. Which way would you want to live? I'm 32 and so weary of the rules. What I really want to know what is He REALLY thinks. And that won't come from man-made rules.

So be really careful when you or someone says "God (says, thinks, insert your favorite verb here)..." Speaking for God on something He hasn't really said seems to be a very dangerous place to be in.