Follow The Rules. Or Not?

The question I have often ask others, and myself, is:  Does being ‘good’, following all the rules, following all the set traditions , rituals and practices of the church (institutional church) save us?

Does following all the rules, and doing good, mean we are pleasing God?

Does that really mean we are doing our faith “right?”

These are not new wonders for me.  Those who have listened to me preach, or in Bible Study discussions, have heard me offer these same wonders over the years.  

And one day, about two weeks age I was reading one of my favorite authors most recent books titles, The Haunt of Grace.  Toward the end of the book he writes:

“So here’s the mysterious part, the grace part of it.  God the ultimate “good,” does not always abide by the rules either.  That’s what Jesus’ birth and life, crucifixion and resurrection are about.  They are revelations of God acting, engaging to break the rules of lesser goods, as well as of corruption and death.  By his engagement with people, Jesus did miracles that went against the “rules” of madness, sickness, storms, and religious powers.  Don’t you suppose that’s why he was so upset with the hypocrisy of people who limited goodness to the keeping of rules, maintaining their image of innocence while their spirits atrophied?   Risk of engagement is based on grace, not on innocence. 

Rules are a good thing as far as they go, but they do not exhaust the possibilities for either goodness or evil.”  (p.148)

As I read those words I wanted to shout, to whoever would listen ‘SEE I TOLD YOU SO.’

Thank you Ted Loder for confirming what I have have been professing for so many years.  You said it so much more clearly then I ever could.

Thats all I have to say today.

I’d like to hear what you think.