SHORT CHRISTIAN READINGS SELECTED FOR FORMER JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

Legalism: A Zeal for God, or Self?

By David Henke

(edited)

Jesus had a special relationship with the scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees. Eight times in Matthew 23 He called them hypocrites, saying "Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites" (Matthew 23:13-29).

What was it about the scribes and Pharisees that would explain Jesus' confrontational attitude? What lessons are there for us in His attitude toward them?

Jesus' approach is not the Dale Carnegie method of winning friends among the religious elite. It would, however, win the attention and respect of those who saw through hypocrisy and shallowness. His words struck a chord with those who were burdened by the traditions imposed on them by the Pharisees.

Jesus defined legalism in Matthew 15:9b as "teaching for doctrine the commandments of men." The 'commandments of men' usually begin with something God commanded and then over-extend it at the expense of some other Godly quality.

Legalism is a zeal for righteousness, the law, truth, and justice. However, it is at the expense of grace, mercy, forbearance, and love. It tends to the spiritual affairs of others without grace, mercy, forbearance, or love. It is unbalanced.

Legalism is not a zeal for God. It is trusting in oneself, as Jesus said of the Pharisees in Luke 18:9. "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves, that they were righteous, and despised others."

All eight statements by Jesus above can be summed up in a few words. These people were about Power, Prestige, and the Purse (see The News & Views, Vol. 2, No. 5, Religious Dysfunction and Christian Responsibility). These are the root motives behind the desire of one group of people to impose the "commandments of men" upon others.

The Law Is Our Tutor

The purpose of the Law was to teach us that 1) we are sinners, 2) we cannot keep the law perfectly, and 3) we need a Deliverer who can resolve our guilt problem.

In Christ the Law was kept perfectly. In Christ, Who is eternal deity, we find someone Who can absorb all the wrath of God against sin. Therefore, if we will place our faith in His atoning death on our behalf, we will be redeemed.

In several passages in the New Testament we can read of the relationship of law and faith that will give much insight into the subject. Read Romans 3 - 5, the entire book of Galatians, and Hebrews 7.

If we try to add our works, traditions, or any other requirements, to His atonement then we say His death was insufficient, that something was lacking in Him. This is an affront to God.

By faith we receive salvation and a spiritual birth occurs in us. By that new birth we receive the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Law, who then dwells in our hearts. He is the Law of God written on our hearts.

Because the Law is fulfilled in Christ the written Law has been "disannulled" (Hebrews 7:18-19). It has lost its force. That does not mean we may disregard it. It still shows us our sin in contrast to Christ's perfection, and so it shows us how great is our salvation.

Three Kinds of Legalism

Legalism is essentially a performance-based relationship with God. The natural assumption is that we do not receive something for nothing, therefore, our acceptance by God comes with a price. Legalism comes in three forms and it is important to know them.

Salvation by Works

This is the legalism Paul addressed in Galatians. This form says there is something in addition to Christ's work on Calvary that must be included to achieve salvation. All the other world's religions practice salvation by works. Christianity alone says that works are not involved in salvation.

Having said that it must be noted that the people whom Jesus fed with the loaves and fishes asked Jesus, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, 'This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.'"

If there is a "work" that we must do it is to believe in Jesus.

Salvation-by-works legalism is what the cults routinely require. With the Mormons it is "keeping all the laws and ordinances of the gospel," going on a mission, temple work, etc., etc.

Jehovah's Witnesses say we are saved by faith. However, they practice works salvation. This is demonstrated by the requirement that they put in the requisite number of hours in the "field service," or, going door to door. They can lose their standing with Jehovah (their prospect of surviving Armageddon) by committing any of a multitude of disfellowshipping offenses.

It is a difficult life to live when salvation depends on the quality of one's human works.

Approval by Performance

This form of legalism says that ones approval by God, self, or others is based upon reaching a level of spiritual performance. This is what Paul referred to when he said, "Having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh" (Galatians 3:3)?

This performance is not for salvation but for a sense of acceptance. It is seeking for yourself that sense that God is smiling on you, and that others approve of your spirituality. The problem with this is our motive. The good works we do should be for the sake of others, whether that is God or people. If we do them for approval then that is all the reward we are due.

Many Christians get caught up in such a performance-based relationship with God. They may have an unconscious need they are trying to fulfill. Perhaps they have never thought through their motive. Or, they may not fully understand God's grace and love for them.

In any case we have all the acceptance from God that we will ever need. That being resolved we are free now to devote our good works to the benefit of others, and not ourselves.

Dogmatic Dictators

This third form of legalism is found among those individuals who feel they must usurp the role of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin. There is a balance here between being mutually accountable in the Body of Christ to biblical standards on the one hand, and on the other assuming our interpretation of those standards is the only correct one.

Many standards that are assumed to be Christian may have been influenced by our culture. This is illustrated in the church in Antioch where Christians were first called by that name. The church was made up of Gentile and Jewish converts. The Jews had their cultural taboos that had built up over centuries of living under the Old Testament law.

The Gentiles had no taboo about eating unbled meat, or meat offered to idols. When they brought this food to the 'church supper' one can imagine the response of the Jews. This led to a division in the church. To resolve it Paul took the issue back to Jerusalem. The solution was a compromise. This is discussed in Acts 15.

Jesus said in John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." As you read that, on which phrase did you focus? Was it the "keeping the commandments" phrase? Or, was it the "loving Jesus" phrase? If you focus on loving Jesus the weight of keeping commandments will be light. It is very much like the many things we do for a loved one. They are not heavy loads if we are motivated by love for that person.

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LEGALISM

Author Unknown

(edited)

"The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." -- 2 Corinthians 3:6.

"Oh senseless Galatians ... how is it that you are turning back to the weak and elementary things and want to slave for them over again. You are scrupulously observing days and months and seasons and years. I fear somehow I have toiled to no purpose respecting you." - Gal 3:1, 4:6-31.

