Legalism is about as stupid as one can get. Using it as witnessing tool is dumber. Not to mention unscriptural.
Legalism is a conscientious rejection of the cross. If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Legalism is another Jesus. There is therefore now no condemnation who are in Christ Jesus.
When we embrace legalism, we embrace the work of the flesh over the work of the Spirit. God does not look on the outward appearance. Jesus said "let not your judgment be by appearance, but let it be righteous".
Legalism is a conscientious rejection of the cross. If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Legalism is another Jesus. There is therefore now no condemnation who are in Christ Jesus.
Staysharp, you are taking many verses out of context.
1) the law is the law of Moses, Paul is talking about the Law of Moses.
2) there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ WHO WALK AFTER THE SPIRIT AND NOT AFTER THE FLESH. There is a stipulation to this verse about "NO CONDEMNATION"
I'm not disagreeing with your assertion that "Legalism is another Jesus" but with your use, or I should say, misuse of scripture to back up what you are saying.
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When we embrace legalism, we embrace the work of the flesh over the work of the Spirit. God does not look on the outward appearance.
You're also misapplying the "outward appearance" verse from 1 Samuel. There was nothing mentioned about legalism when God was talking to Samuel about David.
We are to dress modestly, there is no doubt about that. Even people in the Bible recognized a whore when they saw one by the outward appearance.
Quote:
Jesus said "let not your judgment be by appearance, but let it be righteous".
Finally, you quoted a verse which actually might apply to the point you are trying to make.
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His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
Anyone who brings up "standards" as a witnessing tool is dumb, stupid, ignorant. south bound end of a mule and an idiot. Witnessing is telling people about the love of Jesus and how their lives can be changed.
Can you explain yourself here? I am not sure I am following you! LOL
You know, I love to witness.... And I also live the "standards" life... When I witness to people, I tell of God's goodness. I tell them of hope and joy and peace that I find in God! Am I ashamed of the standards that I adhere to? Of course not. But those are not witnessing tools.... I have found that people do not want to here how bad they are... Their lives are in turmoil and the last thing they want to here is more things that are wrong in their lives...
Example..... I witnessed to my neighbor for years. She saw how I dressed and knew alot of what I believed because she knew others who went to my church.... We became very good friends and every now and then she would tell me that she just couldn't believe that I went to the same church as the other family she knew. She said she would never go to my church. After a while of being an example of a Christian, she brought her son to chapel during school a few times... I still remember the day she and her son were in the altar and they praying their hearts out! Not once did I tell her to change her way of dressing or to stop cutting her hair...(even though I believe it).. She knew what all we didn't do......so I told her of the goodness of God and that is what stirred her heart!
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I never met a chocolate I didn't like!
*sigh* I did nothing yesterday.... I wasn't finished so I did nothing again today!
Those who believe standards are salvational, and that not following them is a sin, should say so. After all, shouldn't people know what they're supposed to repent of?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Yeah, I think if someone is going to witness to a lost soul, or minister to a backslidden one, the LAST thing that should be mentioned are standards. Because standards ARE NOT A SALVATIONAL ISSUE.
When someone goes fishing we are just concerned about catching the fish. After the fish are caught, THEN they are cleaned up cleaned out, seasoned, garnished, put in the fire of refinement and made into dishes that others can dine on...their lives!
I said before and will say again...most folks know what we are about. What our church believes. and so on.
What they DONT know is who Jesus is. They DONT have a revelation of Jesus Christ. They DONT know how to be born again. They DONT know that Jesus Loves them!
Oh, there are so many riches in His Word. There are so many mysteries and revelations that need to be manifested.
Why in Hephaistos would someone bring up standards to someone who isn't saved is beyond me!
Now its another story if they bring up questions. Then let God lead you in the answers.
But it is certainly UNWISE to bring up standards to an unbeliever.
He that winnethe souls is WISE!
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Going up in the Spirit Realm....
Those who believe standards are salvational, and that not following them is a sin, should say so. After all, shouldn't people know what they're supposed to repent of?
