How to get rid of legalistic brainwashing

boxman144

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I've been led astray by many legalists before. Saying I can't watch movies, read comics, play video games, etc.

I was brainwashed by them, and tried to control other people's life to brainwash them too with that nonsense.

But I still have doubts. Andrew Tiner said "Jesus did not call us to play video games, or watch movies, but to make disciples."

Sometimes I feel guilty when I watch a movie or play a game, and I think it's from the legalism.

I just don't want to die and have nothing to present to the Lord. I don't want to be empty handed.

So what if the legalists are right? What if I'm not supposed to watch movies or play games?
 
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klutedavid

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I've been led astray by many legalists before. Saying I can't watch movies, read comics, play video games, etc.

I was brainwashed by them, and tried to control other people's life to brainwash them too with that nonsense.

But I still have doubts. Andrew Tiner said "Jesus did not call us to play video games, or watch movies, but to make disciples."

Sometimes I feel guilty when I watch a movie or play a game, and I think it's from the legalism.

I just don't want to die and have nothing to present to the Lord. I don't want to be empty handed.

So what if the legalists are right? What if I'm not supposed to watch movies or play games?
You are under the law of Christ.

This means that you must love others as Jesus loved you.

That is the outstanding debt that you owe to Jesus.

God is love.

To emulate God is to love everyone unconditionally, as Christ loved this world.

The goal of everything you have ever been taught in Christianity; love from a pure heart.
 
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I've been led astray by many legalists before. Saying I can't watch movies, read comics, play video games, etc.

I was brainwashed by them, and tried to control other people's life to brainwash them too with that nonsense.

But I still have doubts. Andrew Tiner said "Jesus did not call us to play video games, or watch movies, but to make disciples."

Sometimes I feel guilty when I watch a movie or play a game, and I think it's from the legalism.

I just don't want to die and have nothing to present to the Lord. I don't want to be empty handed.

So what if the legalists are right? What if I'm not supposed to watch movies or play games?
The way I look at it is this: If something gets in the way of my fellowship and time with God then it's a problem and stumbling block. The things you mentioned aren't necessarily sins in themselves, but they can be.
The Bible says let each man examine himself before the Lord and see.

I understand what you're saying that you don't want to leave this world without storing up for yourself treasure in Heaven. I get that. But my advice to you is what Jesus said in the gospels. 'Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.' The beautiful thing is when we put God first in all things then He births and waters seeds of desire in our hearts. Gaming might be one of those things He gives you or it may not. But if the latter, then know there's far greater what He has planned for you than video games. However, it comes with denying self and taking up the cross and following Him. These words aren't just for you. I'm witnessing to myself as well. As someone who just bought a gaming system I can feel the tug as well. It's like I'm stuck betwixt two. But I've made up my mind. I'm going to serve Christ. Even if it means getting rid of the console or just letting it sit in my living room unattended. There will be plenty of time to do these things in eternity. But for now, this is my only shot to obey God via the scriptures and stay busy with the thing He's commanded. My earthly pilgrimage and what I do here will determine my activity in Heaven. I believe that with all my heart.
 
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Sparagmos

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I've been led astray by many legalists before. Saying I can't watch movies, read comics, play video games, etc.

I was brainwashed by them, and tried to control other people's life to brainwash them too with that nonsense.

But I still have doubts. Andrew Tiner said "Jesus did not call us to play video games, or watch movies, but to make disciples."

Sometimes I feel guilty when I watch a movie or play a game, and I think it's from the legalism.

I just don't want to die and have nothing to present to the Lord. I don't want to be empty handed.

So what if the legalists are right? What if I'm not supposed to watch movies or play games?
What is the greatest amount of time you’ve spent doing each in a week?
 
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charsan

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But I still have doubts. Andrew Tiner said "Jesus did not call us to play video games, or watch movies, but to make disciples."

Stop worrying about this guy, he is a first class moron.