Legalism

To convince ourselves that we meet God's standards, we often externalize and rationalize His commands regarding service and sacrifice. This has been going on since the beginning of time. Throughout both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, it is clear that legalism has always been in the forefront blocking true internal intimacy with God and compassion towards one another.

Religion, at it's best, has always fallen short of God's true mark. Many biblical accounts have been given us, especially that of the Pharisees, which provide clear pictures of religion that can produce righteous behavior, but not righteous hearts, and those having a handle on much truth, who subtly twist it.

Tom Hovestol comments on unseen internal sins verses outright external sins, which are seen, as shown in the parable of the prodigal son:

"We tend not to see the sin of the child who stays close to home, works hard, plays by the rules, doesn't get into trouble or as for money, doesn't party hearty, etc. We praise such a child. But are we aware of the subtle signs of the heart that often remain unseen-and thus are even more dangerous? We classify disgraceful conduct as sin. But what about gracelessness? We are appalled by steamy sex. But what about the even greater spiritual malady of stewing bitterness? The 'far country' is obviously the place of 'wine, women and song.' But is it not possible that hardworking folks in the 'field of life' may be equally led astray? When someone sees God as a cream puff and lives a profligate life, we cringe. But are we equally appalled when one of our brothers views God as a slave driver and obeys only out of fear of reprisal? Is legalism any better than lawlessness?" (1b)

Legalism and Rule Following Appear To Be The Most Blinding of Sins.

Life is a gray area where all laws have circumstances that call them to be broken, however Legalists see life with black and white meanings, lacking any flexibility.

The self-righteous Pharisees were condemned by Jesus Christ: "Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." -- Matt 15:13-15.

Legalism In Israel

One of the worst judgments God brought on ancient Israel was recorded in Isaiah 29:10, "YHWH has brought over you a deep sleep. He has sealed your eyes (the prophets) and he has covered your heads (the seers)." Isaiah 29:10.

This divine judgment kept the Israelites from understanding why they were being judged and therefore kept them from repenting.

Why would God do this to the people of Israel? Quoting Isaiah, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men." (legalism)

Justice with mercy and flexibility is what counts, not religious sacrifices.

"Was it sacrifices and gift offerings that you people brought near to me in the wilderness for forty years? No, let justice roll forth just like waters and righteousness like a constantly flowing torrent." -- Amos 5: 24-25.

The Israelites were not worshipping God the Person, but instead, were worshipping the religion, the rules, the legal requirements, and the lifestyle.They were performing all of the sacrifices correctly, and obeying correctly, but serving God is more than obeying, it must be from the heart -- out of love. This is especially true of Christianity, which is an internal law, written on hearts. But when obedience is performed without the love of God coming from within our hearts, then our worship is of the religion and the sacrifices, not the person of God. And this takes away all intimacy and emotional attachment to God, blocking his Holy Spirit to operate both on and in us. The Jews of Isaiah's day comfortably combined external religion (intellectualism and rituals) with internal unrighteousness. Isaiah 1:10-23 provides a snapshot of the multiplied sacrifices, offerings, incense, assemblies, feasts and prayers, which were coupled with injustice, mercilessness, unrighteousness., and pride, thus lacking God's approval and spirit. (Isaiah 29:13; 1:9-17; Jer 31:31-33; Romans 2:28-29; James 1:27; Matt 22:37-40; Micah 6:6-8; Isa 58:5-10).

"Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!" The multitude of your sacrifices -- what are they to me?" says the LORD. "I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations -- I cannot bear your evil assemblies. Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her -- but now murderers! Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water. Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them." -- Isaiah 1:10-23.

With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." -- Micah 6:6-8.

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." -- Isaiah 58:5-10.

Traditions And Legal Requirements

Human-devised traditions and legal requirements that go beyond what is written in the Scriptures, (such as the practice of pioneering, enforcing a certain dress code and hair styles, restrictions on types of employment, blood, alternative service, flag salutes, entertainment, etc.), no matter how seemingly holy, contain the seeds of hypocrisy. Traditions and legal requirements look good; they grip the emotions; they govern our behavior; and they tend to acquire divine doctrinal status. However, these often have an unseen downside. Traditions and legal regulations stick because they work; because people can keep them. Often they are followed mechanically and mindlessly. Over time, the distinction between the truth of God and our traditions and rules becomes blurred, and we tend to cling more tenaciously to our human traditions than to the Scriptures.

Human traditions and legalistic requirements, are easier to obey than God's truth. Legal requirements often focus on actions, while God focuses on attitudes that motivate actions. Traditions and legalism can be accomplished by gut-power, while God's truth requires Spirit-power. Living God's truths requires a relationship with Him. When traditions and legal requirements become automatic, it is easy for the intimacy to be lost. They also tend to reinforce external religion, to focus largely on religious acts, rather than heart attitudes. (1a)

It has been my observation that God does not normally violate the prejudices of religious pride and legalism. Many of the Pharisees went to their deaths absolutely convinced in the validity of their own traditions and prejudices. Their religious pride (and legal interpretations) shut them off and blinded them from the correction that God would so willingly have given them, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5). (1)

"Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." -- 1 Peter 5.

Theologian Jack Deer relates:

"The tragedy is that many of their doctrines were biblical and true. Yet I would rather have some wrong doctrines and humility than to have perfect orthodoxy on every point and no humility. A person (and organization) who has wrong doctrine and humility can be corrected. A person (and organization) with mostly right doctrines and no humility will be resisted by the God he (they) professes to serve."(2)

In this case, as with all legalistic denominations, their extensive bible knowledge, sacrifices and service are based on the intellectual wisdom of man, acting as a blinding force from God, without the revelations of his Holy Spirit.

Legalism always blinds its followers to spiritual reality. Legalism drives out the revelatory ministry of the Holy Spirit. I have never heard a person caught in the midst of legalism confess that he or she was legalistic. I have heard many people caught in the midst of immorality confess their immorality, but I have never heard a legalist confess legalism. There is something so blinding about that sin.

