Sunday, May 16, 2010, 

Exposing Legalism! Wow! Sounds like exciting stuff!

It was and we had a great time doing it.

Bro Dillow brought a two part lesson on Sunday morning and evening. For the first half, he read through and we discussed all of the seven points listed in the article that we posted on our website earlier this week regarding The Basis forChristian Fellowship. It was such a great discussion and everyone shared what was honestly on their hearts. One sister who has recently gotten saved, confessed that she had been leery of meeting with us because she did not want to get caught up in a legalistic church such  she used to be involved in. She was so happy that we had our discussion this morning.

It seems among holiness people, particularly conservative holiness groups, there is so much legalism. "Do this." "Do this." "You can't do this." "You can't do that." The rules never end. Holiness is beautiful, yet some seem to make it so ugly.

What motivates a legalist? We came up with several motives, including, pride, trickery and control. None of these come from a pure heart of love. Others force uniformity among their members because they wrongly think that having "one mind" and being of "one body" means that we all have to be the same, look the same and think the same. Such is not the case. God likes diversity. His creation witnesses to his creativity.  There is a vast difference between unity and unifority. Unity is beautiful, but uniformity brings about legalism.

Freedom is not the absence of rules and liberty is not to be used as an excuse to be fleshly. God forbid! However, everything is not always black and white. Sometimes there are gray areas and when they exist, a new rule is not the answer.

Bro Dillow gave some very good and practical advise in dealing with gray areas.

1. Does it bring glory to God? -1 Cor 10:31
2. Is it profitable for other Christians and sinners around me? 1 Cor 10:33
3. Will it allow me to maintain a credible witness? - 1 Cor 10:33
4. Will it slow me down spiritually? - Heb 12:1
5. Can I be a good example to others? - Rom 14:13
6. Is it consistent with other Christian's actions? - 1 Cor 11:1
7. Dos it give the appearance of evil? - 1 Thes 5:22
8. It is conforming to the world's system? Rom 12:2
9.  Will it be enslaving? - 1 Cor 6:12
10. Will it spiritually harm others? - 1 Cor 8:13

All of the above are ways in which we can exercise freedom in gray matters without having to institute laws and force legalism upon ourselves. There was so much interaction, that the meeting went on for nearly three hours and hardly no one noticed the time.

As we are growing and interacting with others outside of our circle, we really have come to appreciate the diversity among us. We come out from several difference church groups and see things differently at times, but the love that binds us together is far greater than our backgrounds and viewpoints.

When rules rule the day, you have a real problem on your hands! It is the letter that kills, but it the Spirit that gives life and liberty.