Legalism

[Lanakila]

Are you a legalistic Christian? Do you attend a church that is legalistic? Does your Pastor preach on topics like: gambling, drinking (any), tv, tithing ect? What do you think about these things?

 

[KristiXP]

What do you mean by legalistic? :o

Yes our Pastor talks about drinking, the things we see on tv, the music that is out there and most definatly gambling more so now because of the Indian Casino that is trying to make their way into Maine this year. Our Pastor came up with a writing about how we don't need gambling and a casino. We all signed our names to it (if we wanted to) and they are going to put it in the newspapers. I hope this will touch upon people and help them make a good choice next Tuesday.

I agree with my Pastor on majorily everything, he is such a great Pastor. Never has he ever offended me. I believe that gambling is wrong and I know what it can do to a person. I hate some of the things that are on tv now a days (I know I'm not that old), but tv when I was little was harmless compared to what is on now. I think it's ok to drink as long as you drink in moderation and do not become drunk and let drunkeness become a bigger influence over you than Jesus. I try to stay away from a lot of types of music, especially the type with so much cursing you could fill the Mississippi River.

Those are my views But, I'm not 100% sure about what you mean by Legalistic Christian? Like following God's laws? :o

 

[Lanakila]

Well Kristi. I have seen TV bashing services with people bringing in their TV's and hitting them with sledgehammers. Overboard if you ask me. I read a book about 5 or more years ago called: The Pharisee's Guide to Total Holiness. It has a sarcastic title, but that book was excellent in challenging me to not let my convictions be based on other people, and instead basing them on scripture.

 

[KristiXP]

Does anyone else have anything to add? I would love to hear more

 

[La Bonita Zorilla]

Are you a legalistic Christian?

No.

Do you attend a church that is legalistic?

No.

Does your Pastor preach on topics like: gambling

Occasionaly it's mentioned as a vice.

drinking (any)

Yes, but in the context of the alcoholic as one needing help rather than condemnation. This is a very liberal church with many in it much more liberal than we are. However, there is no preaching of universal abstinence or advocacy of prohibition. Methodists used to be prohibitionists like many Baptists are 100 years ago but now there is kind of a live and let live attitude toward alcohol in moderation. However, alcohol is not served at church dinners. My sister and brother-in-law go to the Unitarian church where they have beer at the Thanksgiving fellowship dinner and at dances. My understanding is alcohol at like a wedding reception would be strongly discouraged, not so much out of moralism but out of respect to people like myself who are in recovery.

tv

Not about the sex on it so much as the violence.

tithing

Of course.

ect?

What else?

What do you think about these things?

Gambling: Playing the casinos at Atlantic City is hardly any less moral than playing the stock market, but people prone to addiction should avoid it. I've never gambled except lottery and then only for sport.

Alcohol: moderate consumption is okay for those who can handle it. Many of us can't. Prohibition is corrupt and doesn't work.

TV: The former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Newton R. Minnow once called it "a vast wasteland". Well, it is. I avoid it except for certain shows but sometimes channel flip. For a while we used to get Rev. Donald Wildmon's newsletter (American Family Association) and it would have reviews of sinfulness in various shows. It was a hoot because it was so ridiculous. For instance they put down The Drew Carey Show because frequently the main characters were seen drinking at a bar. I've never seen actual total wrongness except maybe in music videos. So many put down Will and Grace because the two supporting characters, Jack and Karen, are both so obnoxious, immoral, mean and have otherwise bad qualities, but, neither one is ever shown in a good light either.

Tithing: We should all give till it hurts: I think what we give to church, charity, and advocacy combined is closer to 15% than 10%. But some people have financial trouble and can't. I do not think it is appropriate for churches to pressure people on a personal basis, saying, "Look you make $40K/yr but you only gave $2K so you need to give twice as much" is inappropriate; the amount given should be between the individual and God.

 

[the Colonel]

Sometimes churches (and individuals) are so concerned about being labelled "legalistic" that they'll let most anything slide. There are rules about holy living. Preaching against "living like hell" is totally apt to the Christian faith. Being legalistic has garnered such negative "press" recently that it's become, in my opinon, a bad thing.

I grew up (well, until 12) in a very legalistic church. You know the type: women can only wear dresses, long hair, no jewlery, no shorts (guys and gals), no buying/selling on Sunday (I still adhere to this. Just in my "blood"). You get the picture. I can tell you from my (and my family's) experience in that church, that legalism can definitely be a bad thing (not because we followed these rules, which would be fine as personal convictions) if these very specific rules are used to determine if others are Christians. Very judgemental.

However, preaching about things that are very obviously what Jesus taught is a matter of course for Christian churches. But I would dare say even these things start to be left out in the name of not being legalistic while only preaching love, mercy, and forgiveness. Wow. There's another side to that coin.

Christians should live as Christ lived (yeah right!) --as much so as possible. We know others are Christians by the fruit of the Spirit. No fruit, no Spirit. We are encouraged to keep fellow believers in line. We are to be set apart from the world, we are to be the light to the world, and we are not to be a stumbling block for another. There should be nothing wrong in preaching these things.

--the Colonel