Legalism is basically three things. First, it is trusting in man made rules. Second, it is trusting in the religious activity rather than trusting in the person, God. Third, it is trusting in a practice rather then the person, God. all of this takes away a person's intimacy with God and gives us a "lukewarm faith." A faith that is lukewarm is a faith that Jesus told the Laodiceans he would "vomit out of his mouth." Yes, they were obedient in doing all the right things, but it was formal obedience, legalistic rule following. It was not out of an emotional inner passion, zeal and overwhelming love. (Rev 3:16).

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth." -- Revelation 3:15-16.

The Danger of Knowledge

"Jesus Christ came into the world to be its saviour, not an authority on biblical criticism." -- John Huxtable (2d)

Religion and vast amounts of knowledge though it works to produce good external behavior, it does not transform hearts. Religion and knowledge can blind us to personal depravity. Even though we may understand that knowing about God is not the same as knowing from God, it is easy to blur that distinction. The Pharisees knew the Word of God extremely well, the same as many of us do today, as Tom Hovestol comments:

"The Pharisees knew the middle verse and letter, had counted all the commands, and no doubt some had memorized all 613 of them. (In contrast, few people today can recite the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes.) The Pharisees were insistent on the correct interpretation of the Scriptures. Moreover, the Pharisees were not content, as frequently we are, to simply know the content of God's Word. They desired to obey it as well. So they aided its application by devising religious rules. But for all their Bible knowledge about God, many of them did not know God and therefore did not recognize God incarnate. Why?

Their right doctrine had produced wretchedness. Instead of righteousness. Proper doctrine is essential, yet even today it can give a false sense of spiritual security and superiority without true spiritual reality. Bible knowledge can calcify rather than tenderize the hearer. It can blind and bind.

How can that be? Bible instruction can easily be diverted from its God intended purpose: love of God and fellow human beings. In its place is a new, lesser purpose; the Bible as an object of curiosity and fruitless spiritual debate (1 Timothy 1:3-11). The Bible can become an end in itself, instead of the means to an end. Subtly almost everything of God can and will be counterfeited by appearance of goodness with a hidden dark side. The ultimate danger of being people of the Book is that we can acquire knowledge about God without actually coming to know God." (2a)

Like us, the Pharisees had the knowledge of the letter of the Word; however, some did not understand or incarnate it's spirit. Their foreheads literally contained copies of the Scriptures, yet they failed to realize and see the hardening of their hearts, loosing sight of the fact that God's word is not an end in itself. They became knowledgeable in an academic way rather than a practical way. They put legal requirements and their interpretative molds of theology ahead of flexibly, mercy, kindness, and justice, which bend according to truth, truth that can differ from our conception and interpretive standards. The Pharisees teach us that Bible study can be a dangerous profession. It can blind the eyes, puff up the head, and harden the heart.

Knowledge can also become a source of pride rather than humility. Charles Swindoll asserts:

"Knowledge can be dangerous when it isn't balanced by love and grace. Such knowledge results in arrogance, which leads to an intolerant spirit, an exclusive mindset." (2b)

Knowledge can also cause focus on the letter of the law, and miss the Spirit of the law; to know the word of God, but not the God of the word.

Laws and Rules Are Made To Be Broken

As Jesus healed many on the Sabbath, threshed and ate grain with his disciples on the Sabbath, touched and healed lepers in public areas, ate the same table with known "sinners," failed to follow the common Jewish dietary laws, and most of all, went against many of the Scriptural interpretions of the Pharisees, Saducees, Scribes. Jesus exposed the true meanings that did not follow these common teachings and theological interpretations. For this, He showed that God wanted "mercy and not sacrifice." As He was criticized for eating at the same table with "sinners," He informed them that "He came to call, not the righteous ones, but the sinners." The Pharisees "gave a tenth of their spices -- mint, dill and cummin. But they had neglected the more important matters of the law -- justice, mercy and faithfulness." (Matthew 9:13, 12:7, 23:23).

Human Power verses God's Power

"Human traditions and legalistic requirements, are easier to obey than God's truth. Legal requirements often focus on actions, while God focuses on attitudes that motive actions. Traditions and legalism can be accomplished by gut -power while God's truth requires Spirit-power. Living God's truth requires a relationship with Him. When traditions and legal requirements become automatic, it is easy for the intimacy to be lost.

"If the dutiful application of truth is wrongly motivated, unrighteouness will result. One can apply the Scriptures to life by the power of self-discipline, of personality or of positive reinforcement, all of this devoid of God's Spirit. One can live the Christian life by the power of the Holy Spirit or by the power of the human spirit. In many ways they look alike, However the process of applying truth with the human spirit can easily produce legalism." -- Tom Hovestol. (2aa)

The power of the human spirit, the power of religion, the power of real estate, printing facilities, literature, videos, websites, etc., all have a great power and can be beneficial in many ways. All of this power, as good intended as it may be, can never replace nor achieve the same strength and purpose as God's Holy Spirit. As strong and impressive as the human spirit can be, it is still void of God's Spirit and can easily grow into legalism and external emphasis. I can even the put emphasis on the internal to the submission of men, not "the only true God and the one he sent forth, Jesus Christ." Our strength, power and absolute submission goes solely to Christ and our relative submission goes to humans who take the lead as slaves who render us service and comply one hundred percent with God's will.

Our conscience is secondary to living a life in God's Spirit. As we worship God not only in truth but also in Spirit, we must be willing to go outside the law and listen to God in our personal experiences of life that we live under the direction of God's Spirit. Our conscience is to grasp the living law, as it speaks to us in personal inspirations of actual living grace, as Thomas Merton relates:

"The distinction between the general abstract formulation of moral law, and the living, personal, concrete manifestation of God's will in our own lives is one of the most fundamental truths of Christianity, for it is the distinction between the letter, which kills, and the spirit, which gives life. Jesus, Who came not to destroy the law but in order that every jot and title of the law should be fulfilled (Matthew 5:17-18), also taught that in order for the law to be fulfilled the doctors of the law would have to be confounded.

