Twin City church of Christ Blog
“Nov 28, 2024 - Making Rules for God”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsMaking Rules for God
Reading: 1 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Paul summarizes that his instructions for Timothy are so that “you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth”(1 Tim 3:15). Christians are God’s people (“the household of God”) and our work is to support, uphold, and spread “the truth” about Jesus. This includes what Paul calls “the mystery of godliness,” that “he was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory”(1 Tim 3:16). This poetic description of the gospel story (from a human perspective) is not merely a set of assertions we endorse, but connects to how we live, speak, and love.
But some will reject the truth. “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared”(1 Tim 4:1-2). The Holy Spirit prophesies departures from the faith (apostasies) which originate with Christians heeding the wrong voices (deceitful spirits, demons, and liars). But the essence of the departure is unexpected: “who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth”(1 Tim 4:3). This apostasy will involve making rules for God. It marks as spiritually dangerous things God has approved (marriage and food, 1 Tim 4:4-5). It takes our proper desire for holiness and perverts it, insisting on rules God has not given.
Apostasy can take many different forms. Often it involves teaching that God will forgive anything, so we can live however we choose. But this apostasy takes the opposite form: making rules for God. Perhaps we feel closer to God by denying ourselves things. Perhaps we feel better than others who indulge. Perhaps we see an opportunity to bind our personal opinions on others. It is not spirituality to make long lists of things we are forbidden to do, especially when those lists do not originate with God. While we may have opinions and personal rules, we must carefully distinguish the difference between my rules and God’s—lest we make rules for him.
-----------
One Thing to Think About: What kind of apostasy is the greater danger for me personally?
One Thing to Pray For: Strength, awareness, and discernment to never “depart from the faith”
