Greetings shoshanah,
In regards to your post, if you are referring to Christian's putting themselves under the law of Moses, then those who would do such a thing have wandered away from grace and would be alienated from Christ. There is a great lack of understanding of the salvation that Christ has provided for us. Those boring rituals that you mention above, neither you nor anyone else are able to keep them. The teaching came to Paul via the Holy Spirit, visions and revelations directly from the Lord regarding the issue of grace vs. law and therefore, it is the Lord who has provided this information, which people continue to resist. Regarding circumcision and the law of Moses Paul said the following:
"For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law--I stopped trying to meet all its requirements--so that I might live for God."
Jesus met the righteous requirements of the law perfectly, something that we could and cannot do and by doing so he brought the law to its fulfillment. Now we are saved by trusting in the One who accomplished everything on our behalf and not only that, but the One who paid the penalty for our sins. It is by having faith in what Jesus did that we are saved and not by our own efforts. We cannot take credit for anything, for Jesus alone purchased men for God with his own blood. We are saved by faith apart from the works of the law. Furthermore, anyone who puts themselves under the law is required to keep the entire law and when they fail at even one part of the law, (and they will) they have broken the entire law. Attempting to earn our way into heaven will have the opposite affect, that is, it will keep us out of the kingdom of God.
Anyone who is teaching that the church is to live according to the law of Moses would not be starting a revival, but would be condemning those who adhere to it! Jesus came here to fulfill the law not to perpetuate it. This very claim was made by Pharisees claiming to be believers in Christ who were teaching circumcision and obedience to the law of Moses as necessary for salvation and the following is what transpired.
The Claim:
Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” (Acts 15:6)
The Answer:
After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
When these Pharisees said, circumcision and the law of Moses, they were referring to the entire law, all six hundred plus of them. That Yoke that neither they nor their ancestors were able to bear that Peter speaks about in the verse above is in reference to the law of Moses. Regarding this issue, Paul said the following:
"Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to his seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.
What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.
How was Abraham credited with righteousness, was it after he was circumcised? Was it because he obeyed the law? Was it by clothing and feeding the poor? No! It was because God promised he would give him a son and Abraham believed him. It was taking God at his word regarding that promise that Abraham was credited with righteousness and nothing else. He also told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. Consequently, everyone who has the same faith as Abraham are his spiritual offspring.
"Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law."
"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
The law was ammunition for the powers of darkness against mankind and Christ took away their ammo by fulfilling the law and making payment for sin by the shedding his blood. Now people are rearming the powers of darkness by putting themselves back under the law.
My advise to you is to sit down, take your time reading and comprehending the information contained in the letter to the Galatian's and apply that to yourself. My hope is that you will change your position to one who is saved by grace through faith and not as one by observing the works of the law of Moses.
Putting oneself under the law is an attempt to earn salvation instead of trusting in the One who provided it for us.
