Faithfully yours - Preach it, but keep it simple

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Published on Sunday, February 26, 2017

Neil Strohschein

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The Bible study project I began many years ago (see last week’s column) is now complete. The project has been burned to disk and the working files have been deleted from my computer’s hard drive to make some space for my next writing project—whatever that might be.

Several amazing discoveries were made on this journey. The one that shocked me the most was to learn how much of what I had been taught in my high school and college years wasn’t really based on Scripture—at least not to the extent that I was told it was.

I grew up in a world filled with “Thou shalt nots.” Teachers, ministers and even mentors often used phrases like: “Good Christians don’t smoke, drink, chew or go with those who do.” I went to conferences, attended seminars and came home with books and sermons on cassette tape, all of which reinforced what I had been taught in my formative years.

But then I got into active ministry and had to deal with real people in the real world; where there were no rule books that dealt with the issues my friends in the church were facing every day. The books soon disappeared from my library, the cassette tapes deteriorated and had to be destroyed and I was left with three things: my Bible, an inquisitive mind and the Holy Spirit who, as Jesus promised: “would guide me into all truth.” That’s when I began to open the book and study it.

Guess what—I discovered that the Bible is filled with rules—lots of them. In fact, the first five books of the Bible contain the Criminal Code of ancient Israel. But this code was different. It had roughly 170 regulations. Half of them dealt with personal health, relationships, moral issues, social problems and how the nation was to be governed. The other half (contained in the book of Leviticus) established the Jewish religion, a highly modified form of which still exists today.

But these rules were given for a reason—a reason Jesus gave when asked to identify the greatest commandment in the Law. He replied that the whole law could be summarized in just eight words: “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” Every life principle recorded in the Bible is there because it will help us how to love God better and love others more effectively.

If he could walk among us today, I think Jesus would ask two things of those who serve his church. He would want us to be so in love with God that no one would ever question our devotion to him; and he would want us to be leading the way in loving, accepting and forgiving others as he has loved, accepted and forgiven us.

Jesus never got involved in politics. He never became a social activist. He never offered 10 or 12-step programs that would solve financial problems, cure depression or help us raise good kids in happy homes with loving parents who enjoy happy marriages. His message was simple—love God and love your neighbor. That simple message is what today’s church needs to share.

Ours is no longer the loving and caring society it once was. It has been torn apart by hate and prejudice. No government initiative, no matter how well intentioned, carefully worded or rigidly enforced will fix this problem. The only law that can break down the barriers of hate is the law of love—God’s love flowing through God’s people to others. Preach it—but keep it simple!