Worship of Rule Alone
The scriptures are full of examples of how the worship of a rule, for sake of the rule, but not the Spirit of the Lord, will lead to false doctrines and eventual spiritual death. In fact, it has been shown by the gospel, that the idea that by simply following the rules or laws, alone, without seeking the Spirit of the Lord, by acting in faith, can lead a person to spiritual death. In this article, I will explain this nemesis called "Worship of the Rule, but not the Spirit ".
Spirit first and foremost, Rule alone is nothing
23 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.
24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
The principle that Jesus was teaching in the above passages is found in this next scripture.
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
The life of his word is the spirit of his word (John 6:63). The application of rule (letter) or law alone, without true spiritual understanding, has no true spiritual life and is as good as dead. Such an application has no life and no salvation qualities. This is what the Lord means by righteousness alone is not enough; meaning the rule or law alone is not enough for men to truly gain exaltation. Yea, even the wicked will become immortal, and they do not follow the spirit or the Law of God. So how much more do you gain if the Spirit of Christ is not within you, yet you follow only the law, exercising no faith?
How can we gain the renewing? – by way of faith. When a person or people act only in accordance to the rule, having no act of faith in it, this opens the door to strife and contention, all because of the letter of the law. So much pain, grief and needless suffering is caused and how much the heart of Christ is lost with people who worship only the rule or letter of the law. Have ye forgotten how the Pharisee's are the spiritual equivalent to "death"? How they followed the law ever so precisely, having no focus of faith, that they became blind to life itself, even to Jesus Christ? Is it not true that the Pharisee's took the Mosaic Law, which was given by God to Moses, and worshipped it, even at the expense of Jesus Christ, being their only salvation, failing to see that the purpose to the Mosaic law was to prepare the faith of people for the first coming of Jesus Christ?
The words of Christ are thus, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63)". With the application of "life" versus rule (or the letter), how can this same scripture be understood in terms of "life principles" that Jesus was teaching? Please read the following application of his "life" principles.
The words I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life
This application is in the spirit of God's word. It says that rule, or law alone gives nothing, and has no eternal life of its own. The spiritual or spirit, is what gives life. This is what 2 Corinthians 3:6 is all about when it says that spirit is life. IT is the spirit that gives life unto the rule, not the other way around (Alma 36:4 / DC 29:35)
By the Spirit, not the Law Alone
For a person who exercises choice, and even judgment based solely on the letter of the law, without understanding the law in a spiritual way denies glory unto God. To follow only the letter of God's gospel and rule, is saying that God is the God of the dead, to which he is not (Matthew 22:32).
God is not God of life. What he gives as principles and laws are to lead us to eternal life, not to death or emptiness. Is this not what Jesus said in his words, (paraphrased) "The words I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life"? To understand this is not by the idea of "importance", but of application, scope, and affect. To show an example of the "life" of God's Law, let us look at,
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
This scripture says, that God's law is holy, righteous and good, that in order for sin to be recognized, it must produce a death within us, which is a good thing, so by and through God's law, that sin might become truly sin to us. If it was not this way, we would not know the difference between good and evil in this respect. Therefore, Romans 7:12-13 depicts how God teaches us about sin, through the "inward" experience of death, by bringing this experience to us in his way, where the "Law" (commandments) would lead us to face that sin. This is what repentance is about. To purge sin from within us and teach us. This is a deeper meaning and purpose to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, showing that we must "die" (experience a symbolic death), in order to gain resurrection from sin. For all things born of the flesh must die as the flesh, and Christ was not resurrected, then exalted until he died.
The part of Romans 7:12-13, where "sin be recognized as sin", also means that things may appear as sin, outwardly. This seems to explain the "evil" God creates as said in Isaiah 45:7. In other words, God teaches about sin "his way, that which is a holy and a good way". When God teaches us his way, in his process, he is changing our carnal minds to a spiritual mind. (Romans 8:6) God's way of teaching is not by our way of thinking, but by his ( Isaiah 55:8 - 9) which tells us that each and every one of us cannot use the rule of Law, or the letter of the law to discern the workings of God. How much more important is it now, that we truly require the Holy Spirit, to guide us and to teach us how to spiritually discern God's ways. How deep his truth is and how superficial our line of thinking takes, saying that we are never to judge by outward appearances.
Now, consider this for a time and pray about it. A man who seeks the counsel of the Lord, who is drawn through many afflictions because of the word and learns many of God's truths through them. When God brings this man to face a sin, because this man is obedient to the counsel of the Lord, that because of the weakness of the flesh, inherent in all men, that this man may stumble. Yet, so long as this man gets up, and continues to repent (seeking change) and willing to continue in enduring; has this man truly been evil? – or was he merely subjugated by the flesh and carnal mind? Remember, that this man has to bear much inner stress, burdens and persecution for the Lord, showing great diligence and faith to continue "working out his salvation" with the Lord.
