Thursday, December 09, 2004

Legalism

Let's pretend a best selling book comes out about Michael Jordan, and a friend and I both read it. The book tells in detail all of his accomplishments, awards, and honors. That is the whole essence of the book, a testimony to his ability as a basketball player. It doesn't include just facts, but it has eye-witness accounts and testimonies by credible witnesses that saw him do the things the author writes about. The author himself, a well respected author in all circles, is a witness also.

Several days after both of us have completed reading the book, we are together and I make the comment: "Man, that Michael Jordan was a great basketball player" and my friend's response is "where in the book does the author say that?". At first I think he is teasing, but to my horror I realize he isn't kidding. So I say "what do you mean" "Well, exactly what I said.....show me in the book where it says the actual words that say Michael Jordan was a great basketball player" is his reply. Trying to keep my face from showing how incredulous I feel, I say....."you have GOT to be kidding! THE WHOLE BOOK is about how great a basketball player Michael Jordan was, wasn't it?!?!?!?! " "Well, all I know is that if those words aren't actually in there, you can't say the author ever said Michael Jordan was a great basketball player"....and my friend turns and walks away in manner that is very smug.


Could that conversation really ever happen? Probably not.....not on that subject. Guess what.....it happens EVERY day, with subjects and topics a LOT more important than how good a basketball player Michael Jordan was. And there are people who will take the EXACT approach to scripture that my friend took in the conversation above. There can be an overwhelming amount of scripture addressing any number of subjects, but if the EXACT words are not there, then the legalist pronounces it untrue.

"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" Galations 5:1

10 Comments:

At 1:08 PM, Blogger TKP said...

Hi David. Liked your entry. You must come by and tell me what you think of my theodicy blog. Have any snow down in Searcy? Abilene is dry and snowless right now.

 
At 1:22 PM, Blogger Jeff said...

Excellent thoughts, David. I agree completely. Hopefully, as a fellowship, we are moving away from this kind of thinking.

Grace and Peace,

Jeff

 
At 1:56 PM, Blogger David U said...

Jeff, thanks for your comment and I hope so too! Have a Merry Christmas.......I can say that, can't I? :)

God bless,
DU

 
At 4:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

David, I love that analogy! I had no idea you had such smarts in you! Love,your sis-in-law(whose tongue is in her cheek,of course!)

 
At 10:45 AM, Blogger Donna G said...

Just Wednesday night we discussed how hard it was to be approchable to those who scorned our evolved beliefs. Those people who would condemn you to hell becasue you don't worship God to the letter of the law (whose law?). I think it is a challenge for us to be kind and loving toward people who refuse the same to us and to others. I hate the word Legalism, but unfortunately many of these people I have to "deal with" are in my immediate family. I must remember to pray for them and my attitude toward them. I just find it ironic that they would never see themselves in your ananlogy...

 
At 1:13 PM, Blogger David U said...

Annie, the Lawyer clan has rubbed off on me! :)
Thanks for visiting my blog from time to time.
Love,
DU

 
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