₦airaland Forum

When personally challenged with some rules, i went into a personal search and prayer. In as much as i have personal opinions, i will mainly base my answer to this topic based on scriptures that i believed the holyspirit have used to answer my questions:

Acts 15:24-29

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.


Basically, this is the early church. While preaching to gentiles, some Jews were telling them to keep the law, get circumcised etc but it said that "it seemed good to the Holyghost and to us (apostles), to lay upon you no greater burden" than those necessary things listed in the passage.

If anybody wants to personally carry other burdens from the law, they are welcome but the Holyspirit has clearly highlighted in these verses, that there is no such need. For a greater understanding of this, you might want to read the book of Galatians, Romans and Hebrews. To all who want to be bound by the law, remember what Paul said in Galatians, they risk missing Grace. In as much as Christians we have to live holy, rules will never make us holy only God's grace. If by efforts, we could be made holy, then Jesus wouldn't have died. God would have left us to live holy by keeping the LAW.

Our works can only confirm the grace we have received for it is Grace that will teach us to deny ungodliness (Titus 2).

Hi All,


I urgently need some advise on changing church. Sincere, honest, biblical and also from past experiences would be deeply appreciated.

I currently attend a church that preaches holiness but also stresses the need for ladies to do away with trousers, Jewelries and certain hair do and make ups etc. The reason i started attending this church was because i enjoyed their bible studies and in a short while, learnt alot about the Lord that i didn't know. In other words, i like Most of the message being preached. As a christian, i personally love the bible and like holiness messages. However, i don't agree with their beliefs about outward appearance. After several talks and comments by the leaders to me about these, Some of which i found personally offensive, i decided to write a note to them explaining why i don't believe what they are asking me to conform to. I did this with bible references to support my view and sincerely, i am deeply convinced about my stance and to conform to the church standard will be contrary to my conviction.

I also do not think that abstaining from jewelry etc is a sin. But i believe if God is indifferent about it, then it is a personal choice. I don't like the idea of being forced to "swallow" other people's belief or being treated differently because you don't believe what they believe. I have really felt unhappy and have considered leaving the church several times because i don't really feel at home and even the messages they preach sincerely doesn't excite me as it once did. I love thesame truth being preached but i find it more acceptable when someone else preaches it than from my leaders. I have also kept a distance from them and limited my communication as i don't feel at home and truly accepted. This feelings are due to some comments which my pastor has made which i believed expressed their minds. I have avoided church for some days and praying to know what God wants me to do.

At the moment, i feel OK attending church and fellowshiping with the brethren and i have repented of my bitterness towards the leaders. I recently read a sermon by one of my favourite preachers which talked about submission to church leadership as required in the bible. I was deeply convinced that not respecting my church's leadership on issues of dressing is contrary to scripture because that will be "lack of submission to those who rule over you".

Sincerely, i have no problem dressing the way the church requires and submit to leadership but i don't feel like doing it because i believe it can lead to legalism. So, i am thinking of moving to a different church whose leaders don't have this philosophy. I don't like the idea of having to change church again but i feel it's time to go. But i am confused!