LEGALISM

[Kabowd]

Just when I thought it was safe to let this thread die...legalism is on the rise again! So here's a hearty bump!

[Catsmeow]

{{{hugs}}}Tess, that's just life, Sis. You know that....it's unavoidable. To those who are in bondage to legalism, just pray for them and love 'em.

Tess, you know me. Once I was in that kind of serious bondage. It's a balancing act between licentiousness and legalism. We need to always seek GOD'S heart on matters and follow His lead....not the opinions of others.

Bless you, dear Sister...

[Kabowd]

{{{hugs}}}Tess, that's just life, Sis. You know that....it's unavoidable. To those who are in bondage to legalism, just pray for them and love 'em.

Tess, you know me. Once I was in that kind of serious bondage. It's a balancing act between licentiousness and legalism. We need to always seek GOD'S heart on matters and follow His lead....not the opinions of others.

Bless you, dear Sister...

Yes ma'am, I agree and I understand what you mean. It's just that those who tend to live more freely (even those who've gone too far and crossed over into sin) are not the one's leading others astray, or pushing others to do as they do. It's nearly always those who are clinging to a from of godliness who want to place this yoke on others. That's what is most frustrating to me. I think sometimes we tend to think that legalism is a "lesser" offense, but I happen to believe it is much more wicked than it often appears. For it masquerades as righteousness, and prevents people from receiving the gift of God's grace. If that's not a grave offense, I'm not sure what is.

But I understand what you mean.

[Work in Progress]

It's just that those who tend to live more freely (even those who've gone too far and crossed over into sin) are not the one's leading others astray, or pushing others to do as they do. It's nearly always those who are clinging to a from of godliness who want to place this yoke on others. That's what is most frustrating to me. I think sometimes we tend to think that legalism is a "lesser" offense, but I happen to believe it is much more wicked than it often appears. For it masquerades as righteousness, and prevents people from receiving the gift of God's grace. If that's not a grave offense, I'm not sure what is.

Wow. Well said!

[Smalcald]

I do think we need to keep in mind II Peter though:

2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption, for by whom a person is overcome by him also he is brought under bondage.

Liberty does not mean willful sin, and we know from the New Testament exactly what the willful sins of the flesh are (no mention of tattoo

[Catsmeow]

I do think we need to keep in mind II Peter though:

2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption, for by whom a person is overcome by him also he is brought under bondage.

Liberty does not mean willful sin, and we know from the New Testament exactly what the willful sins of the flesh are (no mention of tattoo's), but it is serious business and Christian congregations and leaders have a duty and obligation to point out how we are to live our lives, and what these sins are specifically.

Is that legalism?

For example one of the most common things I see today is living together prior to marriage, and having sex prior to and outside of marriage. Many people who are Christian do this and have done this, yet it is clearly sin, and often if we don't know that it is even wrong it would be easy to become trapped in this sin. Would it be legalistic to point this sin out, to speak of it?

We are slaves of who we present ourselves slaves to obey. We cannot follow Christ and present our bodies as slaves of sin. But in today's corrupt world it is very easy to do, sin is normalized and accepted by our culture, sometimes even celebrated.

What you're saying sounds very balanced to me. I don't think anyone is endorsing overt sinning. I think it's when folks begin brow-beating folks who listen to Christian Contemporary music, read a NIV bible or attend church on a Saturday vs a Sunday; et al.... Just things that are disputable.

Some are caught up in dietary concerns; some worship on Saturday..some on Sunday...some on Wednesday.

Romans 14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, not passing judgement on disputable matters. One mans' faith allows him to eat everything, while another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. Let him who eats everything not look down on the one who does not. Let him who does not eat everything not condemn the one who does, for God has accepted him.

One man esteems one day above another, while another person esteems every day the same. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. (NIV)

I typed this from memory of the NIV text, so it may be slightly off by a word or two...but that's the gist.

[Smalcald]

Hi Cats,

Yeah, I agree all of those things like music or what particular bible translation or tattoo

[MrSealedEternal]

But can we define legalism, I think we should do that before we argue about it?

As someone who is repeatedly accused of being a legalist, I think that is an excellent question. According to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

Main Entry: le

[Smalcald]

Well you bring up a good point

Is legalism as we I think are defining it wrong, where is it spoken of in the bible as being wrong? I cannot find a direct reference to "legalism" in Holy Scripture. I think we all agree that our works won

[MrSealedEternal]

Well you bring up a good point

Is legalism as we I think are defining it wrong, where is it spoken of in the bible as being wrong? I cannot find a direct reference to "legalism" in Holy Scripture. I think we all agree that our works won

Edited December 17, 2005 by Mr*MrsSealedEternal