“Rules are made to be broken.” Bet you’ve heard that one. Probably just before the speaker breaks a rule. Funny thing about rules. Most people seem to want them. It replaces thinking. Just follow the rules, and you’ll be in good shape with the authorities.
When it comes to religion, this gets tricky. Which rules (laws) come from God, and which are made by people. In legal circles, there are laws, which are the result of legislation by a governing authority, regulations, which have the legal weight of law promulgated by governmental regulatory agencies, and then there is the body of judicial decisions. You’ll find this to varying degrees in about every culture.
When God was using Moses to bring the Hebrew descendants of Abraham out of Egypt and return them to Palestine, some laws were required to regulate their behavior and organize them as a civil and religious society. The Ten Commandments were promulgated. But these simple rules had to be explained. So, for the next 1,500 years–in fact continuing even to today–people (mostly men) developed rule upon rule to explain how to obey the Ten Commandments.
Some people wanted the easy way out, “Just give us a list.” These are the “rule followers.” We know them today. The good kids who sit at the front of the class in school and try to please the teacher by both obeying all the rules and by pointing out those who break them. (Obviously, I’m not one of those!)
The rule followers are now subservient to those who make and interpret the rules. But those who make rules can make new rules to benefit themselves. Mark tells of Jesus in the story of his followers eating without washing their hands rebutting the rule makers/interpreters of the day (called Pharisees). Jesus calls them hypocrites because they point out this somewhat minor offense, but they themselves have developed rules that let them get around the Commandment to honor their parents.
That’s the problem with rules. Once you start down that path, those in charge of the rules inevitably through human nature begin to make rules to benefit themselves and make it harder on others. Rules become the game. The original intent of the first rules is long forgotten. That intent is how to live a life pleasing to God.
The hard work is living in the Spirit. You’ll want to do the things God wants without worrying about rules if you live “With God.” You won’t live in fear of the rules and rule masters. Your attention is on God. Jesus tried to point out to all people to put their attention on God, listen to God and to do what God asks. It’s a personal thing. You can’t make rules to force others to do it. Life doesn’t work that way. It’s entirely personal–between you and God.
Faith Venture 
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