"Aggravating all of these areas (of legalism) is a class of people who have come to be known as “controllers.” These are people who are not willing to let you live your life before God as you believe He is leading you. They have all the issues buttoned down and have cast-iron opinions about all of them. These people only know black and white. There are no gray areas to them. They insist you live your Christian life according to their rules and their opinions. If you insist on being free to live as God wants you to live, they will try to intimidate you and manipulate you one way or another. Their primary weapons are “guilt trips,” rejection, or gossip. These people must be resisted. We must not allow them to subvert the freedom we have in Christ."
Jerry Bridges Transforming Grace p. 130-131.
I believe those who must be resisted at all costs are those who insist on "following" any other way to God but THE only way God has given us to serve and follow Him. This is false dichotomy put forward by Mr. Bridges made to make those who hold to God's truth as being bound to legalism. These people, like Bridges, know nothing of real Transformation as found in Romans 12:2.
ReplyDeleteHi Brother Mike,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment.
I don't read it like that. I believe Bridges is stating exactly what you are stating. I certainly could be wrong.
I believe Bridges is speaking of people who, for example, believe that a Christian is forbidden from drinking alcohol or can not listen to a secular band, watch movies, etc.
All these things, including gifts we enjoy by non-regenerate folks are all gifts from God that must be used/enjoyed within the set boundaries by God.
At the same time, all these gifts can be abused and can all be a sin, too.
I just think Bridges is referring to those who out and out say certain things are sins when in fact they in and of themselves are not sins(although they can be sinful outside of His boundaries).
I believe we need to continually point each other to Christ, and then instruct people how to live for God's glory within the boundaries He has set. When people treasure Christ above all things, and find their joy in Him alone; drinking beverages, eating foods, sleeping, working, money, cars, TV, video games, computers, internet, etc. will be used for God's glory; the way God intended those things to be used by all people,
Blessings,
Josh
Hi Josh, well, I think we are talking about the same thing, but on two different planes. The New Calvinist view misses the point of this. I reject. Here is one of my counter punches. http://mikeratliff.wordpress.com/2010/07/29/be-imitators-of-god/
ReplyDeleteIn Christ
Mike Ratliff