Sometimes I feel guilty when I watch a movie or play a game, and I think it's from the legalism.

Listening to that guy would do that.

I just don't want to die and have nothing to present to the Lord. I don't want to be empty handed.

Your life is what you gave God, you will not be emptied handed.

So what if the legalists are right? What if I'm not supposed to watch movies or play games?

They are cultist not of God
 
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Sabertooth

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How to get rid of legalistic brainwashing?
Replace it with Godly brainwashing...!*
  1. Pray for God to renew your mind.
  2. Read His Word.
  3. Go to church.
  4. If you haven't been yet, attend a New Believers' class.
When the Holy Spirit teaches you, you may decide to avoid some of the same things, but you will be doing so for the right reasons. (It isn't legalism if you stop doing things because the Holy Spirit tells you that they're bad for you.)

* Barry McGuire: Brainwashed
 
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CaspianSails

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It is an interesting conundrum is it not. Read the book of Galatians to understand legalism and its place in Christianity and what freedom in Christ is all about. Christ has set me free and enabled me and emboldened me through the power of the Holy Spirit, who lives in my, to do His work. What is that work? Tell others and love God and others. Is what you are doing preventing you from knowing God or doing His work that He has directed you to do? How do you even know what God wants you to do? Another interesting question many have asked. God is always at work around you. When He desires you to join in that work He will make you aware of what He is doing, but we must be looking. When we see what God is doing we can join in that work if He directs to do so. Some say that by seeing what He is doing you are then invited to join. I don't know that I disagree with that. There are other things we should be doing, such as learning Gods word and way. As Paul told Timothy, study to show yourself approved of God, a workman that need not me ashamed. Your relationship with Him and yielded state will allow the Holy Spirit to reveal not only what you are to do but when, how and to what extent. Only then can you answer your questions regarding pleasures.
 
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crossnote

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I've been led astray by many legalists before. Saying I can't watch movies, read comics, play video games, etc.

I was brainwashed by them, and tried to control other people's life to brainwash them too with that nonsense.

But I still have doubts. Andrew Tiner said "Jesus did not call us to play video games, or watch movies, but to make disciples."

Sometimes I feel guilty when I watch a movie or play a game, and I think it's from the legalism.

I just don't want to die and have nothing to present to the Lord. I don't want to be empty handed.

So what if the legalists are right? What if I'm not supposed to watch movies or play games?
When I was a young Christian and having similar struggles a brother in the Lord would remind me that, "satan drives (like a slave driver) but Jesus guides (like a Shepherd).
 
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Aussie Pete

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I've been led astray by many legalists before. Saying I can't watch movies, read comics, play video games, etc.

I was brainwashed by them, and tried to control other people's life to brainwash them too with that nonsense.

But I still have doubts. Andrew Tiner said "Jesus did not call us to play video games, or watch movies, but to make disciples."

Sometimes I feel guilty when I watch a movie or play a game, and I think it's from the legalism.

I just don't want to die and have nothing to present to the Lord. I don't want to be empty handed.

So what if the legalists are right? What if I'm not supposed to watch movies or play games?
The legalists are wrong. They come at it from entirely the wrong angle. All things are lawful. Not all are edifying. If video games and movies hinder you from prayer and Bible study, then it is a problem. If they are movies full of violence, occult or lust (which includes most movies nowadays) then avoid them. Video games likewise. Again it's hard to find anything reasonably clean but they are there. Don't get obsessed with them.
 
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venksta

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Bring God with you, when you are watching a movie, a tv show, listening to music, playing video games, or reading a comic book. These are just mediums of story telling. Jesus used stories/parables to teach the truth. We have celebrated stories, with Christian themes, like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series, C.S. Lewis' Narnia series. The latter two using the Bible for inspiration, where one is more obvious then the other. In secular media, good stories are always about heroes/protagonists, and self sacrifice. Ideals, that mirror Jesus himself at times, and things he taught, which you can read in the Bible. One of the things I enjoy about super heroes, are the best ones, literally put their lives on the line, for strangers. What makes these characters even better for me, are the flaws they show, making them relatable to us.

