† Can’t Touch This † “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Colossians 2:21–23 NIV In the beginning, God told Adam ‘but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’ (Genesis 2:17 ESV). A chapter later Eve told the serpent ‘you shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die (Genesis 3:3 ESV). God did not say anything about touching it. It was a personal preference that was added to the word of God, but it became part of the commandment as an “add on” item. Churches split over the type of music that they feel God prefers, when it has nothing to do with Him at all. An acoustic guitar is not inherently “Holy” and an electric guitar is not inherently “Evil.” My wife does not care for loud high-pitched guitar leads because it makes her teeth hurt. That is a personal preference. Paul said “Do not be drunk with wine” in Eph 5:18, but man says “do not drink wine.” That is a personal preference. I knew of a church that taught that wearing neckties was a sin, but that is not from the Bible. We should dress modestly but the rest is personal preference (1 Tim 2:9). Jesus quoted Isaiah and said “They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions” (Mark 7:7–8 NIV). The next time that you are tempted to become angry over something religious, examine it and ask yourself if this is actually scriptural, or is it just a personal preference. Jesus wore a robe and sandals, I wear jeans and sneakers. If He did not give us a clear direct commandment about it, leave it out of your doctrine.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 05:56:27 +0000
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