Go Forward not Backward

Would that we had died by the Lord's hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Not long into their journey Israel looked back to their slavery longing for the meat and bread that filled their bellies. They forgot it was because of their cries that God recued them.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. … You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Jews had not been believers for a long time when they gave up on Jesus and returned to the bondage of law.

Thousands of people are leaving the traditional church, some to more orthodox and tradition focused denominations, others to secular clubs and associations, and many remaining unattached to any church. Those who migrate to orthodox religions are like Jews returning to law. Those who give up faith in God for social groups are left devoid of spiritual a connection. Some will opt for pseudo spirituality, but more will find a personal relationship with God.

The religion of ancient Israel is portrayed as rigid, onerous and unforgiving. The temple was the central focus of Jewish religion. The building represented the presence of God, the feasts and ceremonies were powerful reminders of what God had done for Israel. There were seven feasts but only three were mandatory and only men were required to attend. The weight of law was not in its ceremonies but in it application to almost every aspect of daily life. That applied to everyone, even sojourners among Israelites.

The practices of early Christianity were adopted from Judaism with the synagogue having the largest influence. That was very natural since Jewish believers were still obliged to follow the Law. Gentile converts were to keep the laws issued by James to appease Jewish legalists. Israelites/Jews were never to forget that God rescued them from slavery to Egypt, the Passover celebration was to be kept continuously.

Jesus gave his disciples a similar memorial by which to remember their being redeemed from slavery to sin and death – the Lord’s supper. Jewish believers had to celebrate Passover, and eat the Lord’s supper. Both celebrations would end at the same time and event.

I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 

The Lord’s supper was not a ritual but a remembrance. It was not an obligation but a celebration. In the environment of Law surrounded by the ceremonies of Israel it was a proclamation of the sacrificial death of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God. God did not give us a new religion through Jesus, he offers us a relationship. He did not provide land or buildings in which to worship, he gives us an everlasting kingdom. He did not give us a new law he provided grace.

It is not wrong to leave church, but you must have something to hold on to and that is your relationship with God through Jesus. There is no obligation to belong to a church, our obligation is to Love God and love our neighbour. That is man’s spiritual mission.