There are obvious things you shouldn't watch, listen to, ect. You can be better at discerning that, by spending time reading God's word, and building your relationship with him. This will not only help to stay on guard, but give you even better enjoyment, which God has allowed each of us to experience.
 
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WDSobieski

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I feel the same and until quite recently (in the last couple of months) I used to be a very lukewarm, "Christian-by-name-only" agnostic who, frankly, hated strongly religious people as a result of legalistic upbringing in my teens. Yet lately due to uncertainties as well as how the Coronavirus affected people regardless of age, ethnicity and whatever, I felt like going back to God would help overcoming this crisis (also no social events for 2 months until recently when my state lifted bans in restaurants, I felt extremely lonely). I had horrible memories of being ridiculed, mocked and isolated at a church, and also felt very distant while I was still inside a very exclusive (a vast majority of the members are at least upper middle class and hold important positions, like investment bankers and high-ranking civil servants), extremely conservative church since I found nobody I could talk to. Later I moved away to another continent and found a moderate Lutheran church where I enjoyed the sermons and hymns.

Because of the nation-wide closure of churches I felt I need something filling the void after witnessing how fragile our lives are. Some moments later I slipped back to legalism even it has deeply wounded me and realising it mostly a human construction. This has led me being paranoid and sometimes I have nightmares or strange sounds from no where. Is God telling me something or if it's just my inner fears or Satan sabotaging my life. I lost interest in stuff I usually enjoy and am unable to see goodness of people. I doubt my decisions and also my instincts, as well as hating myself why I'm attending grad school instead to being a "Godly" woman and letting myself being "brainwashed" or becoming an antithesis of a Good Christian Girl (TM). However these thoughts have not brought any inner peace and damaged my psyche even more.

I've have enough of this brand of legalistic Christianity and even I don't watch crazy "Christian" videos on Youtube, the years of bad memories at my previous churches have damaged me greatly. It still takes ages deprogramming and this cannot be done immediately, we're not alone in this situation.
 
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Tolworth John

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just don't want to die and have nothing to present to the Lord. I don't want to be empty handed.

Just what are the 'works' that God has prepared in advance for us to do?

Ever thought why Paul so often asked people to pray for him?

Who do you pray for on a regular bases? What missionaries does your church support? What charities is your church involved with?
How many missionaries are you aware of and how many do you support financially or with detailed and regular pray?
What do you know about the perscution of Christians around the world?

Is there anyone in your church bringing local charities, missionaries and perscuted Christians to the attention of your church?

Get informed, get praying, get raising funds, get on with informing your church ( be at prayer meetings and lift your voice to pray intelligently about these issues. )

You want works, get working.
 
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F.E.A.R.

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How about read some history and find a church not a cult next time? Who says that video games are bad? Or watching films, series etc. Obviously there are films and series that I even don't watch because they're disgusting. And just who is this Andrew Tiner guy? God doesn't stop you from doing anything, if God wanted to stop you from doing anything or anyone else for that matter, He would constantly stopped us from sinning. God does not force anyone to do anything nor can He impose His will on someone. These legalists or whatever the heck they're called, are not right (not right in the head for that matter).

I don't understand what you wanna present to God, but all I know is that you need repentance and to do good deeds. The good deeds can redeem the soul, it was not a prophet the one who told us the price of the soul, nor an apostle, but Christ Himself: what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? even if he shall gain the whole world he cannot buy his soul." [Matthew 16:26]
 
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I feel the same and until quite recently (in the last couple of months) I used to be a very lukewarm, "Christian-by-name-only" agnostic who, frankly, hated strongly religious people as a result of legalistic upbringing in my teens. Yet lately due to uncertainties as well as how the Coronavirus affected people regardless of age, ethnicity and whatever, I felt like going back to God would help overcoming this crisis (also no social events for 2 months until recently when my state lifted bans in restaurants, I felt extremely lonely). I had horrible memories of being ridiculed, mocked and isolated at a church, and also felt very distant while I was still inside a very exclusive (a vast majority of the members are at least upper middle class and hold important positions, like investment bankers and high-ranking civil servants), extremely conservative church since I found nobody I could talk to. Later I moved away to another continent and found a moderate Lutheran church where I enjoyed the sermons and hymns.

