Fences

Over the past few months I have been reading Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges. Today I read a pretty incredible chapter. The book fights hard against legalism . Today’s chapter addressed Christian Liberty and those who fight against it with legalistic man made rules (“fences”).

He opens it up with Mark 7:6-8

“And He said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS,
BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.
BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,
TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'
Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."

(bold added by me)

People put their own convictions equal with God’s commandments and force them on other people as sin issues. People’s own self appointed “oughts and ought nots are usually communicated by people in such a way that the favor or frown of God is tied to our compliance.” He makes another good point that “it also diverts us from the real issues of the Christian life by focusing on external and sometimes trivial rules.”

Bridges is very careful though to warn against using your liberty as a license for ungodliness.
The main verse of the chapter is Galatians 5:13

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

It was really interesting reading this after reading through Romans 14 a little while ago. Romans 14 deals a lot with Christian liberty and the abuse of it. While we do have freedom in Christ, we can’t abuse it or cause others to sin. The example given is meat sacrificed to idols. Although it is not sinful to eat it, a person who was saved out of idol worship might think it’s wrong, and if eats “not from faith” (14:23) it is sin to him. Leading someone to do something against their conscience is leading that person to sin and is being a stumbling block. (1 Cor 8:9)

Romans 14:21 “It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.”

There are things I choose not to do, but if they aren’t written in or from scriptural principles it is wrong for me put those convictions (“fences”) on other people or judge them. On the other hand, I shouldn’t force or urge someone with convictions to violate those. All things should be done in love to edify other believers. (Rom 15:2)