This is adapted from a lesson I presented that asked, “Can Christians sacrifice animals and have it not be a sin?” That’s Old Testament googily-moogily nonsense, so it seemed fun!

But can you be in fellowship with people who offer animal sacrifices to God? Offering an animal sacrifice is a sin, right? Often our own traditions can become "Law" to us, and anything foreign to our traditions, especially "in the church/worship service," is anathema.

We are examining the apostolic examples in the New Testament to identify “our traditions” versus “the Faith.” The objective is not to overturn our traditions (note Paul’s example), but rather to see what the purpose of faith is—that is, God’s work for us. To expand our horizons, please consider something Paul did which might surprise you. Instead of telling you what to think (at first) or explaining what I think, I’d instead like to simply ask you to answer these questions to yourself:

 

 

Some Questions

1. Did Paul, on his missionary journeys, take a vow? (Acts 18:18) Yes / No

2. Did Paul meet with James and the elders in Jerusalem, who mentioned that there were thousands of Jews who believed in Christ who were still zealous for the Law? (Acts 21:17-20) Yes / No

3. Had those Jews heard that Paul was speaking against the Law? (Acts 21:21) Yes / No

4. Is it true that James and the elders wanted to reassure these Jews that the rumor they heard was not true, and not only that, but that Paul himself walked according to the Law? (Acts 21:24) Yes / No

5. Is it true that, according to the Law, the expenses at the conclusion of a vow included the burnt offering of a 1-yr old male lamb, the sacrifice of a year-old ewe lamb, a ram, a basket of bread, flour cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers mixed with oil, a meal offering, drink offerings, and a portion of his shaved hair as a burned offering (Num 6:13-end of chapter [ff]). Yes / No

6. Did Paul wait 7 days until the offering could be made for each one of them? (Acts 21:26-27) Yes / No

7. Was Paul was inspired apostle? Yes / No

8. Was it sinful for Paul to keep something from the Old Covenant writings in the New Covenant times? Yes / No

9. I am often too depressed to put an injured animal or coworker out of its misery. Yes / No

Now, take a look at some other notes: Luke recorded Luke and Acts, and in Acts he mentions Paul’s observance of Jewish custom, which some Jews were claiming that Paul failed to do, and thus causing a ruckus.

• Luke tells us of Paul’s adventure in Philippi, which for a man who supposedly paid no attention to the law, is really strange. There was no synagogue in Philippi, so Paul went to the river “where we supposed there was a place of prayer,” this was a “Sabbath day” (16:13). The very next chapter Luke records that Paul went to the synagogue on the Sabbath “as was his custom.” (17:2)

• While others in Paul’s party went ahead, Paul stays behind in Macedonia (probably at Lydia’s who is a Jewess; we know she is a resident from chapter 16) with “us”…that is his Jewish companions for the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Acts 20:5-6). “They [the named Gentiles in v4] went ahead and were waiting for US in Troas, but WE sailed from Philippi AFTER THE DAYS of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we joined them.”

• After the “days of Unleavened Bread,” Paul declares his wish to be back in Jerusalem “on the day of Pentecost” (20:16). Given Luke’s stress so far, this desire is because Paul wants to bow down in reverence (worship)! In fact, when he defends himself in 24:11-17, he states point blank that he wanted to come to Jerusalem “to worship” and to “offer sacrifices.”

 

 

Some Answers

 

1.) Paul had taken a vow (Acts 18:18), and according to the law, upon completion of that vow, he was required to offer animal sacrifices (Num 6:13ff). WAIT WHAT!? Can't do that, right? One of the reasons he came to Jerusalem was to "present offerings" (Acts 24:17).

2.) Paul met with James and the elders in Jerusalem (Acts 21:17-18.), who mentioned that thousands of newly-believing Jews (now Christians) were still zealous for the Law (v20). These Jews had heard rumors that Paul was telling Jews outside of Judah to stop keeping the Law (v21). James and the elders wanted to reassure these people that, not only was it not true,but that Paul himself still walked according to the Law. (v24)

3.) In order to accomplish this, Paul had to purify himself, along with four others who had taken a vow, and pay their expenses to shave their heads at the conclusion of their vows (Acts 21:24).

