Bondage

Matthew 11:30

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

 I keep seeing these blogs and Facebook posts, by well meaning Christians, that seem to equate Christianity with being bound to a giant "don't" list. Some don'ts are necessary and Biblical, many are not.

 I used to be like that, and still struggle with it. A religion of works...mostly working at NOT doing things. It goes something like this:

 We don't do Christmas because someone else, somewhere else, used to use trees for bad things and decorations and parties make a gathering into a "festival" which is evil....

 We don't take our kids trick or treating because someone else, a long time ago did something kind of  like that and it was bad, and lots of people dress up like bad things so I cannot dress up at all.

 We don't listen to that style  of music because it doesn't fit into my box of what qualifies as "worshipful".

 We don't wear bright colors because someone else might think we attract too much attention.

 We don't play cards because someone else might think we're gambling.

 We don't wear pants, cut our hair, uncover our head, eat pork, wash dishes on Sunday , wash dishes on Saturday,shave our legs, trim our beards,own a TV, drive a car, go to the circus, celebrate Easter, use deodorant, wear makeup or jewlery,...don't..don't...don't .

 It's time the focus stopped being about what other people do, or did, and about the 1,000,000,000 do not's.

 There are LOTS of things that I will not do because it is plainly addressed in scripture and/or because I believe doing so disgraces the name of "Christian". I don't use foul language, lie, steal, lust, wear truly indecent clothing (such as shorts or swimwear etc..), I don't drink alcohol or do other drugs, allow the secular government to raise my children, disrespect my husband  etc.. BUT I don't want to raise my children to think Christianity is about burdens,straining and don'ts!
 There are so many "DO's" for us to follow!
DO, love God,
DO be joyful,
DO have compassion,
DO pray,
DO reject sin,
DO praise,
DO worship,
DO honor our husbands,
DO train our children in godliness,
DO preach the gospel,
DO take care of the natural planet,
DO care for animals,
DO be kind,
DO be giving,
DO be hospitable  ... DO

 Our relationship with God is exactly that, a relationship. It is supposed to be guided by the Bible, prayer and the Holy Ghost. It is not summarized in a list of do not's.
 If a person truly believes that a thing is evil they should not participate in it, even something as simple as eating certain foods. The Bible is clear that anything done in doubt is, for you, a sin. If that thing is not a clear moral issue, as addressed in the New Testament, you should never put that belief onto someone else, thus creating bondage.

Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

  If putting up a Christmas tree will make you want to worship Baal and sacrifice unholy sacrifices, revel in greed, mock Christ , ignore scripture, and invite demons to dinner, then please do not get a Christmas tree! 
 In my home it is a thing of beauty and peace, sanctified (set apart) as part of the love and joy God gives to us all year and a reminder of great joy and blessing! It is a creation invented by a wondrous creator and decorated with the creativity given to us as a precious part of being made in His image. It is a tree. It is NOT an idol any more than my decorative wicker baskets, flower vase or hanging pictures are idols.

Romans 14:14
I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.

 If owning a television will make you irresistibly drawn to pornography and blasphemy, please do not get a television!! 
In our home it is a source of education, teaching and even sermons! We choose not to have cable, but that is our conviction. We watch Ken Ham, Voddie Bauchum, History science and yes, even entertainment. 

Acts 10:15
The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

Romans 14:2322The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

 I respect people who choose not do do some of the things that I do, especially if it's for the right reasons and not based on the opinions of others or pride.

 I don't know if we will always do the same things that we are doing now or in the same way.

 What I know for sure is that what someone else did, or does, should not be a factor in what WE do. If God tells us that what we are doing is bad for our children we will stop, simple as that.

 When it comes to Christmas I embrace the entire celebration with joy and give God the glory for all things beautiful, joyful, sacrificial and wonderful. 

I hope that all Christians can experience the joys of life without succumbing to bondage.