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“As I grew slightly older [than a toddler], I learned through osmosis (or some other scientific process - lol) that it was a sin for an able-bodied adult not to attend the worship assembly (i.e. go to church) on Sunday morning.” (quoted from yesterday’s Little Lift). In this same installment, I posed this question: “Who decides when the hindrance [from attending Sunday church] is providential and when it is otherwise?” As indicated yesterday, to be providentially hindered from church attendance amounted to an excused absence, but my boyhood questions lingered. Indeed who decides just who is providentially hindered, who says this is an excused absence, and when is providential hindrance not providential?

These and other similar questions arise from attempting to be consistent in all points of doctrine and practice. Make no mistake about it, I am not belittling or denying the fact that truth is always consistent. I am, however, making observations that show that consistency is indeed a rare jewel. When consistency is not present, truth suffers, whether by design or by accident. A strict set of rules (e.g. it is a sin for an able-bodied adult not to attend the worship assembly on Sunday morning) begs for mitigation. And in the name of consistency, mitigation occurs. To accommodate those who tried to live by this particular rule but found it impractical in all cases, the Sunday night assembly was born. In the Sunday night assembly, the same essentials of worship were observed that were observed in the Sunday morning assembly. In essence, one’s absence from the Sunday morning service could now be “made up” by attending Sunday night services!

I must give credit where credit is due; people are to be commended for trying to be consistent. However, merely trying to live by a strict set of rules without the ability to mitigate those rules is without any real virtue. What might appear to be “just as good” on the surface is never enough! I raise the same scenario that was raised in yesterday’s message. What about the adult who stays out on the lake on Saturday until his skin is so painfully blistered that he can not stand to wear clothing on Sunday morning. By evening and after some treatment, he feels better and is able to attend Sunday night services. Does his Sunday evening attendance really “make up for” his lack of planning on Saturday or his out and out neglect? Isn’t this parallel to the Israelite who pushed his ox into the ditch in order to justify working on the Sabbath? If not, why not? Well, if that is the case, how about missing Sunday morning services due to a transoceanic flight toward a vacation destination? How about to work at a job that is not related to an emergency situation or to relieve human suffering?

The greater point is not about Sunday morning services and whether or not it is a sin not to attend! The greater point is this: As a fellowship of believers, we (my religious culture) invented exceptions to rules when they were needed while, at the same time, we refused to allow exceptions to other rules because they didn’t meet our own standard of need! The Sunday night “make up” rule is just one example. What we failed to allow to come into play was the all important principle that God desires mercy and not sacrifice. There are times when one’s intent outweighs the outward rules which seem to apply to the situation. That is exactly the reason that David was justified in eating the showbread! And it is that very principle from Hosea 6.6 that Jesus cited when He said, “Go and learn what this means!”

The problem (speaking facetiously) with this type of thinking is that it disallows us from being able to judge others from their outward actions! We are forced to give others the benefit of the doubt because we did not know their intent. As for me, I think I shall just be satisfied to be a participant in God’s great plan and allow Him to be the Judge; after all, He’s the only one who has all the facts!(continued)

Questions:

1. Why do strict, zero-tolerance rules beg for mitigation? Who understands perfectly and obeys perfectly God's will?

2. What place does consistency have in our search for truth? What is implied when an inconsistency exists?

3. Have you ever known anyone to invent exceptions to the rules for his/her own benefit? What might that be called in a sporting event or a board game?

4. Was it against the rules for David to eat the showbread? Was it a sin? Why? (see Matthew 12.1-8)

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

The Second Sin