Which is better? The law? Or righteousness? Are you answering a certain way because you have heard it is the right answer? Do your actions support the answer you gave? Have you considered the way you worship? Is it legalist or free to express your faith?
In our everyday culture there are laws to be obeyed. If not for laws, we would not be a civilized society. We know that disobeying those laws comes with punishment. We are taught from an early age to obey rules and laws. We do not want to face the punishment of disobedience.
Is the same true for our relationship with God? Often, we are taught at a young age to sit quietly in the pews. We are taught that a worship service must include specific rituals: singing, praying, Scripture reading, and preaching. We may have been taught they must be conducted in a specific order. They order of worship becomes routine, rote, and often not fully understood. It becomes more legalistic than faith based. This is not to say ritual in and of itself is bad. In fact, ritual can be very good…if we understand why.
The Apostle Paul tells the church in Rome that the law, meaning the law of Moses, is not what makes someone righteous before God. No, it is faith that makes someone righteous. The same is true of rituals. The Jews have developed rituals as a means of obeying the law. But just like we sometimes see today, the rituals became legalistic and rote. The people did not understand the reason behind the rituals.
Paul states it was Abraham’s faith that made him righteous and it is our faith that makes us righteous. So, if we are performing the rituals out of faith, we are being righteous. However, if we are performing them out of rote behavior, we are no more righteous than if we had not performed them at all.
I pray we all decide to learn more about the rituals we perform. I pray we seek to express our faith through worship. I pray each one of us will seek to strengthen our faith in God. Refuse to be legalistic in worship. Seek to understand the rituals. Express your faith in worship. Be righteous.
Romans 4:13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
Marty Pressey 