Re: [TruthTalk] Legalism

[Caroline Wong]

How terribly ironic, Terry. Although I came to Christ in university, I have always been a good girl. I was born into a culture that is very successful in teaching it's youngsters, especially it's young women, obedience and submission. I've always did well in school, respected and feared authority. I do not have any addiction issues (no drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, sex, etc. etc.) and am a virgin. I do not have any relationship issues as I'm very close to my family. I go to church regularly and I know my bible. I confess and forgive. I've been through inner healing sessions (ex. Bondage Breaker) by myself with the Lord or with prayer ministers. I am not prone to anger or depression or mood swings. I don't even get PMS. I can do the "obedience thingy" with one hand tied behind my back, while chewing gum and in my sleep.   So I'm your older brother. (as in the prodigal son story)   Yet, I know my Father's love and grace. And I know obedience is complex. As your "older brother", I welcome you home and I urge you to come into a fuller knowledge of God's grace. It is good to help us clean up after the party because you know you belong. It isn't that good if you're doing it because you feel you have to help "pay" for the party and for your past behaviour somehow.   Love,   Caroline, who like Paul was a Pharisee among the Pharisees. :-)           ----- Original Message ----- From: Terry Clifton To: TruthTalk@mail.innglory.org Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2005 8:58 PM Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Legalism Caroline Wong wrote: Hi Terry;   I'm in complete agreement with you. Obedience is important. But I feel compelled to tell you 2 stories and this is the first one.   It is from Donald Miller in Blue Like Jazz. His pastor, Rick, became a Christian when he was nineteen and began to "choose purity over sin, and for a while he did well, but soon he found that he wanted to party with his friends, or he wanted to have sex with his girlfriend, and from time to time he would fail at his moral efforts. Rick tells me that those were the most depressing moments of his life, because he felt that he was failing the God who had saved him.   "My pastor was anguished by an inability to control his desires. He felt that he had been given this new life, this key to heaven and yet couldn't obey Jesus in return. So one evening he got on his knees and told God he was sorry. He told God how much he wished he could be good and obedient. He then sat on the edge of his bed and swallowed enough muscle relaxants and sleeping pills to kill three people. He lay down in a fetal position and waited to die."   Now Terry, believe me when I say Donald Miller, his pastor Rick and I all agree that obedience is an aspect of being Christian.   Anyway, Miller continues the story. "Rick tells me that as he lay there in his bed waiting to die, he heard God say to him, "Your life is not your own, but you have been bought with a price," and at this point he felt a certain peace. Rick told me he understood, cognitively as well as emotionally, that his role in his relationship with God was to humbly receive God's unconditional love."   "My pastor, of course, is still alive, a miracle he cannot explain. Before he could save himself, he drifted into sleep, but he woke the next morning with ample energy, as if he had never swallowed the pills at all." ========================================================   This man should have been depressed. " Those who are in Christ have crucified the flesh with it's passions."  That sentence comes right after "The fruit of the Spirit is self control". Gal.5:23.  No self control, no crucified passions, he has good reason to wonder if he is in Christ.  That would make anyone depressed who wanted to be a Christian.  Does he continue in his passions or does he now use self control? Suicide, by the way, is not an act of repentance.  It is just one more sin on top of the others.  God was very merciful.  Others have not come out as well.  Tell your pastor to read Psalm 51:16-17 the next time he feels this way.  It will tell him how to please God.