The New Legalism insists that we all obey its rule …
That there must be no rules.
Author: Plumbline Faith
Simple Truths from a Lifetime of Service to the King of Kings
Any metaphor, if taken too literally, bumps up against absurdities.
Like some forms of Christian mysticism, which say the Church literally is the Bride of Christ …
While others say literally the Body of Christ.
I guess that’s gonna be some weird honeymoon, huh?
By today’s standards …
Jesus would be called an intolerant hater who judged others with oppressive statements like “repent” and “sin no more”.
The Bible says we often get the government we deserve rather than want …
Which is why good government must start with us.
When evil demands compliance …
Integrity demands resistance.
Books, blogs, conferences and social media – oh my!
But are those Christian authors, speakers and “influencers” really living what they’re peddling?
When it comes to blowing their own horns …
Many toot without good fruit.
How to produce adolescent, self-absorbed “Christians” who remain stuck in their own issues and never seem to grow up:
Convince them Jesus is “all about a relationship”.
Really? Where do you get that from Scripture?
Oh, right. I forgot …
That’s how we avoid Christ’s inconvenient Biblical unpleasantries – like propositional truths, moral imperatives, cultural norms and learning obedience.
When Jesus is just a relationship, it’s easy to ignore His comprehensive Lordship over all things …
By making Him just about us.
Jesus on your own terms?
I think not.
Yes, He wants a relationship, but so much more …
On His terms.
Repent and grow up, while you still can.
If evil can’t seduce you with real vice …
It will try false virtue instead.
Attitude matters …
And often is the difference between can’t, try and do.
Because He loves us, God offers grace without merit …
But also requires repentance in return.
Anything less on either point …
Emasculates the Gospel.
As a Christian, I am no more interested in criminalizing private sin …
Then I am in protecting its public depravity.
“Progressives” insist that everyone be free of everything …
Except their own oppressive ideology.
If God is truly sovereign, He has the right to delegate – if He chooses – the option to reject His grace when offered.
Even if you don’t believe He does so …
Can we at least agree that it wouldn’t diminish His sovereignty if He did?
Because those who deny, because of His sovereignty, His right to allow us to resist His grace …
Have, in fact, too low a view of His sovereignty.
We often have no choice over bad things that happen in life.
Whether they internally define us, however, is always our choice.
People of conscience and conviction who we initially jeered …
Often end up protecting us against those of no conscience or conviction who we initially cheered.
Leftists have dumbed down liberty.
It now means pursuing vice, with government protection …
Rather than pursuing virtue, without government constraint.
Left or right, either way …
When it comes to politics, evangelicals and their pundits prove time and again they’re cheap dates.
Some might even use another descriptor.
Isn’t it time to begin speaking truth to power …
Rather than constantly kissing up to it?
Sound doctrine in the abstract may be helpful …
But sound doctrine in action is transforming.
Jesus told us to build disciples …
And He would build the church.
Seems we got it backwards these days.
Just sayin’.
The tyranny of leftist and “progressive” know-it-all-ism …
Inevitably fails when confronted by Godly self rule.
If you bear no witness and lift no finger against evil’s advance …
Don’t complain when it overtakes you and those you love.
Hard choices …
Make strong disciples.
The day is coming when God may call you to bear open witness against darkness.
The day is coming when few will have the courage to heed His call, and those who do will pay a heavy price.
But through that sacrifice, the day is also coming when His truth eventually will prevail.
It always does.
I’d rather gather together with a few in my living room and be the church, one with another …
Then sit in rowed seats with a thousand in some building called the “church” to watch a staged event.
God redeems His creation …
Despite its fallenness.
And reconciles us to Himself …
Despite our brokenness.
Plumbline Faith 