Richard Amiel McGough
10-27-2011, 08:31 AM
There are many Christians today who have fallen into various cult-like groups that teach them to obey all 613 of the rules invented by Jews. Many of those rules have no foundation whatsoever in Scripture. A good example is the list of Sabbath rules - activities prohibited on the Sabbath.
Source: http://www.jewfaq.org/shabbat.htm
Sowing
Plowing
Reaping
Binding sheaves
Threshing
Winnowing
Selecting
Grinding
Sifting
Kneading
Baking
Shearing wool
Washing wool
Beating wool
Dyeing wool
Spinning
Weaving
Making two loops
Weaving two threads
Separating two threads
Tying
Untying
Sewing two stitches
Tearing
Trapping
Slaughtering
Flaying
Salting meat
Curing hide
Scraping hide
Cutting hide up
Writing two letters
Erasing two letters
Building
Tearing a building down
Extinguishing a fire
Kindling a fire
Hitting with a hammer
Taking an object from the private domain to the public, or transporting an object in the public domain.
You can't even tie (#21) or untie (#22) your shoes on the Sabbath? Where's that written in Scripture? You can't strike a match (#37)? Some modern Jews interpret this to mean they can't even flip a light switch! Talk about inventing absurd burdens to lay upon people! But there is one nice side effect - you get an incredible sense of "righteousness" if you go about "fulfilling" all these little rules that you think came from "God." It's a kind of occultic/psychological magic - I know, I tried it many years ago when I was exploring many varieties of spirituality before I became Christian. I made up my own set of "magical vows" and quickly created a profound sense of "righteousness" and "spiritual power." It's really amazing to see how the psychology works. I feel this is the root source of the human desire to make up and obey "spiritual rules."
Has anyone else around here experimented with "personal righteousness" like this? After I became Christian, I had the same sense when I tried to "obey God." I would feel "righteous" when I thought I was "obeying." And when I "fell into sin" (usually smoking or sex) I would feel my righteousness dissipate and I would be very weak and sad. But my strength and happiness would come back when I repented. It was quite a roller coaster ride, and from what I've seen in others, anyone who attempts ot be "righteous" by following rules and prohibitions will experience nothing but lots of ups and downs. I think this is because they are trying to follow external rules rather than their heart and intuition.
Well, that's my morning meditation. It's funny how this thread started. I just saw a mention of the 39 Sabbath rules over on fivedoves, and startedd writing and one thing led to another. I'm very curious to know how others have experienced "righteousness based on rules" and how this relates to your spiritual walk whether within or without Christianity.
Source: http://www.jewfaq.org/shabbat.htm
Sowing
Plowing
Reaping
Binding sheaves
Threshing
Winnowing
Selecting
Grinding
Sifting
Kneading
Baking
Shearing wool
Washing wool
Beating wool
Dyeing wool
Spinning
Weaving
Making two loops
Weaving two threads
Separating two threads
Tying
Untying
Sewing two stitches
Tearing
Trapping
Slaughtering
Flaying
Salting meat
Curing hide
Scraping hide
Cutting hide up
Writing two letters
Erasing two letters
Building
Tearing a building down
Extinguishing a fire
Kindling a fire
Hitting with a hammer
Taking an object from the private domain to the public, or transporting an object in the public domain.
You can't even tie (#21) or untie (#22) your shoes on the Sabbath? Where's that written in Scripture? You can't strike a match (#37)? Some modern Jews interpret this to mean they can't even flip a light switch! Talk about inventing absurd burdens to lay upon people! But there is one nice side effect - you get an incredible sense of "righteousness" if you go about "fulfilling" all these little rules that you think came from "God." It's a kind of occultic/psychological magic - I know, I tried it many years ago when I was exploring many varieties of spirituality before I became Christian. I made up my own set of "magical vows" and quickly created a profound sense of "righteousness" and "spiritual power." It's really amazing to see how the psychology works. I feel this is the root source of the human desire to make up and obey "spiritual rules."
Has anyone else around here experimented with "personal righteousness" like this? After I became Christian, I had the same sense when I tried to "obey God." I would feel "righteous" when I thought I was "obeying." And when I "fell into sin" (usually smoking or sex) I would feel my righteousness dissipate and I would be very weak and sad. But my strength and happiness would come back when I repented. It was quite a roller coaster ride, and from what I've seen in others, anyone who attempts ot be "righteous" by following rules and prohibitions will experience nothing but lots of ups and downs. I think this is because they are trying to follow external rules rather than their heart and intuition.
Well, that's my morning meditation. It's funny how this thread started. I just saw a mention of the 39 Sabbath rules over on fivedoves, and startedd writing and one thing led to another. I'm very curious to know how others have experienced "righteousness based on rules" and how this relates to your spiritual walk whether within or without Christianity.