Bishop Wills' Life Journal Entry for October 22nd, "Keeping the Main Thing, the Main Thing"

S: Acts 15:9--He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

O: One group called the Judaizers said that salvation in Christ must be built upon the foundation of the Law of Moses. The second group, led by Paul, said that obeying the Law was not necessary at all for salvation. Christ himself was enough. Jesus himself fulfilled the Law and to accept him with your whole heart was all that mattered.

A: As I sit here this morning, I am aware of the customs each church has in our local churches. These customs are important and we should try our best to uphold those customs as long as they are not contrary to Scripture. Even with the customs of each local church, I am convinced that the new life is by faith in Christ. Salvation is not by works but by grace, the free gift of God.

I know in my own life as a pastor, I like certain customs in a local church to be followed. But this morning I am convinced that local church traditions are to be respected. Most local church traditions contain the wisdom of the past and those traditions should be respected by new clergy and new persons who have accepted Christ as their savior.

Sometimes local church traditions are not of wisdom nor of Scripture. If we are not careful they become chains which burden people down and actually keep persons from knowing this new life in Christ. One church I served had a policy against having women ushers. As the pastor I had to be patient and keep teaching the importance of women in the life of the New Testament Church. I kept suggesting for 5 years. Then one day the head usher invited a woman to be an usher with the men. One man quit our church. The other men came to find this woman had the gift of hospitality and everyone loved her. While a bit uncomfortable with the change in tradition, our church became better and soon children and youth were ushers as well. Men only ushers was a tradition which is not supported in the New Testament and this tradition had to be changed. Thus is the patient loving work of the pastor and the Holy Spirit.

P: Lord, change whatever is binding me from following Christ completely in my life. Give me a loving spirit which You will use to help us “keep the main thing, the main thing” (which is new life in Jesus Christ).
Love, Dick

Y: I give up anything which blocks people from knowing Jesus.