4.) According to the law, the expenses at the conclusion of a vow included the burnt offering of a 1-yr old male lamb, the sacrifice of a year-old ewe lamb, a ram, a basket of bread, flour cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers mixed with oil, a meal offering, drink offerings, and a portion of his shaved hair as a burned offering (Num 6:13ff).

5.) Paul waited seven days until the offering could be made for each one of them (Acts 21:26-27).

 

In my opinion... (Laugh all you want—I look forward to your hate mail!)

 

 

Paul knew that the Law was not evil nor sin. The error in offering sacrifices and doing those rituals comes if one seeks to be JUSTIFIED by them, which he was not. What does this tell us about God and Christianity? Does it allow you to more easily be united with other believers who maybe do some things different?

The point of what Paul was doing was to prove (Acts 21:21-24):

1) He was not telling the non-Judean Jews to stop keeping the law of Moses,

2) that he himself walked according to the law.

 

With the above considered, ask yourself these questions.

So how secure are you in the faith—as opposed to our traditions? The following questions are to help you take what is perhaps an accurate look at yourself.

Personal Question 1: What makes you uncomfortable fellowshipping in another congregation?

PQ 2: What makes you unwilling to fellowship in another congregation? (What do you require to have unity with a believer? Can you name specifics?)

PQ 3: How can you help those who fellowship in congregations that make you uncomfortable?

PQ 4: Do you agree with calling Bible things by Bible names?

PQ 5: Personal question: God says to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Why does He use three different words? Why doesn’t He just say to sing songs?

PQ 6: The Restoration Movement started out with the slogan, “Christians only, but not the only Christians.” What does that mean to you? Is it true?

PQ 7: Does the New Testament ever mention a “worship service?” Why do many people who show up for the “worship service,” yet few show up for “Bible class?”

PQ 8: Scenario: You start studying the Bible with someone. They google “Church of Christ.” There is a lot of nasty stuff they find, which gives them a bad impression. They ask you some hard questions, but they’re prepared—if they point out that some of what you consider “law” is actually just “tradition,” how does it affect your study and relationship?

PQ 9: Is anything not specifically authorized condemned? Yes / No

PQ 10: Is anything not specifically prohibited, or prohibited by a broader Biblical principle, allowed? Yes / No

PQ 11: Does God play “hide the commandment?” Does He want to nail people on a “Simon didn’t say” technicality?

 

 

A lot of acrimony in Restoration Movement heritage stems from musical instruments. Consider these questions.

Lesson Question 1: What elements comprise the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace? (Eph 4:1-6)

LQ 2: The first time the word “sing” is used in the Bible, does it include musical instruments? (Exo 15:20-21) Yes / No “Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. Miriam answered them,

“Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted;

The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.”

LQ 3: Does making melody with all of your being prohibit instruments? (Psa 108:1-3) Yes / No

“My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul. Awake, harp and lyre; I will awaken the dawn!

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations.”

LQ 4: Which do you think is more accurate: The Regulative Principle, or the Normative Principle? (. The "Regulative Principle" where anything not specifically authorized is condemned, and the "Normative Principle," where anything not specifically prohibited, or prohibited by a broader Biblical principle, is allowed.)

LQ 5: Does Ephesians 5 mention a “worship service?” Does anywhere in the NT mention a “worship service?” Yes / No

LQ 6: Does the instruction to sing forbid musical instruments? (Psa 71:22) Yes / No

“I will also praise You with a harp, Even Your truth, O my God;

To You I will sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.”

LQ 7: What is a psalm?

                       What is a hymn?

                                      What is a spiritual song/ode?

LQ 8: Is Psalm 150 sinful today? Yes / No (Hint: Consider what Paul did in Jerusalem.)

LQ 9: Did early “Christian” writers understand psalms to include instruments? Yes / No

LQ 10: Did early Christians determine some of their practices in order to not seem like those around them? Yes / No