By the strict interpretation of the law, the black and white application, others can condemn this man as having been evil, but in truth, and in line with Romans 7:12-13, he is doing exactly what he is expected of by the Lord, even with his weaknesses and imperfections. Saying that this man has suffered his personal weakness and any weakness inherit to the flesh and carnal mind. Godly sorrow ( 2 Cor 7:10 ) is just this, to suffer affliction righteously, and God does not expect perfection, but he expects faith and enduring.
Would you want someone to hit you with the Law in such a black and white application that gives condemnation instead of the Lord's wisdom? My goodness no, for what value is God's process of repentance if that man is knocked down because of his imperfections, yet his heart and mind is true and faithful? What value is such a judgment under God to address this man without such wisdom? Only Satan would encourage a black and white application of God's laws, one that would satisfy human judgement and perception, denying God's wisdom and truth.
Is this not the true meaning of "Man judges by outward appearances, the Lord judges the heart!"
Accountability
This also speaks about accountability, where we must realize our responsibilities to the Lord and his will. Never to think or allow ourselves to assume we can act without responsibility to God. Instead we are to satisfy the Lord's will in spirit and in truth, and not to run ourselves primarily by the rule, but run ourselves by the Spirit, which is by faith (Romans 8:1)
To see and realize that our will is wholly insufficient to deal with everything in life, whether or not it appears as a black and white situation. This speaks of humbleness. We are to see that God's wisdom is to try all of us, including the prophet. To see how well we seek counsel of him (the Lord) for the general membership, or to deepen and strengthen faith (DC 132:53) and our single focus to him (Matthew 6:22 / DC 82:19 / DC 88:67) as he did with Prophet Joseph Smith. It does depend on how much we care about his wisdom and true righteousness, which is spiritual, or how much we care only for his law which is temporal.
Mistakes we will make, but the grievous ones, are the mistakes we make then deny them as mistakes in the self-righteousness claim of rule (3 Nephi 6:15). Such a person sends himself toward emptiness and spiritual forms of death.
Faith versus Rule Only
In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Abinadi had to face false doctrine as followed by the ruler King Noah, where Noah set the "law" set against Abinadi, a true prophet who sought the counsel of the Lord through the Holy Spirit. King Noah denied him because of the "rule", meaning because of the law. When King Noah placed the law as foremost, he failed to hear the spirit of the words (true faith) spoken from Abinadi. Is that not what they did to Jesus Christ as well? In this next excerpt, it is explained what Abinadi had said to King Noah.
(underline is by me)
What the author was referring to, and to what I am pointing out here in this article; is the spirit of the word requires our hearts and minds to be applied to its understanding and application. Else we cannot gain wisdom, thereby exercising rule or law unjustly, which may satisfy our personal beliefs and desires, but acts contrary to the will of the Lord. This applies to all areas of life. So, Abinadi says this very thing to King Noah,
Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?
What do ye teach this people? Abinadi spoke of the example set by those who teach or lead. Showing that to follow only the law is truly blind and unwise, saying and showing that the law of God is never without the heart (his grace and wisdom). The application of the law without the heart of understanding removes two important purposes of the law. Which is to lead and to teach.
Why would someone who loves Jesus Christ, teach and lead others to spiritual death by ignoring the heart, which is spiritual, for the sake of the law?
Salvation that is gained by the atonement for the debt of sins through Jesus Christ, is the one most divine examples of heart, that being the act of mercy and grace of God. The laws of God gave power to Jesus Christ to achieve this act of atonement, but the use or application of this law was with eternal grace, else the power of the atonement would be worthless for us. If the law was so important and above all, then why not let us fall to a sure death in the abyss of eternal darkness to satisfy the law? What I say does not denounce the laws and rules of God, but what I have said speaks of the importance of the Spirit of God, and spirit of the law, the faith, all that is suppose to be within us. Without our hearts humbled and our own minds tuned to the Spirit, any rule we attach to or use, will not suffice our salvation and could very well turn against us (Galatians 6:7 / Romans 2:1).
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, of the Quorum of 12 Apostles said these words about the "rule of law" and our salvation.
If the rule of law, by itself, cannot gain salvation in the eyes and mind of the Lord, then how much less is it valued when a person worships the rule in absence of faith? God forbid. The scriptures are wrought with examples of how men who forsook the Spirit of God, seeking not his counsel in matters of life or matters of responsibilities, neither matters of judgment, that they instead lend themselves to "self-willed" apostate behaviour, applying rule unjustly and unrighteously to satisfy personal whim or plan. Is this not one of he meanings of "unrighteous dominion"? (DC 121: 37).
