Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Happy Tuesday!

Thanks, Charles and John for participating in last weeks bible passage study. Let's spread the word and get more people involved! Any of you who just stumbled on to this page, feel free to join in. Pretty soon we will all be on a first name basis.

Many people are surprised to find out that Dayspring belongs to a denomination. The Wesleyan church just revised their membership requirements and some of us at church have been discussing it. Today's post will be on that line - on the subject of being set apart. Where do you draw the line between holiness and legalism?

I want you to read this post I found by a Free Methodist pastor (very close to Wesleyan theology and practice). He gives some excellent insight. Tell me what you think...

Open Arms and Cross Bearing

Also, if you are new to the blog, please join in on last Tuesday's conversation. I would provide a link, but why do that when you can just scroll down a couple inches?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The fleshly cost to truly follow Christ and be a committed disciple is very expensive by the worlds economy!

Jesus explains this TRUTH to us in the Gospel of Matthew in chapter 7:13-23

13"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

15"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

16"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

17"So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

18"A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

19" Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20"So then, you will know them by their fruits.

21" Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

22" Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

23"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

Jesus clearly tells us that the narrow gate and the narrow road are hard to find and hard to stay on after making to through the narrow gate.

In a secular and "church" culture that tell us we can and should have everything we WANT now, the truth of Matthew 7:14 becomes very clear!

To those who seek Biblical Holiness, the culture and many churches have become a barrier or obstacle to ability to become more Holy and experience God's power and grace!

If we seek to be "Disciples" of Christ Jesus and want to be close to God and experience His power, glory and grace we must be willing to give up anything and everything HE ask each of us!

True born again believer's in Christ seek to follow Christ teachings and leadings and have had a transformation of the heart and soul.

I believe the church should be a vehicle to disciple believers and help keep them accountable in all areas of their lives.

If a person can not stop harmful behavior and habits, they MIGHT just be idolizing those habits or have strongholds?

I am not judging, I have had to amputate things form my life becuase I knew they were not a good use of God's provisions, they were not Godly!

Read Matthew 7 2 or 3 times and pray for Christ to reveal His Will, He will.

Truth is not found in the world, it found in the Bible, God's Holy Word for living our lives.

That is all this peep has for now.

Blessings,
Keith

Anonymous said...

Where do we draw the line between legalism and holiness?

Sometimes I think there must be two different definitions of legalsim. On one hand we have legalsim by the worlds definition and one by the Lords. Think about it, if we follow Gods commands as he expects, the world would call us legalists. Just like they did to Wesley and his small society meetings. As soon as word got out that a group of men where meeting on a regular basis to focus on a holy and truly sanctified life, they where named sarcastically the, "methodists". To the world it was weird, unusual and impossible for men to be totally sacntified, and therefore anything they did to embrace that lifestyle was considered legalistic.
To me the bottom line is this; forget about what the world says. This world will pass away but his word will last for eternity.
B.I.B.L.E = Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
Truly seeking a pure and sanctified relationship with Christ brings about a holy desire to be like Christ. The bible calls on the Body of Christ (church) to operate as one unit. In doing so when a brother or sister stumbles, it is out of Christ's love that we pick each other up and make sure we dont trip over the same obstacle again. I can't think of very many churchs that really hold each other accountable to Loving God with all our heart, our mind and our soul. If it were common I can guaruntee, the word "megachurch" would not exist. Today's churches seem to focus on popular opinion, pleasing everyone while trying not to step on toes as to affect quantity of members. God was more interested in a loving relationship with each of us (accountability is part of that). Truly seeking him and passing off with the old, true repentance..
Remember the luke warm christian parable?

I happily accept the doctrines and disciplines of the Wesleyan church. Just like Keith said, we have also amputated things in our lives that the world may say is being legalistic. But its not about the world, its about doing what we know we should do, that little voice (holy spirit) that guides us. "Just do it"
Setting myself apart and improving upon it daily. Call me legalistic, call me what you will, I seek to impress God and not man.


May the Lord bless you this week, thanks for the post Phil.
This Peep, signing out......Peace!!
Charles

Anonymous said...

All these good comments, I hope a do not dilute blog with my comments. I spent about an hour typing a comment earlier today and it got lost in cyber land some where. I will try again. This time I will just give my opinion on Legalism and Holiness. I have found that the more I read the Word and meditate the less Holy I feel. I don't believe it is something I attain but is more something that is imparted to me. The Father sees the completed work of the Son and in an act of amazing grace overlooks my failings. I think legalism is when we place something we do on equal ground with the redeeming work of Christ. So yes we should strive to be holy we should obey His commands as an outward sign of our salvation. At the end of the day we place our confidence, our hope,in the work on the cross and plead the blood of Jesus. We boast only in what he has done. I like what 1Cor1:29-31 says. "that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
What do yall think.
God bless,
john m.