"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, 1991, p. 130-131
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
ReplyDeleteTts 2:12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
Tts 2:13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Tts 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Tts 2:15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
What's the difference between the woman in Walmart in her bikini and high heels, little boy being pulled behind her and the Christian woman who bends over to help a little boy with a low cut top? The Christian should be examining these things. If we correct we are called legalist, I think we should be careful. The scriptures that talk about freedom in Christ sets us free from the bondage of sin, not that we can live anyway we want as the lost do. Then for the sake of our brother or sister some things we are free to do we don't do if it troubles our fellow Christian, the scriptures don't say stand up and resist.
I know a little girl fresh out of high school, left for CA to be a model, says God is leading her, what do you think?