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B. Winningham
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2002
Total Posts : 15
| Posted 2/22/2002 6:03 AM (GMT -6) |   | Even as Christians, we all sin and we know that. There should be no argument between O.V. Theists and Classical Theists on this.
Ephesians 2:8 tells us "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.(KJV)"
Agreed, we are saved by grace through faith and not by works. We should have no arguments between the two camps of theology here either.
My question is where do we draw the line between being too sinful and being too legalistic? If we dilligently try to keep GOD's law, we are criticised for being too "legalistic." If we don't dilligently try to keep GOD's law, we are said to be too sinfull. Where do we find the happy medium without being criticised one way or the other?
It would appear to me that the less sin we live in the better. Complete abstince from sin would be even better if that were possible but the Bible informs us it is not unless you happened to be Jesus Christ.
Personally, I don't think there is a happy medium in regards to sin. We are probably better off to accept man's criticsm and try to please GOD by living as free of sin as possible as long as we understand that keeping the law or our works is not what gets us saved. What is your take please? Do OV-iists agree with this?
B. Winningham
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might-be-don
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 830
| Posted 2/22/2002 6:42 AM (GMT -6) | | Here's my meager take...
Here's the law, Love God, Love your Neighbor.
The apostle Paul, and other NT writers, were kind enough to tell us what that meant for the people living around them, and some possible implications for us today, but ITS NOT THE LAW.
peace and love, don
A quote from Rev. Gregory A. Boyd, PhD ... " Has anyone seen my keys? " | | Back to Top | | |
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alwyn
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2002
Total Posts : 30
| Posted 2/23/2002 5:23 AM (GMT -6) | | Winningham,
>My question is where do we draw the >line between being too sinful and being too >legalistic?
i think that legalism has been traditionally understood as efforts to 'being saved' i.e. GETTING IN to the covenant. But of course once we're IN, we need to 'keep in step' with the Spirit.
so, tendentiously here: There should be no 'tension' or 'dilemma' at all because we all know it is by grace that we are SAVED after which we do our 'very best' (careful, Al, *smirk*) with His Spirit, grace, prayer, etc. to ensure that we STAY AND GROW in the covenant...
hope this helps,
AL
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stollerusa
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2002
Total Posts : 7
| Posted 2/24/2002 2:47 AM (GMT -6) | | "My question is where do we draw the line between being too sinful and being too legalistic? .... Where do we find the happy medium...?"
I believe you've asked a couple of very thoughtful questions. In this high-stakes poker game, let me open with a pair Jacks.
1) My first reaction is that anything God's Word says is sinful - is sinful, and we should therefore sin not whether by commission or ommission.
2) My second reaction is that legalism is anything, devised by people individually and/or religious entity, added to or subtracted from God's Word; mostly in the sense of X we ought to do and Y we ought not to do.
Examples: sex, dancing & drinking: God's Word says sex within marriage is good and sex outside of marriage is sin. Some religious institutions have added to the Word by saying we must avoid all marriage (and therefore all sex) during priesthood service. Some groups have subtracted all forms of dancing and drinking from God's Word - in the sense that, in spite of Biblical examples of MODERATION in dancing and drinking, any and all forms of dancing and drinking is taboo.
I hope this helps in opening up more dialog! --Roland
http://www.prismnet.com/~stoller/toc.htm
Roland J. Stoller | | Back to Top | | |
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