"The justice of the scribes, who perfectly understood the letter of the law, was not sufficient to gain anyone admittance to the Kingdom of Heaven. It was necessary for the law to be fulfilled in spirit and in truth. It was necessary that men should be perfect in the law, not by the exterior observance of precepts but by the interior transformation of their whole being into sons of God. Then they would be children of their Father in Heaven, perfect as He is perfect (Matthew 5:45,48). They would no longer keep the law with a formalistic perfection that defeated the whole purpose of the law, but they would realize that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. They would cease to make void the law of God for the human traditions of ritualists and lawyers who could not understand Jesus when He taught that man must be born of the Holy Ghost in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

"Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Nicodemus answered and said to him: How can these things be done? Jesus answered and said to him: Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things?" -- John 3:5-6, 9-10.

In Christ, we die to the letter of the law, so that our conscience can no longer see things in the dead light of formalism and exterior observance. Our hearts refuse the dry husks of literal abstraction and hunger for the living bread and the eternal waters of the spirit which spring up to life everlasting.

"Therefore my brothers, you have become dead to the Law by the body of Christ; We are loosed from the law of death, wherein we were detained, so that we should serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter" -- Romans 7:4, 6.

The law of life in the New Testament of Christ's grace is not merely a written document. It is the fulfillment, by charity, of God's designs in the consciences of those who answer the impulsion's of His grace. The new law is not merely an exterior code of conduct but an interior life, the life of Jesus Himself, living by His spirit in those who remain united to Him by charity. The new law is expressed not only in the demands made upon us by divine and ecclesiastical precepts but above all by the exigencies of the Holy Spirit Himself, alive and active in the depths of our souls, constantly urging us to yield our wills to the gravitational pull of charity, drawing us through self-sacrifice, to the fulfillment of God's will in our own lives.

Paul knew that his own inspired writings were as nothing compared to the "writing" of Christ in the hearts of those who heard him. "You are the epistle of Christ," he told the Corinthians, "ministered by us and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God...Who hath made us for ministers of the New Testament not in the letter but in the spirit. For the letter kills but the spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:3, 6) (2bb)

Legalism Verses Emotionalism: There Must Be A Balance In Between

Legalism takes away a person's passion and zeal for God. It has been said that when a person first learns the Bible, he or she should be figuratively locked in a room, until supposedly becoming more mature. This is certainly true regarding tact and discernment, however the burning love and zeal must never leave, even after many years of serving God. For this to remain, there needs to be a strong emotion in serving God, for Christians are to "love God with their whole heart, their whole strength and their whole soul." We can only do this with a balance of both knowledge and emotion. Just as emotionalism without knowledge of scriptures is blind faith and inadequate with God, so too academic knowledge and rule following without any display of strong inner emotions and passion for God, cannot please him either, being nothing more then legalism and lukewarm faith, resulting in a formal relationship with God, lacking intimacy and holy spirit. (Matt 22:37-40).

"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'" -- Matt 22:37-40.

To give an example, King David was so joyful and full of emotionalism in serving Jehovah, that he not only sang, but would actually dance for God. On one occasion, as David danced, he even took off some of his clothes! And in front of the all the Women in Israel! When his wife Michal became annoyed and embarrassed for him, she told David that he acted foolishly. David then reprimanded her, and Jehovah approved. Not only did Jehovah find David's high emotional response acceptable, but he also punished his wife Michal, making her barren of children, for her criticism of David. (2 Samuel 6:14-16, 20-23).

"David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart. When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!" David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD's people Israel--I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor." And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death." -- 2 Samuel 6:14-16, 20-23.

This type of emotional joy and worship was also exhibited at Pentecost 33 CE when the Holy Spirit poured out on the 120 deciples in the upper room. When they started speaking in tongues to all of the Jews who came from outside Judea, it was much more than just speaking in different languages, for some thought they were "drunk", because of the emotional joy they were exhibiting. So emotionalism in Christianity is sometimes proper when serving God and Christ with a whole heart, whole mind, and whole soul. (Acts chapter 2)

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine." -- Acts 2.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

"I Am A Free Man And Belong To No Man, (Religion) But I Have Made Myself A Slave (Of Agape Love) To all." -- 1 Corinthians 9:19.

The Gospel Teaches Not Only Freedom From The Mosaic Law, But Freedom From The Very Concept of Law Keeping, Replacing It With Faith And Love. Faith In The Christ And The Love of Our Fellow Man.

"A Christian man is a free lord over everything and subject to no one. A Christian man is an obedient servant in everything and subject to everyone." -- Martin Luther (1483-1546).

"You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ and have fallen away from the grace. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" - Galatians 5:4-6.

Paul reminded the Galatians in chapter 5, verse 1:

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free, therefore stand fast and do not let yourselves be confined again in a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1.

We must avoid letting legalism creep into our thinking and evaluating. Legalism takes the good out of the good news and replaces it with another form of bondage, religious bondage. Legalism is immaturity infused with zeal. And legalism, while masquerading as faith, is the opposite of faith because it establishes itself instead of faith as the substance of what is not seen. (Heb 11:1) People end up having faith in their legalistic utterances rather then the living God. (3)

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1.

Balance comes with maturity. I cannot give you a ruler that you can hold up against religious practices to invariably judge them rightly. Balance comes from maturity and maturity is a process born of honesty, humility, teach ability and experience that one has reflected on. The Pharisees refused to grow up in response to surprising words and actions from the Son of God. Their legalistic zeal put Him to death. (4)

"We do not yet see through a glass clearly." (1 Cor 13:12).

"For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." -- 1 Corinthians 13:12.

The legalist denies that he is making a mistake in a false notion that to question a course of action is to evidence a lack of faith. In this misguided zeal, parents have killed ailing children by withholding crucial, God-given medicine (and blood) from them. That is legalism run amok, bondage, the very thing that counters the cross of Christ. (5)

Legalism was forewarned in the book of Acts. In chapter 20, verses 29 and 30, it was warned:

"I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves." -- Acts 20:29-30.

