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Monday January 7, 2008 ~ 10 Comments
Yesterday, I focused on "communion" with God in my message. I will link the audio soon. I taught on how Jesus was the Great High Priest. The outline is below. During my message, I briefly mentioned legalism and recommended Grace Awakening by Chuck Swindoll. The book was on my mind becuase I recently read an interview with Howard Hendricks and Chuck Swindoll where Swindoll defined the legalism problem as: ...when we get into areas that are not set forth in Scripture, either in precept or even in principle. These may be such things as length of hair, tattoos and other body piercings, skirts or pants for women, makeup or no makeup. Those are not scriptural issues. Sometimes these issues are cultural, and you do have to address them when you are in that particular culture. But I think legalism begins when you do or refrain from doing what I want you to do or not do because it's on my list and it's something that I am uncomfortable with. Then, he gives his blunt advice: The problem with legalists is that not enough people have confronted them and told them to get lost. Those are strong words, but I don't mess with legalism anymore. I'm 72 years old; what have I got to lose? Seriously, I used to kowtow to legalists, but they're dangerous. They are grace-killers. They'll drive off every new Christian you bring to church. They are enemies of the faith. Other than that, I don't have any opinion! Download the interview here. Here is the message outline: New Years Revolutions Hebrews 4:14-16 1. He is the Right High Priest... "14 Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens--Jesus the Son of God--let us hold fast to the confession.�? 2. Because of Who He Was... "15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.�? 1 John 3:5 (HCSB) You know that He was revealed so that He might take away sins, and there is no sin in Him.
"16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.�? We Are Commanded to Connect. How? a. Right Understanding "Therefore let us approach the throne of grace...�? Posted on January 7, 2008 at 8:39 AM ~ 10 Comments 10 CommentsLeave a comment |
  
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I can't exactly remember where/when I heard this but I think it's a good metaphor and distinction:
The problem with the "easy believism, cheap grace" crowd is that they don't understand the severity of their sin. In other words, it's hard to appreciate someone paying your bill for you if the bill wasn't all that much to begin with.
On the other hand...
The problem with the Ned Flanders-type "legalists" is that they don't understand the extent and efficacy of Christ's redemptive work to forgive all our sins - past, present and future. In other words, they keep trying to pay a debt that has already been paid. And unfortunately, they look at every other believer as a person who needs to keep working in order to pay their own bill as well.
I'm just glad that Jesus came in both grace and truth.
Food for thought...
Great stuff Ed. Legalism about killed me.
amen! legalism and liberalism are equally devilish...(I wonder how many faithful church goers understand and truly belive that)...both are grasping at the throat of evangelicalism in general and the SBC specifically.
Great message yesterday. I'm glad you are part of our church, Ed. I was convinced once again of God's calling you to our church. I've been at this church 27 years, and I've never seen a colored undershirt, behind an open color. Maybe that's a superficial observation, but does it not say a lot? You are waking the demons.
Ed - there's an important distinction to make here. Legalism, by definition, is making salvation conditioned fully or partially on one's standing before the law (whether biblical law or man-made law makes no difference) [see Galatians].
To admonish someone that something may not be appropriate Christian behavior or may be hindering one's growth in grace (whether music, mini-skirts, tobacco, or whatever) is not a legalistic attitude as long as we are not telling the person that it is a salvation issue.
American Christians like everything to be black/white. It's either OK or it's sin. That's why we preach abstinence regarding alcohol when scripture teaches moderation. However, in the real world there are a lot of gray areas that Christian's need to make decisions about daily.
For example, I enjoy many genres of popular music, but when a song comes on that glorifies sexual impurity, or has a clearly anti-Christian message, I am compelled to change the station. My salvation may not depend upon it, but as one who is seeking to become like Christ it is still an important choice even though the Bible doesn't directly address it.
Doug,
People do have different definitions of legalism (Swindoll and you, for example), but whatever you call the attitude Swindoll, it is a church (and soul) killer.
I wonder if Chuck Swindoll would call Al Mohler a legalist?
Legalists don't know, or respect, the moral law. If they did, they wouldn't add to it, or distort it by extrapolating it out too far. That was what was so peculiar and twisted about the Pharisees. Everyone thinks of them as the Law Guys, but Christ criticized them for their actual ignorance of the Scriptures and substitution of Biblical commandments with made-up traditions.
Ed,
I know it's been nearly a year and this post is probably dead. I just want to respond to your comment for posterity's sake, I guess.
Actually, I agree with Swindoll's analysis as given in your post 100%. I was raised in a legalistic church and left the church in my late teens, rejected Christianity, got involved in drugs, alcohol and criminal behavior. I've been down this road.
But since coming back to Christ in my late 20s, I've seen the other extreme as well. I've been in communities that give everything a stamp of approval because they are afraid of being "legalistic."
I guess my point was that I agree that legalism is dangerous to the church, but so is "permissivism." The admonition that each man should "work out his own salvation with fear and trembling" seems to fall somewhere in the middle.
BTW.. I enjoyed your seminar. Keep up the good work.
I want to remain Anonymous. I attend Assemblies of God church, All I see is... all AG People think is TITHES TITHES TITHES. I have VERY HEAVY DEBT, and I had been to Crown Financial Ministries. They suggested if I have LOT OF DEBTS, I can give tithes with smaller than 10% and utilize talents I have.
Ironically, I found a link that AG and CFM are partners and AG recognize CFM. Huh?
To have everyone from AG people tell me how important is to TITHE, that made me feel corner-walled. Please look at 2 Corinthians 9:7 "You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully".
See? This is BIBLICAL to NOT GIVE Tithes Reluctantly because I have heavy debts.
Because I want to remain anonymous, the link is unfortunately not working. But I tell you this...
TITHES ARE MARRIAGE KILLER because my wife had been arguing with me all times about paying tithes. I had heard from AG AG AG Pastor that say "It is important to obey God with Tithes, one couple fought over the tithes and end up divorced, that is sad. That is why so important to obey God with Tithes."
To me, this is LEGALISM! Sorry for saying so.
Anyway, I own three books by Ed Stetzer including "Comeback Churches" and "Lost and Found". Keep the good work, Ed!
Hurting Soul for Jesus Christ, I Love Jesus, I Hate AG Churches for emphasizing Tithes too much.