RE: [TruthTalk] Legalism

[ShieldsFamily]

=================================================================== Webster has his dictionary, Thorndyke has his, and I have mine.  In my dictionary, legalism has nothing to do with obedience to Christ.  Following His teachings is expected of us as I made clear yesterday.  That is called obedience.  His teachings, almost without exception were to equip the saints, disciples, followers, whatever term you use, to walk in obedience, whether given prior to the cross or subsequent to it.  He came to seek and save the lost and all His instructions educate us as to how to be saved and how to avoid being lost.  Legalism, in my book, is the unending list of rules laid down by men who claim to speak for Christ.  Examples would be that one must wear a suit and tie to "Worship services",  or women must wear dresses and not pants suits.  Other examples would be that only church members may take communion, only the pastor can speak during the sermon, only the pastor can baptize a new convert, that the deacons rule the church, that communion must be from a shared cup, that whites worship in white churches and blacks worship in black churches, that the Sunday school teacher must teach from the approved Sunday school teachers book, and on and on.  You get the idea I am certain.  Big difference between obedience and legalism, but apparently only if you use my dictionary. Terry Exactly, Terry.  Legalism is man-made, hair-splitting, rules upon rules which are not in The Book.  Obedience to God’s commands is the bare minimum expected of us.*  The “Anti-Legalists” in the group like to rant and rave that “legalists” demand that they obey scripture.  The truth is, we only hold it out there as the standard, and we leave it to them whether to obey or not.  When they refuse, that’s their problem.  We are only telling them what we “demand” of ourselves.  But they hate it that we hold up the lantern of truth; exposing their rebellion. That’s why Believers have been persecuted down through the ages; nothing new. Izzy *Luke 17:9"He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?  10"So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'"