Their arguments were plausible, had the sound of logic, and Paul shows that many of their hearers were being convinced, accepting this as gospel truth. The proponents of law-keeping could argue that God requires righteousness, holiness -- which is true -- and that without the imposition of law people simply will not hold to righteousness-which may be true of most people, but which should not be true of Christians. As an opening wedge, they urged circumcision, something instituted by God himself nearly two thousand years earlier, in Abraham's time. Once this base was accepted, however, they built on it the addition of other feathers of the law, presented as necessary to be right with God to maintain a clean congregation. (5A)

The brought on a serious danger, the danger of putting a Christian's relationship to God with the emphasis on law-keeping. For this Apostle Paul stated:

"You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:4, 5.

Unlike obeying legal requirements, it was now only faith and love that brought man to God, not the judicial bodies, various interpretive policies, rules and regulations where people could break infractions of the law. The entire gospel taught freedom. Freedom from the very concept of law-keeping-what ever the system of law involved, replacing it with faith and love. (Galatians 5:4, 5).

As Paul so aptly states: "Be careful that nobody (including the church & the men who take the lead) spoils your faith through intellectualism or high sounding words ... For it is only in the Christ that God gives a full expression of himself (not in any group of men or slave class)." (Col 2:9,10).

In the final analysis we must put our faith in God. If we put our faith in religious practices, we make them gods. If we put our faith even in the Word of God, we make our comprehension of it god. God alone is God. We must put our faith in Him alone. He may choose to vindicate our religious practices or counter them or even ignore them. If our faith is in Him, whatever He does will benefit and mature us. But if our faith is in these lesser things, their failures will cast us adrift until we get our focus back on Him alone. (6)

Over and over, preachers like those who messed with the Galatians represent the Gospel as legalism, as a confinement rather than an expansion, as a death-dealer rather than a life-giver. In reality the Gospel is a message of freedom, freedom from the Law, freedom from the flesh, freedom from the world, freedom from religion, freedom from everyone and everything that is less than God himself. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" because freedom is the quality that reveals Him most and characterizes the person to whom He can delegate the most authority. The truly free are the truly powerful. They can be entrusted with power and it will not twist them. (7)

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." -- Galatians 5: 1-6.

The Good news is about truth, it is about knowledge, but more important it is about he Spirit. The Spirit is an internal intimacy that can be obtained with faith. Our faith aided by a balanced degree of the Spiritual disciplines can help use our bodes as vehicles for God's Spirit, "for we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Yet, we can take our study habits, our devotion, our use of the gifts, our prayer, and even our Bible, and present it as laws. When we turn them into laws they become powerful control tools to rule over others. Those taking the Spiritual Disciplines and abusing the grace and freedom we are under are described by Richard J. Foster:

"When the Disciplines, degenerate into law, they are used to manipulate and control people. We take explicit commands and use them to imprison others. Such a deterioration of the Spiritual Disciplines results in pride and fear. Pride takes over because we come to believe that we are the right kind of people. Fear takes over because we dread losing control.

"If we are to progress in the spiritual walk so that the Disciplines are a blessing and not a curse, we must come to the place in our lives where we can lay down the everlasting burden of always needing to manage others. This drive, more than any single thing, will lead us to turn the Spiritual Disciplines into laws. Once we have made a law, we have an 'externalism' by which we judge who is measuring up and who is not. Without laws the Disciplines are primarily an internal work and it is impossible to control an internal work When we genuinely believe that that inner transformation is God's work and not ours, we can put to rest our passion to set others straight.

"We must beware of how quickly we can latch onto this word or that word and turn it into a law. The moment we do so we qualify for Jesus' stern pronouncement against the Pharisees, 'they bind up heavy loads upon the shoulders of men," as we walk by the "letter of the law and not the Spirit, which that alone can give us life.'"(12)

Submission

As Christians we are to "be submissive to those who take the lead" as fellow slaves of ourselves. We live in a Christian brotherhood where a mutual relative submission to each other exist. We submit in our lives absolutely to God, Christ and his Spirit and to the words in Scripture, we relatively submit to our family, our neighbors, our community of believers in Christ, the "broken and despised," and even to the world and the rulers and governments. Only when submission goes against God, do we then refuse our submission and "obey God as a ruler, rather then men." This is because our submission to anyone else but God, is limited and relative, but to God there are no limits. (Acts 5:29).

"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood. Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!" -- Acts 5:28-29.

Much of our submission can not be such clear cut, black and white interpretations, with blanket rules, laws and meanings. Richard J. Foster explains:

"Often the limits of submission are extremely hard to define. What about the marriage partner who feels stifled and kept from personal fulfillment because of the spouse's professional career? Is there a legitimate form of self-denial or is it destructive? What about the teacher who unjustly grades a student? Does the student submit or resist? What about the employer who promotes his employees on the basis of favoritism and vested interests? What does the deprived employee do, especially if the raise is needed for the good of his or her family?"

These are extremely complicated questions simply because human relationships are complicated. They are questions that do not yield to simplistic answers. There is no such thing as a law of submission that will cover every situation. We must become highly skeptical of all laws that purport to handle every circumstance. Casuistic ethics always fail.

It is not an evasion of the issue to say that in defining the limits of submission we are catapulted into a deep dependence upon the Holy Spirit. After all, if we had a book of rules to cover every circumstance in life, we would not need dependence. The Spirit is an accurate discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, both yours and mine. He will be to us a present Teacher and Prophet, instructing us in what to do in every situation."(12b)

Idolatry

Human beings were created to worship. There is honor, and there is putting trust and reliance in something. The two are different. And it's what we put our trust and reliance in for happiness, contentment, and satisfaction, that equals to what we are worshipping, but to what we pay homage, obeisance, honor, and respect is not worship, as honor can be defined as a high respect: as that shown for special merit.

When we put our trust in anything, including theology and knowledge, laws and procedures, even religion itself, it is not to the person, God. In essence, putting stock into -- with trust and reliance for our well being -- anything but God, is worship not to God, but worship of objects, places, laws, teachings, and ideas. These things in themselves are nothing, but it's the sacrifices of our trust that we offer to them that Apostle Paul's describes as demons:

"No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons." -- 1 Corinthians 10:20.

