Man-Made Rules

[Vince Massi]

HAC hasn't changed on a major fundamentalist error: Man-made rules are both the cause and result of holiness.
"Holiness," separation," and "sanctification" are all the same word in both Hebrew and Greek. "Holiness" refers to separation from sin.
When you get saved, God separates you. But you still need spiritual growth and more separation.
Man-made rules step in, providing non-Scriptural regulations (You can't go to movies, women can't wear pants, etc.) which are not found in God's Word.
As you get more involved with man-made rules, you become more separated, producing even more man-made rules for you to obey.
Is this Scriptural? And does it work in real life?

 

[TidesofTruth]

HAC hasn't changed on a major fundamentalist error: Man-made rules are both the cause and result of holiness.
"Holiness," separation," and "sanctification" are all the same word in both Hebrew and Greek. "Holiness" refers to separation from sin.
When you get saved, God separates you. But you still need spiritual growth and more separation.
Man-made rules step in, providing non-Scriptural regulations (You can't go to movies, women can't wear pants, etc.) which are not found in God's Word.
As you get more involved with man-made rules, you become more separated, producing even more man-made rules for you to obey.
Is this Scriptural? And does it work in real life?

I have found that when the Holy Spirit has convicted someone about something that God is dealing with them about many like to go around and become the Holy Spirit for others making what the Spirit told them a rule for everyone else.

All things are lawful but not all things are expedient.  Casting off the weights is an individual challenge and not a commission to cast others weights off for them.

Unfortunately many na?ve or young believers get caught in other's wakes and never develop a personal holiness that may have them coming to many of the same "convictions" given time, that would have been God induced and not a man-made rule.  Man-made rules are the first things cast off when the man who made them falls.

 

[Walt]

HAC hasn't changed on a major fundamentalist error: Man-made rules are both the cause and result of holiness.
"Holiness," separation," and "sanctification" are all the same word in both Hebrew and Greek. "Holiness" refers to separation from sin.
When you get saved, God separates you. But you still need spiritual growth and more separation.
Man-made rules step in, providing non-Scriptural regulations (You can't go to movies, women can't wear pants, etc.) which are not found in God's Word.
As you get more involved with man-made rules, you become more separated, producing even more man-made rules for you to obey.
Is this Scriptural? And does it work in real life?

A desire for man-made rules may be a sign that there is no indwelling Holy Spirit; no relationship with God; unsaved people who think that they are saved are a product of sloppy evangelism, in which people say the "magic prayer" to get some fire insurance, but have no new birth... yet the evangelist reassures them over and over that they are saved and to never doubt again.

I think leaders who make up rules may be trying to help, and certainly babes in Christ may need some helping in this area -- but the idea should be to get them away from depending on some man's rules, and to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit.

 

[Vince Massi]

Colossians 2:23 is almost impossible to understand in the KJV. I was pretty shaken when I found out what it means.

It explains that man-made rules have an appearance of wisdom, because they make you deny your flesh, but they cannot improve your flesh. In fact , they build pride in the flesh. Here are some understandable translations of Col. 2:23.

Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person's evil desires.

These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

 

[Vince Massi]

Man-made rules are both the cause and result of holiness. How does this doctrine work in real life?
Thundering against rock music, women's pants, movies, etc., gives the impression of a holy preacher (and most of them are). But it then provides a cover for lying, slander, and revenge. For Dave Hyles, it covered for immorality.
Why don't places like Moody Bible Institute have these scandals? One reason is that the students won't tolerate the sins that HAC honored. Because the students don't believe that man-made rules constitute holiness.

 

[prophet]

Colossians 2:23 is almost impossible to understand in the KJV. I was pretty shaken when I found out what it means.

It explains that man-made rules have an appearance of wisdom, because they make you deny your flesh, but they cannot improve your flesh. In fact , they build pride in the flesh. Here are some understandable translations of Col. 2:23.

Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person's evil desires.

These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

earnestly contend