How many times have you heard a Christian say the following: "Hey, what are you doing? Don't do that! You should do this. Why? Because the Bible tells you so." The thought process behind these words is fairly logical: "The Bible says people should do something, so I'm going to tell them to do that." It makes sense for a Christian to think like this. Someone who speaks this way, though, makes God's Word appear to be a series of commands. In more common terms: This kind of teaching makes people believe the Bible is "a list of do's and don'ts." Is that all the Bible is?
Now, the Bible is absolutely the authority on what is "useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," (2 Timothy 3:16). It is full of commands; all of which have been given by the only wise God (Job 12:13, Romans 16:27). Those who do not respect God are fools who "despise wisdom and instruction," (Proverbs 1:7). Someone who respects and fears God is humble. They will be richly rewarded, because "humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life," (Proverbs 22:4). This is one reason why it is written, "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord," (Psalm 1:1-2). Those who obey God are His "treasured possession," (Exodus 19:5); the ones who respect God's "do's" and avoid God's "don'ts".
If a believer, though, only sees God's commands as "a list of do's and don'ts," then they are gravely mistaken. Ray Comfort, founder and CEO of Living Waters ministry, says most people misunderstand why God gave His commands. People wrongly think "God's law was given as a standard for us to live by. Well, try and live by it." God's law is to love the Lord with your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as you love yourself, (Matthew 22:37-40). This is "the essence of the law" and Comfort rightly acknowledges "we can't do it." Jesus says, "No one is good except God alone," (Mark 10:18), yet He commands, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect," (Matthew 5:48). No one can be perfect. If God's law was just a way to show how much stuff someone needs to do to be blessed, then no one would ever experience one sunrise or eat a decent meal. The Law was not given to simply teach people what to do.
When we try to simply make people behave better, and I know that there are fruits to that. I get that it is better that there's pro-life legislation. I'm not trying to completely obliterate any benefits, but we need to keep our eyes on the prize. What is the prize of moralism? Failure.
- Todd Friel
The Law was not given just so people could obey God, but was given so everyone could be saved. No one can obey God enough. No one can perform a satisfactory amount of "do's" over "don'ts", and "no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin," (Romans 3:20). This is meant to cause people to cry out for salvation from themselves, (Romans 10:13); salvation made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1-2). Those who believe this will become righteous in the Lord's sight. He will give them His Spirit and "move them to follow His decrees and be careful to keep His laws," (Ezekiel 36:26-27). A believer will show they have God's Spirit by their "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law" that teaches these virtues outside of God's Word (Galatians 5:22-23). The Law was given so people can see themselves, as if looking in a mirror (James 1:23), and when they see themselves rightly they will call on God and be rescued (Psalm 91:15).
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| "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved," (Joel 2:32). |
The Bible's commands are not "a list of do's and don'ts," but are given to show how "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23). God's laws show His glory, because all His commands are a reflection of Himself. For example, Jesus' law to sinlessly submit to human authorities (Matthew 22:21) reflects how Jesus sinlessly submits to His Father in heaven (John 6:38). Another example is that God commands His people to make sure their neighbor's animals do not wander off (Deuteronomy 22:1). This demonstrates how God will make sure all of His lost sheep come back to Him (Isaiah 53:6, Luke 15:4-7). All of God's laws are depictions of His love, and "if anyone obeys His Word, love for God is truly made complete in them," (1 John 2:5).
The Bible should never be used to simply tell people what to do and what not to do. In fact, the Scriptures prophesy that those who use the Bible in this way are leaders who do not listen to the Lord. These words of woe (meaning sadness and grief) are written of these teachers in Isaiah chapter 28 from verses 9 to 13:
“Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast? For it is: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there.”
Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, to whom He said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”—but they would not listen. So then, the word of the Lord to them will become: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there—so that as they go they will fall backward; they will be injured and snared and captured.
God's glorious commands are meant to strengthen people's love for God, so it is devastating when His laws are misrepresented. Those who simply teach the "do's and don'ts" of God's commands will be like the unwise who dig a pit and fall into it (Proverbs 26:27). They are teachers who feed their listeners only milk, and "anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness," (Hebrews 5:13). God's true teachings are a resting place of repose. Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,” (Matthew 11:28-29). Those who believe in God will never find rest, until they rightly honor God's teaching and learn from Him. As one of God's commands is to honor your father (Exodus 20:12), so believers should honor their father in heaven by "correctly handling the Word of Truth," (2 Timothy 2:15).
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| Those who know the teachings of righteousness will be able to say, "Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety," (Psalm 141:10). |
- The Bible (New International Version)
- American Gospel: Christ Alone
- Wretched: Moralism Teaching
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