Imagine a father of a family, who applies the rule without wisdom and understanding, doing the rule for the rule sake. What occurs to the hearts and minds of children who only feel the smack of the "ruler" about them for each infraction of the rule. Knowing no direction but penalty. The "don't do this because that is the rule", knowing no different than the pain of that rule and not understanding if it was truly wrong or not. In this, apostasy seeps in because to follow the rule without including the foremost focus of heart and mind to the Lord, allowing personal vanity and self-pride, personal issues in life to take the lead, or imposing pet peeves, all and more that will subtlety twist the rules and laws given by God to satisfy personal forms and ideas of justice. What better way for Satan to bred contempt in people subjugated to such unrighteous applications.
Heaven withdraws in Unrighteous Rule
Such grieves the Spirit of the Lord and the hosts of heavens withdraw (DC 121: 37). For who can say that they have perfect knowledge and wisdom? Who knows and applies the Law of God righteously all the time? Some say they do not, but the fruits of their actions says otherwise. In all, these people fail to see that things in life are not what they appear to be. Making outward judgments of spiritual things or matters (1 Samuel 16:7 / 2 Corinthians 4:16 / 2 Corinthians 10:7), is unrighteous judgment, because it has none of the Lord's Spirit and will within it, neither his wisdom and truth, thereby bringing God's Law into disrepute.
WE have seen this too often in the world, how this manifestation of vanity and selfish application of God's law has lead to self-righteous people on personal crusades to right the wrongs, equating themselves to being a saviour to a gender or for others, and so on. The analogies and symbolism's are there, revealing the natures of human personal and mortal will which uses the law to glorify personal beliefs (2 Corinthians 10:11,12, 17, 18 / Ezekiel 13:3 / 2 Nephi 26:20).
Whoa unto those who take pride (even boast) into their own beliefs, wisdom and desires, above the counsels of the Lord, setting to naught the counsels of the Lord. (Alma 26: 11 / DC 3:13) Have people not seen that the Law of God is not unto them, but unto God because it glorifies him and not us. Some may say, "I follow the law exactly and exercise it precisely, and by doing so, I glorify the Lord". Well, Jesus Christ spoke on this matter in the parable of the "unjust judge".
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Jesus spoke this parable to show that we cannot take the law into our own hands. The law is not unto us to do as we will, or insert our own ideas of judgment, justice and recompense. The law was made for man, so he may learn righteousness, and lead him out of sin. We do not assign ourselves as judge over other Christians. Only God assigns a judge over the covenant people and this assignment is not one by favour, but by a person's spiritual abilities which have been prepared by God himself as was Jesus CHrist prepared before he walked his ministry. Personal will does not take the lead, personal will is to follow the will of God. Never place personal beliefs, which operate on personal-will as above the will of the Lord. That is the clear example of Jesus Christ in John 5:30.
Jesus Christ, who is stands above all, showed humbleness and truth in maintaining a true spiritual focus unto the Father's will. How important this example is to all of us who are at varying levels of trust and authority within God's church.
As I say this, remember, that it is important that we edify each other in the truth of God (DC 43:8) and in this spirit and purpose I speak here.
Highest Form of Worship
The above scriptures at the beginning of this article show the contrast between the rule of law as unto the Pharisee's, and the spirit of the law, as unto Jesus Christ. The rule of law as operated by the Pharisee's served their own will to things, not God's will, their views, not God's. The actions and demonstrations by Jesus Christ were not unto himself, being in flesh bone and blood, but unto the Father in truth and in spirit (John 4:23-24 / Alma 34:38). That is counted as the highest form of worship, to be in line with the first commandment given by Jesus Christ (Matthew 22:37). His will was second to the Father, showing us a method and example of exercising God's laws.
Look at the scriptures. God tells us that we are not to follow our own personal wisdom (Proverbs 23:24 / 2 Nephi 26:20), but to seek him and his understanding (Proverbs 3:5). to learn his will, knowledge and wisdom so we can apply it rightly. Then we can exercise his Law in spirit and in truth, in a manner that worships the Lord and maintains our focus as him first, which is a faithful way to choose and act. What more joy will that bring to you in the Day of Judgment!
Gift of Discernment
As a final note to unrighteous rule (rule alone), I speak about the gift of discernment. To effect the Law of God rightly, one requires this gift. The Bible dictionary states,
When people gain this power of spiritual discernment from God, that person must exercise it "inwardly", which is by faith and by faith is with the Spirit of the Lord (Psalms 51:6 / Romans 7:22). for all things by right faith, the Spirit of God is present. Outward methods applications or comparisons of rule cannot exercise the Gift of Spiritual Discernment. This power is not only obedience to the Lord, it is by faith. Such requires humbleness to the Lord, in prayer and diligence of heart and mind seeking his counsel in things in life and in your duties or callings. Then, by his teachings, preparations and cleansing through the Holy Spirit, he teaches you the application of his laws with understanding and wisdom.
Amen
Mark Warbinek
- Robert J. Matthews, "Abinadi: Prophet and Martyr", Ensign, Apr. 1992, 25-26
- Dallin H. Oaks, "What Think Ye of Christ?" , Ensign, Nov. 1988, 65