Behind every human-made icon -- including religious laws, procedures, and devotion to an organization that claims to be God's channel of communication -- lies a negative spiritual being of immense power, playing on human hungers, sending people on fruitless quests of things that will not satisfy. Only worship of God the Person, and Him alone, will bring both contentment and satisfaction, with freedom from this type of thinking and misdirected loyalty and devotion.

When a person lives with these qualities dominating their lives, negative spirits forces are allowed the power to stop them from accessing God's Holy Spirit within them. It is an invisible war within.

Fundamentalism, Legalism, and Pride (The most blinding of all sins-John 9:13-14, 33-34; Matt 11:25; Isa 6:9-11).

Lust (the selfish type), Sexual Immorality or Perversion (1 Cor 5:5; 1 Peter 2:11).

Anger and Unforgiveness (Eph. 4:26-27; 2 Cor 2:9-11).

Hatred and Violence (Luke 9:54-56 KJV; John 8:44).

Envy, Jealously and Selfish Ambition (James 3:18-13-18; 1 Sam 18:8-11).

Occult Practices (Lev 19:31; Deut 18:9-13; Acts 16:17-18).

Idolatry or Greed (1 Cor 10:20; Rev 9:20; 1 Tim 6:9; Col 3:5).

Blasphemy (1 Tim 1:20).

Guilt & Feelings of Self Worthlessness (Job 14:7; 2 Kings 2:8).

Fundamentalism & Legalism Allow Demonic Influence.

Fundamentalism, along with legalism, judgementalism, and self righteousness are all forms of pride. These actions along with many specific others, allow demonic spiritual forces that will reside in persons, having power and influencing them when their hearts hold any of these ways. When a person lives with these qualities dominating their lives, negative spirits forces are allowed the power to stop them from accessing God's Holy Spirit within them. It is an invisible war within.

Religious pride leads us to despise the people that God loves. It is an attitude of thinking that we or our theology is superior to others. As Apostle Paul brings out, it is the people who think they are "wise" who God rejects. They are proud of their knowledge and are usually the ones right inside the church, doing more damage within then external opposition. They are the ones who always know what is wrong with everyone else and seeks to "save" or fix them. Many become fixed on traditions and church dogmas. Ironically, people who think they are the most biblical are usually the ones most deceived about the power of religious traditions, pride and popular theology. Ultimately, this produces a religious people who have a relationship not to God but to a religious system and encourages them to depend on a procedure rather than a person. All of this brings us back to the need to hear God's voice, his Spirit outside the letter of the law and the fundamentalist, blanket interpretations and views taken out of balance from God's Word. (1 Cor 3:16-18).

The Affects Of Intellectualism.

Although very important, knowledge has both its limitations and its blinding affect on the human mind and it's spirituality. ... While we are so busy trying to figure out the Greek and Hebrew words that make up a scripture, we tend to loose out on the very meaning. When we exert time and energy evaluating numerical calculations, prophetic utterances, and detailed theology, we can sometimes overlook the obvious. We can pick up on the little things, and trash the weightier matters. It is not the clever mind that's responsible when things work out, it's the mind that sees what's in front of it. ... 

With the followers of Christ, it is only with the Spirit of God that reveals the true nature of things. Either way, "an overstuffed mind" is clouded with details, preventing the unobstructed sight to see. Like the intellectually blinded teachings of Judaism, the rules, regulations, and legal requirements of ... Christian theology become a blinding force, preventing persons to the real message of truth: that of "loving kindness," mercy, and faith, both in Judaism and Christianity, despite the legal requirements of Judaism. ... As with Judaism, the legal requirements were unable to be followed without sin, acting as the tutor to Christ, who paid for our sins, releasing mankind from the Old Covenant of the law, entering him into the law of Christ. In both cases, and in current organizations of Christians, legalism acts as a blinding force to the truth. As the Psalms states, it is not the legal requirements that God desires, but "a broken spirit," a heart broken and crushed, O God, you will not despise." This broken spirit, representing humility, with our faith in Christ, allows God to supply us his Spirit, the "teacher," the Holy Spirit, that takes us away from blinding legalism to the freedom of Christ. (Psalm 51:17).

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. " Psalms 51:17.

As Paul so aptly states to the Colossians,

"Be careful that nobody (including the church & the men who take the lead) spoils your faith through intellectualism or high sounding words. ... For it is only in the Christ that God gives a full expression of himself (not in any group of men or slave class)." -- Col 2:9,10.

Only with God's Holy Spirit, anointing a person and "transforming" them, can they obtain the real freedom and "full expression of Christ."

Many, but not all, church leaders today follow Christ's teachings as "one size fits all" rulings, blanket requirements on all situations. They completely fail to go above or behind the "letter of the law" ("that kills") to the "spirit of the law" ("which gives life"). On the contrary to many churches, rules are made to be broken, just as Jesus Christ broke many, in light of individual circumstances that required "mercy - not sacrifice." Many elders and church leaders today will give their rulings and scriptural advice, which on the surface appears to be correct. The recipient of the counsel, who then, due to his individual circumstances, does not see this counsel as scripturally correct in his situation and does not follow this counsel and advice. The church leader, elder or pastor, etc., will then take this sheep, who he considers to be wounded in his eyes, and kills him or her, by removing, expelling or disfellowshipping him. In other less harsh cases there is no expulsion, but instead a cold chill is put in the air. (2 Cor 3:6).

"He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." -- 2 Corinthians 3:6.

"Minds and hearts are indeed very difficult to change, and especially so when the unchanged mind and heart are sustained in their convictions by the sanctions of the Bible, to which all authority is submitted, and when those convictions reinforce and are reinforcedby the cultural consensus -- those extra-biblical lenses throught which scripture itself inevitable is read." -- Peter J. Gomes.

