As I read it, Jesus held to some fundamental truths, but rallied against the way the Pharisee’s were saying those truths were expressed in day to day faith. SOmehow we need to be doing the same as Jesus.

You’ve painted little word “must” with a big brush, Matt.

Maybe it shouldnt be something so big that it is causing people stress and frustration, but it’s something that we should be encouraging all christians to do.

Even if it’s five or ten minutes a day, putting aside some time, JUST for God, is important. Sometimes we oversanitise everything in our churches, with a pat on the back and a ‘there, there’ whenever someone falters. We try to make people feel like everythings allright, and thatthey should never feel bad about anything. I believe that if people are too busy with their own lives to give five minutes a day to God, then yeah, they should be feeling a little selfish and guilty over that. We should never be too busy for God. If you are, cut back.

Yes, we have full time work, study, family and social commitments, church commitments. But you know what? When these things fill your life, God WILL seem distant. What good is doing all these things if you strain, or lose the one thing that can energise you and carry you through them?

Legalism. Hmm.. it seems to be our most unfavourite thing, currently in church circles.
I suppose legalism arises when someone tries something new to stay close to God, and when it works, tells everyone: “hey guys, try this“- in the future, it becomes so in built that we think we can’t be Christians with out it.

Thanks for the brain food, Matt!