What is the difference between the religious leaders during Jesus time on the Earth and the leaders of today’s churches?
I attend two churches, one on Sundays that has a praise team with guitars and drums, singing up beat songs with lots of jumping up and down, raising of hands, stomping of feet and otherwise just getting into the music. The preacher wears jeans or slacks with comfortable shirts and they do not have a problem if shorts are worn in church. The women don’t have to wear a dress and for men a suit and tie is definitely optional. Actually I don’t recall seeing too many suit and ties worn at all. The Bible is taught and the Gospel is preached each and every time a message is given.
The other church I go to, (I attend this church on Wednesdays but have attended on Sunday as well), is like the one I grew up attending as a young person. On Sundays the old fashioned hymns are sung with a pretty structured service. Yes, they do go out on a few songs but I don’t recall a lot of jumping up and down during the singing. The pastor preaches with his suit and tie on and most of the men that are “involved” are dressed the same. Women are in dresses and it is suggested that all the girls do the same. Exceptions are made but as a rule you know what the dress code is. It has been suggested that if someone were to come in to the church out of dress code that it would be handled respectfully. (They will not kick any one out of the service for under dressing.) But if the person or persons continue this practice and fail to conform they will be advised of the proper way things are done. The Bible is also taught (King James Version) and the Gospel is preached at every service as well.
I have listened to preachers talk about how the spiritual leaders during Jesus days of walking on Earth had many rules that were expected to be followed. Honor the Sabbath, no Healing on the Sabbath, do this, don’t do that, women cover your head, and you have all heard what they were. It was said that one reason for these rules was because the leaders needed to have a reason to be there. It was their way of maintaining rule over the Jews. Now Jesus talked about certain rules that were to be followed as well. The 10 Commandments were always brought up first but He spoke of others as well. Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and Love thy neighbor as thyself. Most of us have heard this and we do believe this.
It is time to get to the point now. My opinion is that this is the difference between Religion and Christianity. Religion is man made with rules to follow and guidelines. If you do not follow these then you are not conforming to the religion. This is why there are so many religions out there because man needs to make up his own rules to follow. With Christianity all we have to do is look back at what Jesus did and follow His example. I have become so frustrated with Religion because of all these rules. Yes, to some these are standards and once we become Christians we should have a desire to follow certain standards in order to show our separation from Worldly living. I have heard all the arguments for following these rules but what bothers me is how important these rules have become in some Religions. When I read God’s Word and see how Christ spoke concerning the Religious leaders and the rules they have and how He lived His life I tend to compare the leadership in today’s churches with all the rules they have instituted for their religions. They actually justify the rules just as it was done back then.
Arguments can be used to justify following the rules but I feel that what is getting lost is the importance of following Jesus. With all the rules that have been made to follow while in church or as a part of a religion the world looks at the religious and calls them hypocrites because all the rules are nearly impossible to follow in our every day life. I will do my best to respect the rules of certain Religions but I do not agree with all of them. Though there is more to it, in the end what will be examined is not if I wore shorts to church or drank alcohol or smoked, it will be did I love the Lord my God and did I love my neighbor as myself.
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