LEGALISM IS FOR LOSERS (3 OF 5)
by Joey Rodgers
Scripture: Galatians 3:1-22
This content is part of a series.
Legalism is for Losers (3 of 5)
Series: Truth Bombs
Joey Rogers
Galatians 3:1-22
LEGALISM. Just the word alone causes me to shiver. To be a legalist means you strictly adhere to a list of rules/laws as the means to define your identity and someone else's value. Theologically - it's holding yourself/others to a list of do's/don'ts to determine if we're all worthy of God's favor and our acceptance.
W/ apologies to Jeff Foxworthy, this week I stumbled across a list of - You might be a legalist if...
1 - You've ever hidden anything in your house before the pastor or another Christian came over for a visit.
2 - If you assume people w/ piercing/tattoo need Jesus.
3 - If you judge a family as either James Dobson or Jerry Springer material based on appearances alone.
4 - If you think any translation of the Bible except the KJV is an abomination and not of God.
5 - If someone does something you think is wrong, and your first response is to judge or look down on them.
6 - If you're better at applying a sermon to someone else other than you are to yourself.
7 - If these statements make you angry/uncomfortable.
Have you ever noticed how quickly we can turn from grace to law? In every religion, people are often found defaulting to rule-keeping/religious activity to qualify their faith - and when they don't meet the standard, we tend to start handing out scarlet letters.
Shortly after I trusted Jesus as my Savior, I visited an ultra-fundamentalist church where I'm fairly sure their church slogan was - Don't drink, don't smoke, don't curse or go out w/ girls who do. I'm kidding, yet I do recall a number of rules that had to be kept to be saved or keep your salvation. Rules like the length of your hair/clothes, and whether/not you wore a tie.
Listen - I'm not poking fun or condemning people w/ strong, moral values - right/wrong and good/evil do exist in our world. But, like Paul, we must confront the lie of Jesus plus anything (like keeping rules) ...
Series: Truth Bombs
Joey Rogers
Galatians 3:1-22
LEGALISM. Just the word alone causes me to shiver. To be a legalist means you strictly adhere to a list of rules/laws as the means to define your identity and someone else's value. Theologically - it's holding yourself/others to a list of do's/don'ts to determine if we're all worthy of God's favor and our acceptance.
W/ apologies to Jeff Foxworthy, this week I stumbled across a list of - You might be a legalist if...
1 - You've ever hidden anything in your house before the pastor or another Christian came over for a visit.
2 - If you assume people w/ piercing/tattoo need Jesus.
3 - If you judge a family as either James Dobson or Jerry Springer material based on appearances alone.
4 - If you think any translation of the Bible except the KJV is an abomination and not of God.
5 - If someone does something you think is wrong, and your first response is to judge or look down on them.
6 - If you're better at applying a sermon to someone else other than you are to yourself.
7 - If these statements make you angry/uncomfortable.
Have you ever noticed how quickly we can turn from grace to law? In every religion, people are often found defaulting to rule-keeping/religious activity to qualify their faith - and when they don't meet the standard, we tend to start handing out scarlet letters.
Shortly after I trusted Jesus as my Savior, I visited an ultra-fundamentalist church where I'm fairly sure their church slogan was - Don't drink, don't smoke, don't curse or go out w/ girls who do. I'm kidding, yet I do recall a number of rules that had to be kept to be saved or keep your salvation. Rules like the length of your hair/clothes, and whether/not you wore a tie.
Listen - I'm not poking fun or condemning people w/ strong, moral values - right/wrong and good/evil do exist in our world. But, like Paul, we must confront the lie of Jesus plus anything (like keeping rules) ...
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