Burning Bridges?...Good!
"And He was saying to them all, If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." (Luke 9:23)
Have you ever been told "Don't burn your bridges"?
Not always good advice. There are some bridges that should be burnt to the ground. Traditions of Religious institutions are some of those bridges that we need to burn. Not because people might follow you across them...few will be so bold. Most are bound with an oath to what you left behind. The bridges need to be burnt so that YOU can't get back to what you left behind. You will be tempted to do so...at least I am.
The Greek word translated "cross" in verse 23 above is "stauros" which literally means an upright stake in the ground. When Jesus told his fellow Jews to "Take up your cross and follow me" I think he was saying untie yourselves from the stake in the ground you are bound to...the Jewish Rabbinical traditions of men. Only then you can "know the truth" that will "set you free".
Some bridges need to burnt.
"You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!...if you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Mark 7:9;John 8:31-32)
The word of God will eventually set us all free, but the words of men will make us uselessly bound to the stake driven in the ground by religious tradition...get free from it and run across the bridge... then burn it down.
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36)
Have you ever been told "Don't burn your bridges"?
Not always good advice. There are some bridges that should be burnt to the ground. Traditions of Religious institutions are some of those bridges that we need to burn. Not because people might follow you across them...few will be so bold. Most are bound with an oath to what you left behind. The bridges need to be burnt so that YOU can't get back to what you left behind. You will be tempted to do so...at least I am.
The Greek word translated "cross" in verse 23 above is "stauros" which literally means an upright stake in the ground. When Jesus told his fellow Jews to "Take up your cross and follow me" I think he was saying untie yourselves from the stake in the ground you are bound to...the Jewish Rabbinical traditions of men. Only then you can "know the truth" that will "set you free".
Some bridges need to burnt.
"You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!...if you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Mark 7:9;John 8:31-32)
The word of God will eventually set us all free, but the words of men will make us uselessly bound to the stake driven in the ground by religious tradition...get free from it and run across the bridge... then burn it down.
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36)