The problem here is that intellectualism, and in many cases with strong zeal, blind many elders, giving them a false sense of security and unbalanced view on their perception of others, taking themselves and their role as shepherds much too seriously. They kill wounded sheep and lack true empathy, understanding and mercy.

This same intellectualism and a deep knowledge of scripture is only beneficial when it is balanced and comes second to love and mercy. If not, then it is merely bleached out, white washed and clean on the outside, but not written on the heart inside, with the internal circumcision of the heart with the law of love, mercy and kindness, bringing ripe fruitage - the fruits of the spirit, and the father type role of a true spiritual shepherd, who genuinely cares for, protects, shepherds, feeds and passionately loves his sheep. (Matt 23:23-28; Acts 23:3; 1 Cor 8:1,2; Matt 7:15-20; Gal 5:22-24; 1 Cor 4:15)

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." -- Matthew 23:23-28.

"Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!" Acts 23:3

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Matthew 7:15-20

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:22-24.

"Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel." 1 Corinthians 4:15.

For instance, as Tom Hovestol brings out in his book, Seeing Ourselves In The Pharisees Extreme Righteousness:

"In Matthew chapter 21: 12-17, People, particularly children, had begun to praise Jesus. The intellectually blinded and indignant religious leaders asked if Jesus heard the messianic praise coming from children, assuming He would stop it. Jesus encouraged the children's adulation, however, and asserted that it was entirely consistent with Psalm 8:2, which refers to God, and Jesus applied it to Himself." (8a)

"The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "`From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?" And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night." -- Matthew 21:13-17.

"From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." -- Psalms 8:2.

"The Pharisees with all their bible knowledge sometimes missed the obvious. The biblically learned may become so locked into a system that they cannot see what simple children can. Sometimes Bible scholars stumble over truths that are apparent to the simple. (The opposite, of course, also occurs. The simple, because of their prejudices, refuse to accept what can clearly be shown to be true by scholars.)" (8b)

Apparently, even many leading Psychiatrists will agree, that to contain a healthy mind, with healthy psychological functioning, we cannot spend much time analyzing our problems with excessive thinking on how to solve them. For it is our own thinking and how we react that creates the problem, not our external circumstances. As Dr. Richard Carlson, PH.D. states,

"In order to effectively solve a current problem, we need to distance ourselves from it. Whenever anything is too close to us, it is difficult to see with clear eyes. As we let go of the problem, the answers that seemed elusive will present themselves." (8c)

Legalism Breeds Self Righteousness.

"Sometimes those of us who treasure right doctrine think we possess and inside track on the truth of God. God informs us, however, that supposed knowledge, lacking in a pure love of God, is a sure route to spiritual arrogance (1 Corinthians 8:1-3). There is something about being cocksure of possessing the truth that breeds spiritual cockiness. Sometimes good theology subtly breeds conceit, the greatest cancer of spiritual health." (9)

"Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God." 1 Corinthians 8:1-3.

Clearly, the Christian life was meant to be upright, not uptight. Fences, or man made protective extensions of scripture with legal requirements, subtly teach us that God wants us to "play it safe" rather than walk by faith. Keeping this up, like keeping up appearances only works for a time. But living in God's power through the spirit can sustain us and empower us day to day. (9b)

The Characteristics of Youth And Immature Adults: Unrealistic Optimism, Overly Impressionable, and Misguided Zeal.

It is common for many young persons be optimistic and enthusiastic in their pursuit with a misguided and blinded zeal causing legalism. This is not isolated to religious organizations, but can be found in political, military, social, commercial and many other organizations. For example, a young impressionable and intelligent psychiatrist, M. Scott Peck M.D., is invited to work at the White House in the United States Government. Optimistically thinking he can make some valuable contributions, he enters the job with zeal and enthusiasm. Many years later, somewhat defeated and burned out, he leaves the job with the reality of life. He could not make any serious changes.

Some examples are, young college students who think their political philosophy can change the government. When there are millions of students throughout the country who all support the same cause and fight for it, changes can be made depending on the government and other external factors, but in more cases the hard, laborious work of many people are in vain. This is because in the majority of these cases the reasons and cures for change are usually directed to the healing of symptoms and not the cause. In many cases, the very foundation needs the change, where as the people are trying to change the results. The zeal and optimism cause many to put their concentration on the surface problems without seeing the entire picture that reveals the underlying results.

Many young police officers are under the impression that they are making valuable contributions to society. They become "caught up" in the police organization with promotions, titles, and earning a good name for themselves. Not until they are older and more mature do they come to the realization that they are locked in a system that requires both discernment and discretion with flexibility in the enforcement of laws. Their zeal and optimism, along with personal power plays, cause them to become so caught up in the "letter of the law," with the close up and detailed examinations, that they completely lack clear perspective and insight that the law is to "protect and serve," not harass, intimidate or scrupulously monitor the tax paying citizens. The purpose or the spirit of the law can only be seen from looking at it from the distance, gaining insight on the entire picture, where as the examination and interpretation of a close up, detailed study entraps people into the narrow and restrictive view of seeing only the letter or the surface of the laws. The end result ruins many innocent persons lives and fails to make society a better place to live.

Laws And Justice.

Laws, commands, rules and regulations can be good, beneficial and stabilizing factors in the maintaining of order, freedom and personal growth. Or they can be harmful, destructive, abusive and even kill a man. They can benefit society or they can pull it down. Laws must work in accord with justice. If they do not, then the laws themselves become surface requirements leading to nowhere, taking in numerous casualties, imposing bondage and oppression for those who fail to obey living up to the standards of laws that fail to impute true justice.

But when laws work in agreement with justice, they and justice achieve their goal in the direction of fairness, freedom and personal integrity. They become walls of balance for maintaining a healthy and just society. They act as restraints to the abuse and harmful actions against the consideration and freedom of the good. However this can only be achieved when laws, including those high up on top of the ladder, are flexible, able to bend, even to be broken, depending on each individual matter which requires it's own unique character, attributes, qualities and facets. It is only then that laws work in favor of justice, for justice is only just when it incorporates discernment and discretion based on the individual nature of the case without making blanket rulings and imposing blanket, text book laws, "by the book," that override such.

