THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN UNITY

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Virus 15​

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The Mistake of Majoring in Minors

 

“Majoring in minors”: ‘putting corporate worship, ceremonies, days above individual purity and Christ’.

 

Introduction

This virus makes believers run after group names, worship days, burials, weddings, and ceremonies while neglecting the heart. God gives no “group salvation” (Eze. 18:4, 20). He saves individuals.

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Eze. 18:20 The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.

 

Corporate worship only pleases God if individual worshippers are pure (John 9:31). Jesus watched a widow give (Mark 12:41-44). He sees motives, not crowd size.

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When we major in observing days (Gal. 4:10), burials, bell-ringing for the dead, or “befitting burial”, we commit idolatry. Christ gave us eternal life (Rom. 6:23), not ceremonies.

 

Objectives

By the end of this virus, every believer will:

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(1) Prioritize individual worship. God saves persons, not groups (Eze. 18:20).

 

(2) Reject observing days and months and seasons and years (Gal. 4:10). God is worshipped in spirit and truth daily (John 4:23-24).

 

(3) Reject ceremonial idolatry, which is demon worship.

 

(4) Value purity over show. God rewards heart motives, not crowd size (Mark 12:43-44).

 

Presentation

 

1. Update: Individual Worship Comes First

God does not offer “corporate salvation” (Eze. 18:4,20). “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Each person stands before God alone.

 

No group is pure if individuals are impure. “God heareth not sinners.” (John 9:31)

The purity of individual worshippers matters more than group name or logo. Do not give spiritual credit to “SDA”, “Catholic”, “Pentecostal” or any name. God looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7).

 

In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus sat and watched givers. A poor widow gave two coins. “They all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” (Mark 12:44)

 

He said she gave more than the rich. Why? She gave her all. He sees intention of heart, not the quantity. We share rewards given by God, not leaders.

 

Note also that Acts 16:31 (“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”) is not a magic formula for your family. It is a mission statement for your house. You believe, you preach. God calls each one.

 

2. Update: No “Holy Day” for Worship

Worship in spirit and truth is daily (John 4:23-24), not just on Saturday or Sunday.

 

God has forbidden “Old Covenant” worship with reference to the moon and the sun (New Moons and Sabbaths). The Galatians were being pulled back to Judaism and Paul warned them against this: “Ye observe days, and months, and seasons and years. I am afraid for you…” (Gal. 4:10-11). Paul is speaking of going back to the Old Covenant calendar – Sabbaths, New Moons, Feast Days – as if keeping them makes you right with God. That is bondage, not gospel (Col. 2:16-17).

 

For matters of conscience, not Law, we have liberty. A believer may set a day “unto the Lord” for prayer. Another may regard all days alike. Neither is holier. God judges the heart, not the calendar. “One person esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.” (Rom. 14:5)

 

In summary, Galatians 4 warns against Old Covenant calendar bondage. Romans 14 protects calendar liberty under the New Covenant: You MAY keep a day unto the Lord if you wish.

 

God does not live in the calendar. He lives in believers (1 Cor. 6:19). Keep the temple holy, not the day.

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3. Update: Ceremonies Can Become Idolatry

Barriers: burials, marriages, child thanksgiving, “first Sunday”, foundation laying.

 

1 Cor. 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

 

Just because civil law allows big burial does not mean it is wise.

 

Problem 1: Wasting family money / property to bury the dead. Jesus was buried simply, not in Nazareth, no mummification. Leadership must teach economic wisdom.

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Problem 2: “Befitting burial”, church bell and choir for burying the body of a dead believer must not be seen to be a requirement for eternal life. Scripture does not teach that the dead hear the living (Ecc. 9:5-6; Ps. 115:17). Therefore funeral songs, bells, or choirs must never be done ‘to please the spirit of the dead’ or as a requirement for eternal life. That is idolatry (Deut. 18:11; Isa. 8:19).

 

Mark 9:4-5 shows Moses and Elijah alive with Christ by God’s power, not by human ritual. God’s word to Peter was, “hear Him”, Christ alone. Jesus never promised a “befitting burial”. He promised eternal life (Rom. 6:23).

 

4. Summary

God saves individuals, not groups (Eze. 18:20).

 

Worship God daily in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24), not by Old Covenant calendar days (Gal. 4:10). Observing a day of personal devotion to the Lord is optional (Rom. 14:5-6).

 

Ceremonies are lawful but must be edifying (1 Cor. 10:23). Do not waste resources or worship the dead. Christ gave eternal life, not ceremonies (Rom. 6:23). Major in Christ, not minors.

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Evaluation Questions & Answers

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1. Does God save groups or individuals?

   • Individuals only (Eze. 18:20: “the soul that sinneth, it shall die”). There is no group salvation in Scripture.

2. Is Saturday or Sunday more holy for worship?

   • No day is holier than any other, every day is alike to God (Rom. 14.5). Worship is in spirit and truth daily (John 4:23-24).

3. Why is “befitting burial” with bell-ringing for the dead idolatry?

   • Because it honours / tries to please the spirit of dead persons. Anything dedicated to spirits except the one true God is demon worship. The dead cannot enjoy songs. Glory belongs to God alone.

4. What should Christians do about expensive burials and weddings?

   • “Everything is lawful but not everything is beneficial.” (1 Cor. 10:23)

   • Consider economic status. Avoid waste. Jesus’s simple burial is our pattern. Save resources for the living and for the poor (Matt. 25:40).

5. What did Christ actually give us?

   • Eternal life in Him (Rom. 6:23). Not ceremonies, not befitting burial, not holy days. Christ Himself.

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Prayer

Father, forgive us for majoring in minors while neglecting Christ.

 

Teach us to keep our hearts pure first, because You save individuals.

 

Deliver us from worship by calendar. Help us to worship You in spirit and truth every day.

 

Deliver us from ceremonial idolatry: burials, lavish weddings, bell-ringing for the dead.

 

Let glory be Yours alone.

 

Remind us that Christ gave eternal life, not ceremonies. Make us wise stewards of our resources.

 

In King Jesus’s name, Amen.

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