Visible Obligation...

VISIBLE OBLIGATION…It’s interesting the things that people feel obligated to do, and not do, in the course of their Christianity. Some people have a list of don’ts as long as their arm. Others have a list of do’s as long as their arm. What if Christ intended more freedom then lengthy lists altogether?
“Only they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” ~Galatians 2:10
Paul was called to the Gentiles, but the early church leaders were Jews. The Jews, even the ones that were following Christ, brought over much of their Judaic traditions into their Christian experience. In quick order they had a interesting list of what it meant to be a serious follower of Christ that included circumcision & ceremonial worship forms. But when Paul began taking the gospel to the Gentiles, he quickly realized that the Jewish list would become a hurdle to the gospel for the Gentiles. So he wisely ignored the Jewish list. (btw – this tension still exists today between ministering to Christians vs. reaching non-Christians). When the church leaders Paul was doing this, they were incensed and called a meeting. Thankfully, at the end of the day the Jewish list was not imposed upon the Gentiles, in the name of ‘freedom in Christ’. There was one thing though they all agreed was unmovable…remembering the poor. That visible expression was simply too Christ-like to ever be excluded. I wonder if in this day some are carrying a Christian list that excludes remembering the poor? That’s actually our most VISIBLE OBLIGATION! ~verlon