While reading the account of the fall in Genesis, I found myself asking a question I had never asked before. God’s command to Adam was simple and unmistakable: “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (Genesis 2:16–17, NLT). Yet when Eve repeated that command to the serpent, she said, “You must not eat it or even touch it.” Immediately I asked myself, Where did the words “or even touch it” come from? God never recorded those words. Scripture does not tell us where they originated, but it does tell us they were part of Eve’s understanding when Satan approached her. Since there were only two people in the garden, it seems reasonable that Eve received her understanding through Adam. Whether Adam added those words or Eve misunderstood the instruction, we simply do not know. What we do know is that God’s original command had been expanded before Satan ever began his temptation.
I do not believe those additional words came from evil intentions. If they came from Adam, perhaps he believed another layer of protection would keep Eve farther away from danger. That is often how we think. Parents do it with their children. Churches do it with their congregations. Pastors do it with those they shepherd. We build fences around God’s commands because we believe more rules will produce more holiness. The intent is good, but good intentions do not give us the authority to add to God’s Word. In fact, every time we do, we create another opportunity for confusion. Satan did not have to change God’s command. He simply questioned a version that had already been expanded. That observation caused me to wonder if we are making the same mistake in many churches today.
As I reflected on that passage, my own life immediately came to mind. I grew up in a conservative Baptist church surrounded by people who genuinely loved God and sincerely wanted to protect me. They wanted to keep young people away from the dangers of sin and the pain that follows poor choices. Looking back, I appreciate their concern because I know their motives were honorable. Yet somewhere along the way, the Christian life became defined more by rules than by a relationship with Jesus Christ. I heard far more about what Christians should not do than about the grace that changes a person’s heart. Instead of drawing me closer to Christ, those rules gradually pushed me farther away.
The tragedy is that I do not believe anyone intended for that to happen. They believed more rules would create stronger Christians. Instead, the rules became the focus while Jesus slowly faded into the background. Before long, I could no longer distinguish between what God had commanded and what sincere people believed Christians should do. The Christian life became an endless list of “you must” and “you must not.” You must dress this way. You must not go there. You must not do this. You must always do that. Some of those things may have been wise advice, but they were often presented with the same authority as Scripture. That is a dangerous place for any church to be.
Years later I came to understand something that changed my entire view of Christianity. God’s plan has never been to transform hearts through man-made rules. His plan has always been grace. The Law reveals my sin, but grace reveals my Savior. Rules may restrain behavior for a time, but they cannot create a new heart. Only Jesus Christ can do that. Obedience is not produced by adding more regulations. It is produced by falling in love with the One who first loved us and gave His life for us.
That is exactly why Jesus spoke so strongly to the religious leaders of His day. In Mark 7 He rebuked them by saying, “You ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Their problem was not that they wanted people to live holy lives. Their problem was that they had elevated human traditions to the level of divine authority. In trying to protect God’s Law, they had actually buried it beneath layers of man-made requirements. Religion became more about keeping traditions than knowing God. They kept adding “you must” where God had never spoken.
My own journey back to Christ did not begin with another sermon about rules. It began with one verse that completely broke my heart. Romans 2:4 says, “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that God’s kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” Those words changed my life. For years I had viewed God through the lens of rules and performance. I believed He was waiting for me to fail. Instead, I discovered a Father whose kindness was patiently calling me home. It was not fear that led me to repentance. It was not another list of expectations. It was the grace of God. His grace accomplished what years of rules never could. It changed my heart.
Since that day I have learned to listen carefully whenever I hear the words, “You must.” Jesus has every authority to say those words because He is Lord. When God’s Word says, “You must,” my response should always be obedience. But when men say, “You must,” I have learned to ask a simple question: Where does God say that? If it is clearly taught in Scripture, I want to obey it wholeheartedly. If it is only a human tradition, a personal conviction, or a denominational preference, it should never be placed on the same level as God’s Word. Advice can be helpful, but it should never be confused with divine authority.
Looking back over my life, I have become convinced that one of Satan’s most effective strategies has not changed since the Garden of Eden. He does not always attack by persuading people to reject God’s Word. Sometimes he simply allows well-meaning people to add to it. Over time, those additions become traditions, traditions become expectations, and expectations eventually sound like the voice of God.
Revelation closes with a warning not to add to or take away from God’s Word. That warning should cause every believer, every pastor, every teacher, and every church to examine carefully what we teach in the name of God. The church does not need more human rules. It needs faithful teaching of God’s Word and a deeper understanding of God’s grace. Grace does not lower God’s standard. Grace changes the heart so that obedience becomes the joyful response of someone who has experienced the kindness, mercy, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. I know that is true because grace brought me back to Him, and it is still the only thing that truly changes a life.