What if I don't do everything right? Will I be rejected?

Qui autem discernit si manducaverit damnatus est quia non ex fide omne autem quod non ex fide peccatum est (Romans 14:23)

Do not be afraid; it gives the father great pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Jesus spoke these words to an oppressed people. Oppressed by Romans? No. Oppressed by the rule making, burden creating, finger pointers that were the religious leaders of the day. We have them in our day too. "Christmas is not of God" "Christmas trees originate in Babylon" "Gift giving is a pagan practice" "Birthdays were only celebrated by ungodly men"; the inference being that you are stepping on thin ice if you practice any of these abominable things: God will reject you.

Teachers that stress the importance of understanding the nuances of how to please God don't. Presenting a life that is pleasing to God is not like turning in an essay that doesn't contain spelling or grammatical errors. Yet there are men who will try to burden you with a plethora of demands. Everything from "how to correctly spell or pronounce God's name" (that one is just funny- how can you pronounce the name that is unmentionable?) to "what day of the week it's acceptable to attend worship or, the precise steps God requires in a baptism if you expect him to consider it legitimate"

I don't believe God rejects or accepts the souls of his creation based upon our ability to cross our t's and dot our i's; avoid shrimp fettuccine etc.. In fact, I believe "that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them." 2 Corinthians 5:19

 "Jesus replied, And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them." Luke 11:46  In Jesus' day, the experts in religious law took God's law as it was written by Moses, and expounded upon it and expanded it to hundreds of subtle and complicated regulations to fit every particular situation. Men were as confused as an illiterate man would be if a social worker threw a form and a pen at him and shouted: "If you make one mistake, you'll be denied benefits!"

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32  Give you the kingdom. Does that sound like you have to answer a skill-testing set of questions first?

The Latin quote at the head of this blog entry says in part, "whatever is not of faith, is sin".  I believe that whatever is of faith is not sin. Where there is no faith, there is fear. Maybe a nagging fear, maybe a condemning fear, maybe a confusing fear. How much better to live loving God and giving thanks to him for everything! Whether we celebrate a saint's day, or not; whether we fast, or eat; whatever we do, let us do it to the Glory of God, giving thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18

Suggested reading: Romans chapter 14

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