Quote:
Originally Posted by Charnock
StillStanding, no, they don't.
In a previous post I mentioned the standards "shell game."
Legalism's heart is insidious. It dresses everything up really pretty on the outside, while its inside is filled with a deadly cancer.
That's how an Apostolic lady can have long, uncut hair, always wear dresses, never wear make-up or jewelry and still be full of bitterness, hate and gossip. We measure her appearance and think she's "holy," but God sees things differently.
It's how a preacher can rage at compromisers and emergents as he preaches at conferences but at the same time be carrying on with prostitutes at the same conference. He dresses the part and says all of the right Apostolic catch phrases, but he has missed the essence of Christianity.
He compartmentalizes. He feels justified because he's living up to Apostolic measurements. But he has failed to live up to God's standard.
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Essentially, you've described the Pharisees and Saducees... there is no new thing under the sun... just different packaging, that's all. The same hypocrites that Jesus condemned in his day, would fall into the same condemnation were Jesus to visit most churches today, and to boot, they'd be trying to kill him again today too... especially if he brought their sins to light in front of whole congregations of people, just like he did to the Pharisees.