Don't be a pigeon
So, this entry is going to be about people, in general, and I'm also going to talk about a struggle I've had lately with "legalism" and what it entails. (haha, at first I wrote ENTRAILS...ahem)
Every once in awhile I will get on a kick where I'm really happy that I'm kind of an introvert and don't always act outgoing. This may be a sour attitude to have, but I guess I'm just a really impatient, no-nonsense kind of person, in some ways. My main thing is that I get really tired of people screwing up over and over again, not following through on their word, being jerks, or causing drama. It is just stupid, and I guess the main reason I hate this kind of behavior is because I know that I can't do anything to change it (when someone does it).
I just don't understand why people don't get God and don't see their need for him. Now, there are atheists out there who make it obvious that they don't rely on God for their well-being and for guidance in life, but I am BAFFLED by the amount of people who say "yeah, I go to church, I'm a Christian," and don't do ANYTHING to show that Christ has made a difference in their lives. Case in point: there's a girl who I work with who I've heard take Jesus' name in vain, cuss, talk about getting drunk, etc., and then when Andy Hodges gave her a card w/ information about BSM on it, she started talking to me and was like, "yeah, I used to be involved in this kind of group back home, but now that I'm here I haven't had the chance." I responded in kind but what I felt like saying was, "yeah, I bet..."
Now, I realize that this is a judgemental attitude. But this is where I'm going with my whole argument about legalism... lately, I'm realizing that I might be a really legalistic person, if my interpretation of legalism is correct. From what I understand, legalism, in the Christian sense, means that I judge others not by Biblical standards but what I MYSELF define as "true" Christianity, especially with an emphasis on upholding traditional things that "really" make someone a Christian, such as drinking, etc.
So my problem is, where is the line drawn? I hate to think that there is a whole "gray" area on this, but I guess it is possible. I just don't really understand where some people can go off labeling others as legalistic when sometimes the things that people are doing qualify as sin.
Take this, for example: I discussed with a friend how she had gone through a period where she stopped viewing things legalistically, according to her. While raised in a church environment that said it is wrong to drink, she realized that although there are certain things she will never do, as a Christian it would be wrong for her to label others as "not really Christian" when it might just be that someone views something differently than she does, or possibly, they are struggling with sin in a different area than she.
I actually found an interesting article on Legalism, on this website: http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/legalism.htm
and I think this passage from it is especially important: "The legalist and a true holy man or woman of God may have the same "works," but they both have different understandings and perspectives of how and where their works fit into their salvation The legalist believes his works earn or keep his salvation, while the holy man or woman of God understand that they are living the way they do because they are saved."
Now... I totally can identify that I may be of a legalistic mindset, from what this says. I think it's partly because I was raised in a denomination that believed that you can lose your salvation. But like the article says, the Bible identifies that we are to be separate from the world.
Although there are many areas of the Christian walk that this can be applied to, the main thing I'm thinking of here is drinking. What I'm getting to is, why not completely AVOID these things? Why should we walk right up to the line and see how far we can get? Two verses come to mind here in this context: Ephesians 5:17-19 "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." and 2 Timothy 2:22 "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
In this same conversation about legalism, another girl talked about a friend she had who gathered with friends for a beer at a local bar from time to time. The girl telling the story was at first very skeptic, and asked what kind of a Christian witness that presented to an acquaintance who might happen to walk into the same bar that night. Her friend's response was, "if they see me drinking, they'll see that I'm real, and maybe it will give me an opportunity to witness to that person."
My problem here is that this attitude does not seem to be one that would "flee from the very appearance of evil." (Sorry, I tried to find which verse that was, but couldn't... trust me on that one though, it's there.) To me, it sounds like an excuse to be able to drink. Why not sit around and have COKES, for crying out loud? If your point is not to get drunk, then why not avoid it altogether? Face it: it just makes sense. If someone can back an argument up with some verses, I would be happy to listen, but for now this makes the most sense to me.
and I am done, because that zapped my energy and I don't want to rant anymore.
