Theological Word of the Day

[mizpeh]

Hasidim (Ancient)
Posted: 17 Feb 2009 02:01 PM PST
(Heb. “pious”)
An ancient sect of Judaism that flourished during the time of the Hasmonean revolt (140-147 BC). From post-captivity sect probably came the Sadducees, Pharisees, and Essenes. These Jews sought to preserve the classic Jewish religion in the midst of the supposed compromise during the ensuing Hellenization of the Jews (Jews who were integrating into Greek culture). Eventually, the Sadducees began to integrate with the Roman culture while the Pharisees and Essenes sought to preserve classic Judaism in their own respective fashion.

http://wordoftheday.reclaimingthemind.org/blogs/

I get a "Theological Word of the Day" everyday in my email thanks to Reclaiming the Mind Ministries. This one made me think on the NT church and standards. We can see how the Sadducees went wrong by integrating with the Roman culture since God gave Moses a law with rules for dress, what foods to eat and not eat, how to wear a beard, etc. God was very specific. And the Saducees were disobeying the law of God.

But with the NT church, God has not given us such laws. We are told that the majority of the law of Moses contained in ordinances was nailed to the cross with Christ. We aren't following a bunch of laws but we are following the principles of holiness...a separation unto God from the world and sin. We can live within a culture and be relevant to the culture but not be offensive to the culture we live in UNLESS it involves sin.