Quote:
Originally Posted by Holy Roller
Most people that toss around the word legalism (i.e. legalist, legalistic, etc.) haven't the slightest idea as to what it means.
Most of the ones that write off a particular church, Christian individual, or beliefs as legalistic, are generally saying that they don't want to live a life as set aside as the one they're writing off. They don't mind going to church, being baptized in Jesus' name, or even speaking in tongues, but that conviction and being set aside stuff just hits them sideways.
They can't jive with that.
How do I draw this conclusion? Well, if you've followed any of my previous posts, you'll remember that I once struggled with such issues on separation, modesty, and things I saw as legalistic because I didn't have a love for what was right in my heart.
You see, when people view Biblical principles as legalistic, that's their first issue. When they don't have the love for what is Truth in their hearts, they naturally feel bound and strive to find someone that tells them "they ain't gotta live like that".
I certainly did that.
But it slapped me in the face one day that I was going the opposite direction that what I know God had told me was right. I was deliberately trying to convince my newly converted holiness mind that what my home church was calling holiness was really legalism, and therefore unnecessary.
Boy, am I thankful the Lord had mercy on me and drew me back in. I can't say every "I" and "T" is dotted and crossed like it's suppose to be, but I can say I don't have any intention on going the opposite direction.
No compromises. No white-washing.
Live it straight.
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I appreciate your sentiments here. For some, it seems the Biblical lifestyle of separation from the world is interpreted as a series of "laws" that must be kept to remain a part of the club. I've seen folks with mean, judgmental attitudes think they were OK as long as they looked ultra-conservative in their dress code. They've missed the point.
You are really onto something when you mention love for the Truth. A truly separated lifestyle is one that is motivated by love for and a desire to please the Lord Jesus Christ who is the personification of Truth. Folks in love with Jesus love His Word and take their lifestyle cues from the Spirit-inspired Bible.
So many people are driven by their feelings. Some make snap judgments concerning the various stands some Christians have taken and don't take the time to carefully and prayerfully examine the "why" of the stands people take.
When hundreds of thousands of Apostolic people agree to take a stand on a certain subject, it seems a manifestation of hubris to not take a close and reasoned look at why they did it. Some folks take stands because of tradition, or to stay in the club, or out of fear of their pastor. Some say, "my church teaches this." To me, all these reasons are just not good enough. If one separates themselves from the world for any other reason than being madly and hopelessly in love with Jesus Christ, they are missing the point.
Jesus said, "Woe unto the world because offenses must come." He was so right...if you haven't had opportunity to be offended yet, it is guaranteed to come. I just hate it when I see folks throw away their relationship with Jesus Christ because they see Christians acting awful. Seems like throwing out the baby with the bathwater to me. For some its impossible to separate the Lord Jesus from Christians who are acting ugly. I guess it's human nature. It's still sad.