House Church Talk - inclination toward ceremonial

[Brad Cork]

Dan Beaty wrote:

>Brad,
>
>Why do you think that Jesus established the ceremony of water baptism? I
>know of some brothers who emphasize as you do that all we really need to do
>is be "led by the Spirit." These have no use at all for the literal
>observance of this ritual. Don't get me wrong, I agree totally with your
>reference to Galatians 5, but does this truth really negate the value of
>practices such as water baptism?
>
>Perhaps in some minds even water baptism, because it is ceremonial, must
>take our focus further away from God. Certainly it has for some. But OTOH,
>some of us see Him more clearly and even sense His presence in this and
>other NT practices.
>
>That is not to say that I am a ritual-aholic. I just want to acknowledge
>that the Lord Himself has been known to observe customs and traditions. It
>was not because He was "under the law" that He normally attended synogogue
>on the Sabbath, but because "it was His custom." (Luke 4:16).
>
>Dan Beaty
>www.livingtruth.com
>
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Brad Cork" <brad at peoplecare.org.au>
>To: <House Church Talk  at housechurch.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 1:20 AM
>Subject: Re: House Church Talk -  inclination toward ceremonial
>
>
>David Anderson wrote:
>
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>
>>    Greetings from the South
>>
>>John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye
>>also ought to wash one another¹s feet.
>>
>>Was our Lord telling us to do menial tasks for one another or was this
>>the institution of the "ceremony of foot washing?" What in modern
>>society, with it's dirt and mud-free roadways, might be the equivalent of
>>foot-washing?
>>
>>    David Anderson
>>
>>
>>
>>

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>Another thought... Jesus is not as concerned with what we do as he is
>with what we are... We tend to try and create ceremonies and rules to
>show us how we ought to live but these take our focus further away from
>God... when in reality God wants us to walk in the Spirit.. to be
>focussed on him... if we do that we will then automatically fulfil all
>the requirements of the law... I think we have it back the front...
>let's follow Paul's example in Galatians 5:16 and keep in step with the
>spirit for then we will truly know God and by consequence will also
>fulfil the requirements of the law.
>
>Have a great day,
>Brad
>
>"As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God" -
>Romans 8:14
>
>
>

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I don't think that we are as far apart in our ideas as you might 
think... in fact I would add that if we are truly led by the spirit we 
will fulfill traditions and customs that are required as well...for me 
it has to do more with our focus.. do we try and do the deeds in our own 
strength because we have a list of things we think we have to do ... or 
.. . do we walk in the spirit and find ourselves completeing the deeds 
as a result... I prefer the latter  and to me that is the wonderful 
thing about walking in the Spirit.. it just simplifies everything.

Have a great day,
Brad.