Posts with the tag: Legalism
Beware of the Religious Spirit of BONDAGE
The Bible emphatically declares: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 The “yoke of slavery” Paul was referring to is the yoke of religious law. In this particular case, a group of legalistic teachers […]
What Is LEGALISM and Its Four “Limbs”?
Here’s a summary of general legalism and its four “limbs”: General Legalism refers to legalism in general. It’s an obsession with legalities and could just as well be described as law-ism or rule-ism. It’s the emphasis on the outer at the expense of the inner. As such, outward conformity to the letter of the law […]
Do Believers Need a “Spiritual COVERING”?
Anyone who takes the initiative to step out in faith and do something in service of God’s kingdom will inevitably hear criticisms like: “Who’s your covering?” “Who are you accountable to?” “You’re not one of us!” Those who voice such criticisms are curiously upset that someone’s actively doing the work of God. In some cases […]
Why Wasn’t God Pleased With CAIN’S OFFERING?
Let’s read the passage in question: Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his […]
LEGALISM Creates Sheeple; CHRISTIANITY Creates Unique People
Because religious legalism is obsessed with outward adherence to the letter of the law and “the letter kills” (2 Corinthians 3:6), it typically creates either automaton-like sheeple or prune-faced authoritarians; it can’t produce unique people who are freed-up and full of the life and love of the LORD. Consider some of the mighty men and […]
Is There Such a Thing as RIGHTEOUS ANGER?
We tend to look down on anger and for good reason in light of passages like these: A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. Proverbs 29:11 An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. Proverbs 29:22 As such, the Bible […]
LEGALISTS Are Obsessed With the LETTER of the LAW
Legalists by definition are obsessed with strict adherence to the letter of the law, whether the rule in question is biblical or extrabiblical. This would include things they feel the Lord instructed them to do or not do. A good example from the New Testament is when the Pharisees objected to Jesus’ mere intention of […]
Beware of Developing a Religious SPIRIT OF FAMILIARITY
A religious “spirit of familiarity” is when a believer develops a go-through-the-motions manner concerning God and the things of God, including things related to church & ministry. Take, for instance, a pastor who has a “go through the motions” manner. How does a minister of God fall into such a rut? It’s something that slowly […]
What Is a “Spirit of STUPOR” or “Religious FOG”?
I was giving a sermon at a small Assembly of God church a dozen years ago and the Word was just not getting across to the people, except a few. With all due respect, they sat there with blank faces in what seemed like some sort of religious trance. I’m not putting these people down, […]
Should Women Cover Their Heads When They Pray & Prophesy?
Paul gave a curious instruction to members of the church in Corinth that wives should wear head coverings when they pray & prophesy (1 Corinthians 11:3-16). Is this a universal law for all the churches throughout Christian history or was it simply a cultural thing pertaining to the customs of a certain time & […]
Can Christians Listen to Music other than Praise & Worship?
There’s the position that, since God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3 KJV), believers should only listen to Praise & Worship music. This argument is rooted in the idea that music is sound and sound creates an atmosphere, which naturally affects the listener, whether positively, negatively or anything in between. Hence, we should […]
Why You Shouldn’t Put Men or Women in a Box (Marriages too)
Please be careful to not put people in a box, either gender; marriages too. For instance, Jacob was renamed Israel and became the progenitor of God’s nation on Earth, but he was a Momma’s boy who favored hanging around the tents while his half-brother, Esau, was a hairy manly man who preferred the outdoors […]
Women of the Bible / Women in Ministry
The reason this article combines the topics of women of the Bible and women in ministry is because the noble women of the Bible also functioned in God’s service in one capacity or another. In short, the two subjects go hand-in-hand. Of course the main question we want to tackle is whether or not women […]
Nosiness and Manipulation (NOT Spiritual)
Unspiritual people have a tendency to pry into other people’s business. In other words, they have an unhealthy interest in the private affairs of others. This is nosiness and can be observed when Christ prophesied how Peter would eventually die, which prompted Peter to nosily inquire about how John would die.
The Issue of Eating Meat Sacrificed to Idols
Paul clearly established that eating meat sacrificed to idols was a neutral issue in the epistle of 1 Corinthians, which was written in 54-55 AD. Fifty years later John wrote in Revelation about Jesus rebuking the church at Thyatira for allowing a woman prophetess to mislead believers…
Legalism — Understanding Its Many Forms
Most Christians think legalism is doing a good work in order to be saved, but it’s really much more than this. Legalism is a colossal beast that has been a threat to legitimate Christianity since day one. Legalism is rule-ism or law-ism and, as such, is the obsession with religious rules or laws above relationship with God. It focuses on outward appearances at the expense of inward reality. In short, it’s dead religiosity or fake Christianity.
Does Christianity Weaken People or EMPOWER?
I was talking to a man a couple years ago who argued that Christianity weakens people and instills fear. He likened God and the devil to forest monsters in fairy tales that Christian leaders use to control and limit people through fear.
Sabbath — What is it? Should Believers Observe It?
What exactly is the Sabbath, according to the Bible? Are New Testament believers obligated to observe it? And, if so, how? What’s God’s Word say?