Christian (7) – Loopholes
- Jun
- 22
- Posted by crolcc.org
- Posted in Sermon
We all try to get around rules, to find and exploit wiggle room. Whether at work, home, or in our spiritual lives, we’re always looking for a loophole. Christians love loopholes. Some Catholics use the confessional to do whatever they want on Saturday night and then trap God in his promise of forgiveness come Sunday morning. For many Protestants, their version of the confessional is 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Super-liberal Christians create loopholes by picking and choosing what they believe Jesus said or the apostle Paul wrote. If anything in the Bible gets in the way of what they want, they just ignore it.
Loopholes like the confessional, reading Bible passages out of context, or ignoring challenging passages of Scripture allow us to keep the letter of the law while ignoring its spirit. Loophole Christians ask, “How close can I get to sin without actually sinning?” But Jesus didn’t mean for his followers to crack a system. He meant for them to trust God and love one another. He basically said, Forget all the commands. I want to talk about the commander. He urged his followers to obey God from their hearts rather than taking advantage of loopholes.
Moving Forward
Following Jesus means having no loopholes. His command to love is too simple, too direct to be ignored, avoid, or taken out of context.
Discussion Questions
1. Are you a nitpicker of rules or a rule-breaker? How did that play out in your childhood?
2. Which parts of the Bible are you most tempted to ignore? Why?
3. We’re all guilty in one way or another of looking for religious loopholes. How have you caught yourself using God’s words to avoid doing his will?
4. It’s human nature to apply rules to other people more than we do to ourselves. How does Jesus’ command for us to love one another challenge that tendency?
5. Is there someone you’re currently judging for the rules he or she breaks? How can you do a better job of loving that person?