Opening up about sin?

[John Hyperspace]

And what exactly do you know about my "lifestyle??"

That it's not as relatively lazy and lustful as less strict legalists, but, relatively lazier and lustier than more strict legalists? That it is relatively correct in its justification to reject more strict legalism, yet relatively incorrect in its justification to accept less strict legalism? That it's relatively "just right" allowing you to not have to make any real sacrifices and still be able to attain relatively legal justification in your own standard of justification?

I would think that if any legalist really wanted to impress God, he would play it to the hilt, accept my Pascal's Works Wager, and sacrifice his life of comfort to become a hermit in the wilderness. Because right now the Amish are scolding them "Shame for your worldliness and unrepentant lifestyle of lust and vice; lazy and lustful sinner of the world" and the only way to one-up them is to dwell in a cave.

Sure, you can say "My less strict standard of righteousness rejects your stricter standard" but don't be surprised when someone less strict replies the same to the more strict; it's like a legalist merry-go-round, isn't it?

 

[Dave-W]

it's like a legalist merry-go-round, isn't it?

That God that He is not a legalist.

BTW - legalism is soundly condemned in the New Covenant scriptures.

 

[John Hyperspace]

That God that He is not a legalist.

I agree that God isn't a legalist. Bear in mind, you had originally cited the original post as "legalist and self-righteous" in the first three points, but then stated the last two were not. I'm only wondering how you came to that conclusion: how the first three are "legalist and self-righteous" but the last two aren't. That's when the merry-go-round started spinning.

BTW - legalism is soundly condemned in the New Covenant scriptures.

Agreed. Legalism itself becomes the merry-go-round of justification/condemnation of those going round. Everyone in the seat behind is self-righteous; but if you follow it all the way around, we end up back at ourselves. It's the slipperiest slope of all, and slopes only lead one direction.

 

[Dave-W]

Do you know the difference between legalism and obedience?