Abstain

. . . but we should write to them to abstain only from . . .  

 - From Acts 15

The Gospel of Christ was Good News. There is a lot of it that's Good: Happiness now; freedom regardless of our circumstances; healing; wisdom; protection and sustenance; a direct link to the Father; Eternal Life. 

But He even provided something for the worldly-minded. This whole idea of The Law, a set of rules and routines that you must do, with regularity, in order to maintain your right standing with God; these were burdensome, and in the end, impossible to follow faithfully, or enough to merit eternal favor in God's eyes. 

(That's why we had the law. Because it is in human nature to want a "king." To have someone to take care of us; feed us; protect us; create economic opportunities for us; keep us safe. And we have a preference for rules. Just tell me what to do, and I will do it. Give me lots of activities. Keep me busy. Give me rituals. At least that way my mind is temporarily divorced from my horrible anxieties).

But rituals do not save us, not eternally. We want real happiness, real freedom, and real eternal life - - - and life, abundantly. That's the Gospel. 

So the restrictions and the parameters of The Law were cut way back. Some day The Law was completely obliterated so that we would not have to do any of it. All we had to do was trust Christ.

But James, the Lord's brother, reminded us that there were still some practices from which we should abstain. There are certain human acts which are so selfish and carnal in nature, that they do, in fact, get in the way of growth in Christ, and of making pure hearts for ourselves. James quoted the prophets, in listing these things to avoid. 

Now, it's not a ritual that must be practiced. It isn't a regular, weekly fast from something that normally is good for us. James says we should not do these things. Because they are selfish, and are not in line with Christ's purity. 

And the reader is left to dig the list out, at his or her leisure.