What “Rules” Do We Live By?

Did the pastor say it? Priest? Blogger? Whose rules do you live by any way? God? Human? Both?

“The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.’” Isaiah 29:13 (NIV)

Reflection

Some Christians don’t spend much time in the Old Testament. Some pastors even suggest that in the beginning, there was no Bible as we know it today—that those writings weren’t meant to be compiled into a single book. But from my point of view, thank You, God, for making sure we have it now.

Isaiah is considered a major prophet, and if you read the Book of Isaiah, you might see why. Prophets were God’s messengers, speaking truth to the world. In this verse, God points out something important: people may speak His name, but their hearts are far from Him. They follow human traditions instead of truly seeking Him.

It’s no wonder Jesus came to disrupt this way of thinking back in the day. But what about now? Have we moved beyond human rules, or are we still following them?

Let’s dig into this—as best as we humans can.

Faith, Tradition, and Routine

It’s not always easy to separate genuine faith from religious routine. Some of us struggle with organized religion. Others feel disconnected from “Big Box Churches.” But why is that?

For me, I am deeply grateful for my faith journey. I was baptized, received Holy Communion, was confirmed, and got married in the Catholic Church. When I pay attention to the structure of the Mass, I see its beauty. But, like anything repeated over time, it can become routine. The same happens in megachurches—the format may be different, but repetition can still make worship feel predictable.

And when it comes to organized Christianity, every denomination has its own set of rules. I sometimes think of them as Christian Clubs—each with a clear membership process, each confident that they’ve got it right. If you agree with their doctrine, you’re in.

But why do we follow these traditions? Is it because that’s how we were raised? Because it provides social connections?

Seeking the Truth for Yourself

Maybe, like me, you get “feeds” from various sources—books, pastors, authors, podcasts. Maybe you even share their insights with others. But at the end of the day, these are still human perspectives.

That includes this blog post! I don’t have everything figured out either. But one thing I do know: the Bible—the same one some say didn’t exist in the beginning—is here now, and it’s our guide.

If we are Christians, we should spend time in it. We should pay attention to what stirs something inside us when we read. We should seek input from others, reflect on those insights, and, most importantly, spend time in prayer—talking to God through the Holy Spirit.

Why? Because Jesus did that. And if He did, we should too.

Where Do Your Rules Come From?

At the end of the day, the rules that guide your faith should come from God, not just human traditions. The Bible gives us insight, and the Spirit within us helps us understand what is true. Others can offer wisdom, but your faith must ultimately be between you and God—not dictated by a pastor, priest, spouse, or church structure.

And one more thing: never believe you’ve “arrived.” Stay hungry for more of God. None of us will be complete until the day He calls us home. Until then, we should always seek to deepen our relationship with Him, growing from the experiences and wisdom we gain along the way.

Just don’t appeal to human authority. Appeal to the one Authority—God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Isaiah and the wisdom You provide through him. Thank You for giving us the Bible, a guide to navigate this life You have given us. Please keep our hearts open, our minds engaged, and our hunger for You ever-growing. May we never settle, never become complacent, but always seek You more. Please protect our families, our friends, and our faith. In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.