Camp Moses and Camp Jesus

Christianity, like so many things in this world, suffers from the disease of “either/or”. You must take a stand either on the side of law or grace, but never both. In support of this dichotomy many quote John 1:17:

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” As a result the Judeo-Christian world is divided in two camps—Camp Moses and Camp Jesus. 

Now watch as the two contenders duel it out.

In this corner we have Camp Moses that is:

• Stuck in the past in the ministry of death and legalism (2 Cor 3:6-8)
• The Jews practicing the religion of their fathers, steeped in rituals and rejecting Christ as the Messiah (Rom 9:30-33; John 5:45-47)
• Modern day law-keeping Christians who hold so tightly to the Ten Commandments and Old Covenant that the grace of God eludes them (2 Cor 3:7-18)
• Treasure the truth of Scripture but negate or marginalize the leading of the Holy Spirit (John 4:24; Gal 5:18).

 
And in this corner we have Camp Jesus that is:

• Otherwise known as the “Jesus Only” Fan Club that elevates the Son above the Father (John 14:28)
• Champion faith alone claiming that all you need to do is believe, forgetting that demons believe and that faith without works is dead (James 2:17-26)
• Selectively reject the fourth commandment (Sabbath), Holy Day observance and dietary laws as Old Covenant, but embrace tithing because it is to their (especially the receiver’s) advantage. But they forget that the law defines sin (1 John 3:4); that an à la carte approach to the law is equivalent to rejecting the whole menu (James 2:9-11)

 
It’s high time we wake up and end the fight and truly dedicate ourselves to becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, the “Prophet like Moses” (Deut 18:15). There is no competition between the two. In Moses we see the letter of the law—the basic standard of righteousness.

In Christ the same law is not nullified but magnified and made more honorable and even more binding (Matthew 5:20). Christ showed the spiritual intent of the law and the embodiment of grace. In Him, we see the ultimate purpose of the law—the perfection of our character through embracing both the law and grace of God, not either one or the other but both. He calls us to worship Him in spirit and truth, not one or the other.

So what does God require of us? Micah 6:8 answers:

  …to do justly [that’s Law],  
       to love mercy [that’s Grace],  
       and to walk humbly with your God” [that’s Relationship].

Photo byTakenByTina