[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
In a message dated 3/31/2005 6:52:33 PM
Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I will stubbornly believe the best of you! :-)
Intellectually, I understand and give credence to this opinion, of late
expressed by Lance and Bill. Emotionally, I am not there. A
confession of sorts. I have seen lives and marriages and whole
congregations destroyed by the works salvationists. Their rhetoric is
often identical to what I see here on TT from some of the
participants. Intellectually, I want to get along -- but
emotionally, I know that is not to be because of their rules and their
insistence on "truth" . It is a struggle for me, right now. My
Christ was killed by the legalists of the day. I know, I should say
that "He died for the legalists of the day" but that is not my choice
of words at this time.
I can stand in the shadows and watch Bill and Debbie and Caroline make
peace or try to make peace with those who have no respect for them or
what they believe..........and it bothers me. I was born and raised
in legalism. I know of it's deceptive attitude and how little it
cares for the person and how in love it is with Itself. Law over
and above relationships. They (the legalists) pit God's law against
(some of) God's own people. They love scriptures that speak of the
salvation of the few. They demand that confession lead to holiness and
will actually make decisions on your behalf regarding the
degree of sincere effort in your struggle to overcome.
They teach and believe that exclusion is what God had in mind when He
spoke of "sanctification" or the setting apart of the Saints of God.
And they will not be stopped. They pry into your lives, read your
mail, hunt you down and preach warning after warning against you. You
HAVE to think like them because they have the truth ----- and they
will not rest until you either concede or move on. Me? I have
watched this happen for all of my adult life. Church is a club for
these people. And I don't mean "night club:" I mean night-stick
!!! And, they seldom change. The only thing they really understand
is the phrase "fight fire with fire." And if not careful, those who
oppose the legalist are consumed, themselves.
So I watch and listen and wonder if I am really that far off base
-- me and my sarcasm, me and my impatience, me and my loyalties for
those who I respect/love, me and the memories of past and personal
conflicts with the Legalist beast. A lamb led dumb before the
slaughter is not the same as a dumb lamb.
Just thinking out loud.
John
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We been meaning to talk to you about that.
Terry
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