The Disciples substitute their Judgement for God's.

This just seems to be one of those human conditions that is hard to tame.  I happen to be of the opinion that many in the clergy today are simply modern day Pharisees.  By that I mean that they like to add their own twists that really aren't in Scripture.  It is just their interpretation.

Unfortunately that is an impulse that goes all the way back to the disciples.  Read through this story and I'll explain what I mean.

Acts 15:1-21(NKJV)

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 

Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 

And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 

And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 

So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 

and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 

Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 

And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 

Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 

And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

    ‘After this I will return      And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;     I will rebuild its ruins,     And I will set it up;

    So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,     Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,      Says the Lord who does all these things.’ 

“Known to God from eternity are all His works. 

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 

(So far so good.  But then look where James goes next. )

but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 

For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Here is what I am getting at.  Why is it that James felt that they had to respond by giving them some other do's and don'ts instead of simply following God's example and calling it good if they believed in their heart?  And why did he go back to the Old Testament for his reference point? 

Now let me be clear that I don't think that the things they warned about are bad to warn about but I don't think this was the proper venue to do that.  The questions was simple.  Should we add on other things (in this case circumcision) to the Gentile's requirements for being saved.  I believe that God was pretty clear by giving them the Holy Spirit that they had already done all that God felt they needed to do. 

Unfortunately the Disciples couldn't refrain from substituting their judgement for God's.