Ever heard that song,
Jesus on the inside
Working on the outside
Oh, what a change in my life!
Jesus on the inside
Working on the outside
Oh, what a change in my life!
Jesus on the inside
Working on the outside
Oh, what a change in my life!
Oh, what a change in my life!
If someone who goes to a church that teaches or believes that standards are salvational should WAIT to teach that to a new believer. I think that anything that is salvational, whether it is repentance, or being baptized in Jesus name or being filled with the Holy Ghost, or living a holy life....
All aspects or steps to salvation are just that...steps. No one who lives in a two story house stands at the bottom of the stairs and look upstairs, jump and KAZAM! you are at upstairs! NO!
You take one step at a time. IT is a process getting upstairs.
Salvation is not an instantaneous thing. No. It is a process. A process of obedience, consecration, sacrifice, enduring until you leave here.
We can adhere to Acts 2:38, adhere to all the standards, live a holy life...yet be walking in disobedience in some area of our lives....and miss heaven....
So if this can be so with a mature believer, tell me. How is it fair that we impose and beat over a new babe in Christ standards? If you wear this you gonna go to hell?
No, that is not wise.
I think God is much more pleased with someone who does all these things from their HEARTS instead of out of religious obligation.
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Going up in the Spirit Realm....
Anyone who brings up "standards" as a witnessing tool is dumb, stupid, ignorant. south bound end of a mule and an idiot. Witnessing is telling people about the love of Jesus and how their lives can be changed.
Can you explain yourself here? I am not sure I am following you! LOL
You know, I love to witness.... And I also live the "standards" life... When I witness to people, I tell of God's goodness. I tell them of hope and joy and peace that I find in God! Am I ashamed of the standards that I adhere to? Of course not. But those are not witnessing tools.... I have found that people do not want to here how bad they are... Their lives are in turmoil and the last thing they want to here is more things that are wrong in their lives...
Example..... I witnessed to my neighbor for years. She saw how I dressed and knew alot of what I believed because she knew others who went to my church.... We became very good friends and every now and then she would tell me that she just couldn't believe that I went to the same church as the other family she knew. She said she would never go to my church. After a while of being a Christian, she brought her son to chapel during school a few times... I still remember the day she and her son were in the altar and they praying their hearts out! Not once did I tell her to change her way of dressing or to stop cutting her hair...(even though I believe it).. She knew what all we didn't do......so I told her of the goodness of God and that is what stirred her heart!
I am not gonna name names, but I happen to know LC (she revealed her identity to me recently), and I can vouch for what she is saying. She is very much a standard keeper, and has managed to be a standard keeper without letting this rotten holier than thou attitude get ahold of her in the process. (which is a major accomplishment considering where I know her from) You could not ask for a nicer, sweeter, sold out the whole route sister if you tried.
It's sad that she even knows about standards to begin with. Personally I think things that are meant for regular saints should be taught on a special church only night. Like a wed night bible study and that the saints should understand this is not a soul winning service.
My husband and I were talking about standards tonight and we were saying that since they are such a big deal in most if not all UPC churches, why don't they preach it along with Acts 2:38 and the oneness.? If it IS a heaven or hell issue, like they make it out to be, we should be shouting it from the roof tops, and yet you never specifically hear them say skirts or pants are necessary. In fact, they never even preach on it, at least in my experiences anyway. Doesn't make a lot of sense. I hope all of this will make sense to me someday, cause it really doesn't right now at all....
I am not gonna name names, but I happen to know LC (she revealed her identity to me recently), and I can vouch for what she is saying. She is very much a standard keeper, and has managed to be a standard keeper without letting this rotten holier than thou attitude get ahold of her in the process. (which is a major accomplishment considering where I know her from) You could not ask for a nicer, sweeter, sold out the whole route sister if you tried.
thank you............. how sweet!
Now how much was that I owed you for saying that??? LOL!!!
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I never met a chocolate I didn't like!
*sigh* I did nothing yesterday.... I wasn't finished so I did nothing again today!
My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. 
thank you............. how sweet!
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