“Yeah, but…” — The Sound of Scripture Being Overruled
Whenever you read a scripture that plainly says something, and the first response you hear from another person—perhaps even another Jehovah’s Witness—is, “Yeah, but…,” that should tell you something important.
“Yeah, but” is often a way of acknowledging what the scripture clearly says while immediately attempting to override it with human reasoning, tradition, or organizational rules. In practice, it can place the commands of men above the commands of God. Jesus warned against this when he said:
“You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition (your "Yeah, buts).” — Matthew 15:6
Recently, during a shepherding call with two leading elders from my congregation, I mentioned that Jesus ultimately reduced God’s law to one central command: love. The Greek word used is agape—the same word found at Romans 13:10:
“Love does not work evil to one’s neighbor; therefore love is the law’s fulfillment.” — Romans 13:10
Jesus himself said:
“‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets.” — Matthew 22:37-40
The apostle Paul did not try to control Christians through endless regulations. Instead, he adjusted his own conduct out of consideration for others so as not to stumble them or hinder their faith.
“To the Jews I became as a Jew… To those without law I became as without law… I have become all things to people of all sorts, so that I might by all possible means save some.” — 1 Corinthians 9:20-22
The "Yeah, but" arises
One elder responded by saying, “Yeah, but we have principles that guide us.”
That is true. The Bible contains many principles to guide Christian living. But principles were never meant to become a new legal code. If that had been Jesus’ intention, he would have replaced the Mosaic Law with another detailed system of religious laws.
But he did not.
Instead, Jesus emphasized love—agape love—as the guiding principle for Christians. This kind of love is selfless, principled, and goes beyond legalism, tradition, and man-made boundaries.
Hebrews chapter 1 explains that in former times God spoke through the prophets, but now He has spoken through His Son:
“At the end of these days he has spoken to us by means of a Son.” — Hebrews 1:2
Jesus became God’s final and complete spokesman. There would be no later line of religious lawgivers to supersede him.
After Jesus’ death and resurrection, God exalted him and gave him authority over all creation:
“All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth.” — Matthew 28:18
In the first century, the apostles and elders in Jerusalem did provide a few necessary instructions regarding relations between Jewish and Gentile believers. Yet they did not create an endless system of religious rules.
At the council described in Acts 15, Peter spoke, Paul and Barnabas testified, and James summarized the decision:
“For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you except these necessary things.” — Acts 15:28
The focus remained on faith in Christ and the law of love—not on controlling every detail of a Christian’s conscience.
The reality is that love itself cannot be legislated or enforced through endless human rules. Love fulfills the law because genuine love naturally avoids harming others.
“For the entire Law has been fulfilled in one commandment, namely: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’” — Galatians 5:14
People do not need an organization to teach them how to love. The capacity for love is inherent in human beings because we are made in God’s image.
But institutions often rely on rules to maintain control. So principles become policies, policies become expectations, and expectations become laws imposed on the conscience of others.
Yet the scriptures repeatedly emphasize freedom of conscience among Christians:
“Why do you… subject yourselves to decrees: ‘Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch’?” — Colossians 2:20-21
And:
“For such rules have an appearance of wisdom… but they are of no value in combating the desires of the flesh.” — Colossians 2:23
True Christianity is not centered on endless regulations. It is centered on faith working through love.
“What counts is faith operating through love.” — Galatians 5:6