Every once in awhile I will get on a kick where I'm really happy that I'm kind of an introvert and don't always act outgoing. This may be a sour attitude to have, but I guess I'm just a really impatient, no-nonsense kind of person, in some ways. My main thing is that I get really tired of people screwing up over and over again, not following through on their word, being jerks, or causing drama. It is just stupid, and I guess the main reason I hate this kind of behavior is because I know that I can't do anything to change it (when someone does it).
I just don't understand why people don't get God and don't see their need for him. Now, there are atheists out there who make it obvious that they don't rely on God for their well-being and for guidance in life, but I am BAFFLED by the amount of people who say "yeah, I go to church, I'm a Christian," and don't do ANYTHING to show that Christ has made a difference in their lives. Case in point: there's a girl who I work with who I've heard take Jesus' name in vain, cuss, talk about getting drunk, etc., and then when Andy Hodges gave her a card w/ information about BSM on it, she started talking to me and was like, "yeah, I used to be involved in this kind of group back home, but now that I'm here I haven't had the chance." I responded in kind but what I felt like saying was, "yeah, I bet..."
Now, I realize that this is a judgemental attitude. But this is where I'm going with my whole argument about legalism... lately, I'm realizing that I might be a really legalistic person, if my interpretation of legalism is correct. From what I understand, legalism, in the Christian sense, means that I judge others not by Biblical standards but what I MYSELF define as "true" Christianity, especially with an emphasis on upholding traditional things that "really" make someone a Christian, such as drinking, etc.
So my problem is, where is the line drawn? I hate to think that there is a whole "gray" area on this, but I guess it is possible. I just don't really understand where some people can go off labeling others as legalistic when sometimes the things that people are doing qualify as sin.
Take this, for example: I discussed with a friend how she had gone through a period where she stopped viewing things legalistically, according to her. While raised in a church environment that said it is wrong to drink, she realized that although there are certain things she will never do, as a Christian it would be wrong for her to label others as "not really Christian" when it might just be that someone views something differently than she does, or possibly, they are struggling with sin in a different area than she.
I actually found an interesting article on Legalism, on this website: http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/legalism.htm
and I think this passage from it is especially important: "The legalist and a true holy man or woman of God may have the same "works," but they both have different understandings and perspectives of how and where their works fit into their salvation The legalist believes his works earn or keep his salvation, while the holy man or woman of God understand that they are living the way they do because they are saved."
Now... I totally can identify that I may be of a legalistic mindset, from what this says. I think it's partly because I was raised in a denomination that believed that you can lose your salvation. But like the article says, the Bible identifies that we are to be separate from the world.
Although there are many areas of the Christian walk that this can be applied to, the main thing I'm thinking of here is drinking. What I'm getting to is, why not completely AVOID these things? Why should we walk right up to the line and see how far we can get? Two verses come to mind here in this context: Ephesians 5:17-19 "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." and 2 Timothy 2:22 "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
In this same conversation about legalism, another girl talked about a friend she had who gathered with friends for a beer at a local bar from time to time. The girl telling the story was at first very skeptic, and asked what kind of a Christian witness that presented to an acquaintance who might happen to walk into the same bar that night. Her friend's response was, "if they see me drinking, they'll see that I'm real, and maybe it will give me an opportunity to witness to that person."
My problem here is that this attitude does not seem to be one that would "flee from the very appearance of evil." (Sorry, I tried to find which verse that was, but couldn't... trust me on that one though, it's there.) To me, it sounds like an excuse to be able to drink. Why not sit around and have COKES, for crying out loud? If your point is not to get drunk, then why not avoid it altogether? Face it: it just makes sense. If someone can back an argument up with some verses, I would be happy to listen, but for now this makes the most sense to me.
and I am done, because that zapped my energy and I don't want to rant anymore.