by Kevin Maxey
Synopsis: Many affirm, "No rules. Just Jesus." "Religion sets rules. Jesus sets us free." "You don't have to follow the rules to follow Jesus." However, such catchy clichés don't reflect spiritual reality.
"No rules. Just Jesus." "Religion sets rules. Jesus sets free." "You don't have to follow rules to follow Jesus."
A "no rules" spiritual mentality marches relentlessly across the religious landscape in twenty-first century America. Although appealing to some, this "no rules" approach demonstrates the dangerous and deceptive rise of anti-authority attitudes present in numerous churches today. This popular view claims that authority for church doctrine and practice is neither important nor necessary.
Rules are "instructions that tell you what you are allowed to do and what you are not allowed to do" (collinsdictionary.com). Clear sermons on authority are seldom heard in most churches today because "no rules" adherents don't like to be told what they can and cannot do. Paul instructed Timothy to courageously preach a soul-saving "sound" doctrine, not a "no rules" doctrine (2 Tim. 4:1-5). This "no rules" theology is simply an outgrowth of our secular societies' pervasive anti-authority culture. Defiant songs, shirts, and stickers glorify, celebrate, and encourage a stubborn spirit of rebellion.
"Be a rebel. Be free." "Rise. Rebel. Resist." "Question authority." "Why follow the rules when you can rebel?"
A rebel is "a person who does not like rules or authority" (dictionary.cambridge.org). The "no rules" church, by definition, is a rebellious church.
During his opening statement in this January's controversial U.S. Senate Impeachment trial, one of President Donald Trump's defense lawyers, Alan Dershowitz, perceptively explained:
The issue today is not what the criteria of impeachment should be, not what a legislative body or a constitutional body might today decide are the proper criteria for the impeachment of a president, but what the framers of our constitution actually chose and what they expressively and implicitly rejected (Para. 6; Time 04:12).
Former Harvard professor Dershowitz spoke precisely to the heart of this constitutional issue. It doesn't matter what Democrats or Republicans think presidential impeachment criteria should be; it only matters what the U.S. Constitution authorizes it to be. Similarly, when determining the requirements for the work of the Lord's church, the issue is not what we think it should be, but what Jesus authorizes it to be.
Dershowitz went on to define relevant constitutional terms as used by our founding fathers, stating, "I will then examine why the framers selected the words they did as the sole criteria authorizing impeachment" (para. 6). Twenty-first century U.S. lawmakers do not have the liberty to redefine eighteenth-century constitutional terms according to personal preference. Likewise, twenty-first century Christians do not have the freedom to redefine first-century terms according to current popular opinion.
Consider the consequences of a church rejecting the authority of Christ. The statement, "Religion sets rules, Jesus sets free," erroneously insinuates that submitting to authority is negative, burdensome, and oppressive. Such statements falsely promise freedom outside the boundaries of Christ's authority. By any definition, freedom necessarily involves living out one's own free-will choices. Ironically, only one condition exists in which living out one's own free-will choices equates to true freedom. Anything else is Satan's guise of freedom decorating a reality of abasement and slavery (Gen. 3:1-5; John 8:44). If you are living out your free will, but not within the will of God, then you are, in fact, nothing more than a slave to sin (Rom. 6:16, 20). True freedom from sin is not found in a "no rules" theology but comes solely by freely submitting to the authority of Christ: "God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered" (Rom. 6:17; Heb. 5:9).
Consider the consequences of "no rules" theology. In rejecting the authority of Christ, the "no rules" church becomes:
Jesus is "head over all things to the church, which is His body" (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23, 30; Col. 1:18, 24). Jesus, as head, has the sovereign right to direct His body. Severe dysfunction and abnormality exist when a body part no longer acts under the control of the head. Similarly, spiritual dysfunction exists when members of a church body act outside of the direction of her divine head. When churches engage in activities outside the authority of Christ, they sever themselves from Christ (Col. 3:17; 2 John 9).
The Holy Spirit describes the church as a house built upon a foundation of divinely inspired authority. Christians are "members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:5; Matt. 15:13). The church is not the pillar and ground of "no rules," but the pillar and ground of "truth" (1 Tim. 3:15).
The church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:21-27; 2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 21:1-2). To His bride, Christ says, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Further, He explains, "He who does not love Me does not keep My words" (John 14:24). What kind of bride is your church? One who loves Christ? Or one who does not love Christ? Churches who defiantly refuse submission to "rules," by Christ's declaration, do not love Him.
Religious groups who advocate for "no rules" ultimately promote an "anything-goes" mentality. Consider the following rainbow-colored church sign quotes:
"Radically Inclusive: God takes pride in you. So do we!" "Born This Way Baby!" "Jesus had two dads, and he turned out just fine!"
One self-described "inclusive" LGBT+ church website states, "Your sexual orientation or gender identity makes absolutely no difference." Their goal is to provide LGBT+ people "a place where they can learn and not fear being judged or feel ashamed."
Count the benefits enjoyed by a church that submits to the authority of Christ. Consider the blessings that come from abiding within Christ's authority. In submitting to the authority of Christ, the church:
Submitting to the authority of Scripture equips us "for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We do not have to come up with a new plan to reach the lost. We do not have to reinvent the "church" in every generation. We do not have to modify the gospel to address the ever-evolving moral issues of our day. We are not left without instruction. We have been given "all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2 Pet. 1:3).
In a day of excessive denominationalism, how can one know which "church" is right? Under the leadership of Joshua, God's people found success when they submitted to the authority of God. "Observe to do all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (Josh. 1:8). Similarly, God's people today are guaranteed spiritual triumph when they "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Col. 3:17; Matt. 7:21). Churches that submit to authority are wisely building on the stormproof rock that is Christ (Matt. 7:24-27).
The "no rules" church seeks to achieve unity and peace by ignoring sin and error. They cry, "'Peace, peace!' when there is no peace" (Jer. 6:14). They call "evil good, and good evil" (Isa. 5:20). True unity and peace only come when we courageously abandon the opinions of men and humbly cling to the word of God (1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:1-6).
True freedom emerges as individuals decidedly choose to align their will to the will of Christ. Within the will of God, we live out the desires of our heart, while simultaneously living out the desires of God's heart. We desire what He desires. We choose what He chooses. We love what He loves. Uniting to God's decision follows naturally in the lives of those who believe God, and fully surrender to Him (Prov. 3:5-7). "All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you because you obey the voice of your God" (Deut. 28:1f; 10:13).
The religious world is filled with good people spending and being spent in pursuit of supporting the work of "their church." We must do God's work in God's way. Otherwise, all is vanity. "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it" (Ps. 127:1). Why spend our moments, days, and years diligently laboring "for the Lord," but not in alignment with His will—only to have Him say in the end, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matt. 7:21-23)? Instead, we can know our labor is not in vain when we keep His commandments. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58; 1 John 2:3).
"Alan Dershowitz Defense Argument Transcript: Trump Impeachment Trial January 27." Rev. https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/alan-dershowitz-defense-argument-transcript-trump-impeachment-trial-january-27.
Author Bio: Kevin has worked with the Port Royal church of Christ in Spring Hill, TN for twelve years. He and his wife, Jennifer, have five children. The church website is springhillchristians.com. He can be reached at maxeyspringhillchristians@gmail.com.
