Throughout my life I had a deep concern for where I would end up after my life had ran its' course. Many of the troubles we face in life stem from this question. Christians often times find themselves mourning their faith rather than celebrating it. Too often it becomes bogged down with tradition and repitition. From an outsider looking in it is hard for them to contemplate joining such an organization when the rules that bind it seem so strict and condemning.
Whether it is the protestant arguing the necessity of baptism or the catholic emphasizing the eucharist. We find that many self proclaimed Christians have fallen into the same trap that the pharisees had. The "churches" have exalted their traditions above God and his message, and continued in their dark ways by defending these things behind doctrine contrived by man. Now I am not saying that baptism or communion isn't important. Certainly both of these things are. Otherwise the sriptures would not have mentioned them. However one must realize that there is a purpose behind these actions. Not a purpose unto themselves. We have baptism which is given as a physical expression of our willingness to come to Christ and die to sin. We have communion to remember Jesus' sacrifice and what is delivers us from. These things are merely expressions of our heart. Anything less and we are only doing what the Pharisees did and exalting tradition over God.
In Luke 23:42-43 we read: "42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."
It is interesting to note that Jesus did not ask "Did you get baptized in my name?" Or "Did you take communion?" He simply heard a man with a repentant heart ask for forgivness and so he recieved it.
God bless.