Because of the nation-wide closure of churches I felt I need something filling the void after witnessing how fragile our lives are. Some moments later I slipped back to legalism even it has deeply wounded me and realising it mostly a human construction. This has led me being paranoid and sometimes I have nightmares or strange sounds from no where. Is God telling me something or if it's just my inner fears or Satan sabotaging my life. I lost interest in stuff I usually enjoy and am unable to see goodness of people. I doubt my decisions and also my instincts, as well as hating myself why I'm attending grad school instead to being a "Godly" woman and letting myself being "brainwashed" or becoming an antithesis of a Good Christian Girl (TM). However these thoughts have not brought any inner peace and damaged my psyche even more.

I've have enough of this brand of legalistic Christianity and even I don't watch crazy "Christian" videos on Youtube, the years of bad memories at my previous churches have damaged me greatly. It still takes ages deprogramming and this cannot be done immediately, we're not alone in this situation.

Sobieski, a book that might greatly benefit you is Pagan Christianity. It deconstructs the edifices and politics of churches and legalism today, breaking down the following of Christ to how the New Testament church worshiped. That book was the first step in my journey towards understanding how "churchianity" greatly differs from following and worshiping Christ.
 
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Junia

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I feel the same and until quite recently (in the last couple of months) I used to be a very lukewarm, "Christian-by-name-only" agnostic who, frankly, hated strongly religious people as a result of legalistic upbringing in my teens. Yet lately due to uncertainties as well as how the Coronavirus affected people regardless of age, ethnicity and whatever, I felt like going back to God would help overcoming this crisis (also no social events for 2 months until recently when my state lifted bans in restaurants, I felt extremely lonely). I had horrible memories of being ridiculed, mocked and isolated at a church, and also felt very distant while I was still inside a very exclusive (a vast majority of the members are at least upper middle class and hold important positions, like investment bankers and high-ranking civil servants), extremely conservative church since I found nobody I could talk to. Later I moved away to another continent and found a moderate Lutheran church where I enjoyed the sermons and hymns.

Because of the nation-wide closure of churches I felt I need something filling the void after witnessing how fragile our lives are. Some moments later I slipped back to legalism even it has deeply wounded me and realising it mostly a human construction. This has led me being paranoid and sometimes I have nightmares or strange sounds from no where. Is God telling me something or if it's just my inner fears or Satan sabotaging my life. I lost interest in stuff I usually enjoy and am unable to see goodness of people. I doubt my decisions and also my instincts, as well as hating myself why I'm attending grad school instead to being a "Godly" woman and letting myself being "brainwashed" or becoming an antithesis of a Good Christian Girl (TM). However these thoughts have not brought any inner peace and damaged my psyche even more.

I've have enough of this brand of legalistic Christianity and even I don't watch crazy "Christian" videos on Youtube, the years of bad memories at my previous churches have damaged me greatly. It still takes ages deprogramming and this cannot be done immediately, we're not alone in this situation.

I relate to this massively... ithe legalistic brainwashing, and also slipping back into legalism. i feel very low these days and it is like there is a void within me and i been filling that void with legalism. i hate it yet i am filling it.....i use other forms of self harm as well, and compulsive behaviours. yeah, i know those things are sins... i dont find much pleasure in life and just want to sleep all day or eat.

not only was my upbringing legalsitic but also abusive physically verbally, emotionally etc and it is hard for me to relax and trust God because am having flashbacks....
 
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