Err on the side of caution?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by deadeye

I don't disagree with most of this....in fact it has been a pet peeve of mine too..Pastors who make arbitrary rules without any basis for them.
But they aren't based on principles. You mention M&M's...it would seem silly to make a rule for a kid not to eat them...but what if he has Juvenile Diabetes?....is it so silly then. The duty of the Pastor (watchman) is to warn of things that can harm...and sometimes lay down rules that will deter folks from getting into trouble.
But I agree rules for the sake of rules are simply legalism.
But we sometimes criticize a pastor for a rule he may have set without knowing the context of that rule.
As Elder Terry said (I believe it was him)..."don't remove a fence until you know why it was put there."

I'm concerned with the making of rules that deter folks from getting into trouble. Why not just preach against "sin"? For example, couple teenagers might get naughty in the back seat of a car on lover's lane. Do you make a rule against "cars", "sitting in the back seat", or certain places where people "park"? Or do you preach against sexual sin?

The whole issue of "making rules" seems a bit power hungry to me. If preaching the Word of God isn't enough, no rule will save the people.