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Radical Christian Living  /  How Obedience Can Become Pharisaism  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 10
Bercot says traditions can “negate God’s commandments” in effect, and he gives the Great Commission and urban evangelism as an example: standards may preserve holiness but also create barriers that keep seekers out and make city ministry nearly impossible; in what specific ways could your church’s traditions be undermining mission, and what costly adjustments would be required to obey Christ without abandoning holiness?
Another way to ask: Bercot says traditions can end up blocking obedience to Jesus, like making evangelism in cities very hard. How might your church’s traditions be getting in the way of the mission, and what hard changes would it take to follow Christ without giving up holiness?

Direct Answer According to Bercot, traditions can undermine mission by creating a culture and set of barriers that make it hard for “non-plain people” and city dwellers to enter, effectively weakening the church’s responsibility to ensure the gospel is preached broadly, including in major cities.

Support from Transcript:

  • He says Pharisaic traditions can “negate God’s commandments” in effect, even if individual standards seem harmless.
  • He applies this to the Great Commission: the church is entrusted with preaching “in all the world…to all the nations.”
  • He observes that “a lot of plain people totally ignore this commission” (though he notes exceptions where he fellowships: “missions…prison ministries”).
  • He claims extra rules create a “barrier that makes it very hard for non-plain people to come in,” and makes it “extremely hard reaching…cities.”
  • He contrasts with the NT pattern: apostles went first to “large cities” (Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome); early Christianity was “primarily an urban phenomena.”
  • He notes high attrition: “at least 80%…of the seekers…usually aren’t able to make it.”
Discussion Follow-ups What parts of your church culture function like “entry requirements” for seekers, and how could holiness be pursued in ways that don’t block obedience to mission?

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