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The Book Warning This Book Will Shock You |
Warning This Book Will Shock You By Roxy J Nolin Chapter Five |
Paul encounters legalism. To the Apostle Paul of the New Testament, this was a familiar sin of his time. I believe it was the thorn in his flesh that caused him so mush suffering. In most of his inspired writings, Paul wrote of its impending destruction and demonic influence. The spirit of legalism was the center of all his persecution and in the end he gave his life trying to teach liberty and freedom to God's church. Jesus encountered legalism. Jesus of course was not exempt from its scorn. His own people murdered Him at the cross because they had mastered the traditions of their forefathers, with all their Laws, rules and regulations. Jesus many times in the heat of religious battle, while speaking the message of a good God had to take head on the legalist. The defenders of the faith. The scribes and Pharisees. He upset the apple cart of their commands, beliefs and ridge rituals. He causes them to have great anger and indignation. Jesus throughout His whole ministry continually exposed and rebuked this legalistic attitude. Bringing down the imposed rules their leaders lay heavy on the conscience of others. Not mush has changed today! Matthew said they lay up heavy loads, hard to bear, and place them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to help bear. Jesus had a different message about God in Matthew, He said come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls. Take My yoke upon and learn of Me, for I am gentle or meek and humble or lowly in heart, and you will find rest, relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quit for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome, it useful, good-not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant, and My burden is light and easy to bare. Remember that Jesus is also God! He gives rest, not burdens. He refreshes us, not pressures us. He is gentle and humble at heart, not a taskmaster. He's comfortable and gracious, not intimidating. This is not what legalism has taught. Some of the traditions and rules taught in Jesus day were so ridiculous, that in our day we would look at them with laughter. Yet if we understood the power and works of legalism, we might be surprised to find that some our own cherished beliefs, rules and traditions are also very laughable. How do we encounter legalism today? We might also be surprised to find that if someone disagreed or questioned our securities, they too may receive our scorn and indignation. For a moment, let us think about some of the things we have been taught. What about the teachings and ways of our parent or peers, the traditions and beliefs of our forefathers? Have some of these strong attitudes and beliefs come into our life as a believer. Remember prideful people do what they want, which is independent of God. Pride, the breading ground for legalism How do we deal with these statements? Even though some of our beliefs have no bible base, do we still swear by them? Are we forever striving for approval from man or God? Do we live in a life of constant works, high standards that never seems to please our consensus? Are we continually frustrated, never satisfied or secure with God or ourselves! Have we lost the joy of life or worst the joy of our salvation! Do we feel guilt about our walk or relationship with h friends, church or God! Are we living a life of strife, constantly at odds, argumentative, critical, easily shunning or looking down at those who do not measure or agree with us! Do we seem to always be in church splits or fights! Do we always have to give our opinion or point of view, in the name of God! Are we passive, yet take abuse easily as suffering for Jesus! Do we feel we are the faithful and loyal ones of God and that we would never do what they do! That if others do not agree with us, they are in error! Do we take pride in separation, for purity sakes! That fellowship with people and churches are based on our interpretation of the bible. Are we touchy and offend easy when people question our beliefs or us Do we like and are motivated by labels, we are charismatic, we are Pentecostal, we are Evangelical, we are Baptist or we are word of faith, etc! That we would never go visit or may even withdraw from a church or person because they are not within the boundaries of Our church denomination or doctrines. Are we the leaders in the church or ministry who feel it is our job to keep rank and file in order or tow the denominational line! Do we feel we are called to inspect the fruits of the saints, maybe a sheriff sent from heaven to keep order in the church? Do we encourage isolation! Do our arguments with others stem on disagreements the bible is silent on, but yet we are convinced we right even though we have no proof! Do we tend to pronounce judgment on those who do wrong or disagree with us? Do we put our trust in the teacher and their doctrine instead of studying for ourselves! Do we tend to follow some man's ministry and hang on to every word they say as gospel, instead of checking it out in the New Covenant Word of God? Do we love to use 2 Corinthians 6:14 to 17, to justify our actions. Do we tend to rationalize and except crass and hard altitudes as, OK, for God sake? Do we feel that we can earn our way to heaven by our good works! Have we made Christianity a burden instead of a joy! Do we feel pride and self-importance in our integrity and obedience! Do we tend to assume or presume a lot about people, ministries and churches? Tend to proselyte people to your beliefs or denomination. Do we not think that trying to keep the Law will keep us out of bondage! Do we believe that our obedience to God's commands leads us to justification! |
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Copyright Roxy J Nolin 2002 |