Legalism of the Watchtower Society.

The Watchtower Society, like many churches who reject a degree emotionalism as well as the "gifts" of the holy spirit, and put a human visible organization as a divine mediator to obey to get to Christ and God, are a stiff, formal and legalistic organization, lacking the strong emotional passion and emotional love for God. There are many rules laid out in thousands of "questions from readers" and "kingdom ministry" articles, that are not disfellowshipping offenses, never the less impose and enforce the consciences of others causing undue stress and guilt, producing a "lukewarm faith", with lack of mercy and compassion putting sacrifice ahead of mercy.

The Heavy Yoke Of Legalism.

The problem here are not only the rules, but also the enforcement of "letter of the law", not the "spirit." This is coupled with the legalistic attitude and way of thinking that is displayed and imposed on others by mostly younger persons who are either "pioneers" or have some type of position in the organization. This includes young circuit overseers. Hear again, is the over zealous, misguided and impressionable zeal that destroys other person's spirituality. What makes this much worse, is that the older, and supposedly mature men in Brooklyn, New York, USA, who make the final decisions, rules and regulations are not living in the real world with taxes, health, home and auto insurance payments, full time secular employment, etc. This stunts their growth to maturity and they remain as over zealous youths with misguided zeal, enforcing undue, and sometimes deadly, rules and regulations.

Could You Please Pass The Jelly?

One way to describe the pioneering preaching work is after a television commercial. A group of snobby people are eating at the dinner table, passing around a jar of "all Fruit." A guest who is also eating with them, proceeds to incorrectly ask "Can you please pass the Jelly." This poor, ignorant man called the "all Fruit" with the name "Jelly." He broke the rule of etiquette. The result is, the other folks, "caught up" in their own small world, who are sitting at the table, are shocked ! One woman's glasses fall off her face. In many cases, this is what it is like to be out in field service with many young Jehovah's Witnesses and many immature older ones. However, most of the older ones are much more mature and balanced and do not behave this way, however, the main problem of this way of thinking, is that it is encouraged directly from the Governing Body of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, from persons who are not living in the real world with real world pressures, decisions, problems and stress. And it is these men, who make the decisions for all Jehovah's Witnesses, feeding this type of spiritual poison and misguided thinking. This is where the real problem lies. This causes a legalistic atmosphere in the religion and I can personally recall many conversations in the car groups, becoming very tense, as the air can be figuratively cut with a knife. Consciences are imposed on others, and if not followed, are taken as somewhat shocking.

No Soap Operas and R Rated Movies.

What usually happens are one of two things. First, some words are spoken, resulting in one of the pioneers to look at another and they both will become very silent, creating tension in the air and making it very obvious that they do not agree with what has been said and are somewhat shocked or offended. Certainly it would be much better if the persons were mature enough to confront the issue and face it without being too opinionated. Secondly, the opposite does happen too, with ones who speak too freely and too much, enforcing their ideas on others. Certainly all persons are imperfect, but when they are fed and taught this type of judgmental thinking from Circuit Overseers, and the Governing Body from thousands of articles directly from the Watchtower Society, it can become an extremely "heavy yoke", discouraging, burdening and depressing millions of persons.

Beards Are Considered Rebellious. No Man Can Be A Servant Or Elder Who Has A Beard.

Some examples are: walking on a strip of grass out in the preaching work can receive some counsel, to a recent questions from readers article on the proper or improper disposal of placenta after a woman gives birth, toasting or clinking glasses ? (no), dancing the twist ? (no), buying lottery tickets ? (no), joining the YMCA ? (disfellowshipping offense), what to say if another wishes you a "merry Christmas", wedding ring acceptable ? (yes), alternative military service ?, this was formerly a disfellowshipping offense. Can a man wear a beard, and a woman wear pants at religious functions ? This is considered to be rebellious and not going along with the slave class and their direction. Watching Superman or Batman cartoons to some are thought to be too violent and demonic. No toy guns or weapons are allowed, but many cheat on this. Sponsoring or going to a carnival that is sponsored by a church can merit disfellowshipment or counsel, depending on the opinion of the body of elders, circuit overseer and the extent of the persons involvement. And that includes church bake sales.

Believe it or not, I personally know of a whole turmoil where friendships were broken because of a Jehovah's Witness Mother who had a magician at her child's party. Everything was not too bad, until the magician asked the children to say "Abbra Kadabbra", and then all turmoil broke loose. Because of this insignificant thing, the Elders were called in, it was a mess.

Associating with "worldly people", that is anyone who is not one of Jehovah's Witnesses, is certainly looked down upon. And of course dating "worldly people" or marrying them would receive a harsher sentence. Here 1 Corinthians 7:39 is used to "Marry only in the Lord." If one marries outside the religion, they are either "marked" according to the misapplication of Titus or they are "disfellowshipped."

Based on Black and White Interpretations of the "Slave Class", the Judicial Committee Decides Your Fate.

No R rated movies are to be watched and I could understand the reasoning behind this, for many R rated movies have a lot of garbage in them that can be offensive to some, however to enforce this as a ruling is something different. It is a decision of each individual and the context of each particular movie, not a religious organization. also soap operas are looked down on, with many articles written negatively on viewing them, so if you do watch them, you need to keep your mouth shut.

No thrill sports such as skydiving, mountain climbing or bungee jumping. This is considered a lack of respect for life and one will loose their privileges in the congregation for this. Elders and Ministerial Servants will be deleted. This also holds true for taking Karate or Martial arts lessons, despite the wonderful benefits of self discipline and control that the Martial arts offer.

Parents are strongly counciled to keep their children out of all school extra ciricular activities, including sports, arts and crafts, science ... you name it.

Owning a radar detector is considered to be a sign of a person who is breaking the law. The penalty varies according to the body of elders in the congregation or the circuit overseer in charge of the circuit.

Happy Birthday USA -- A Pagan custom not to be practiced.

Watching fireworks on the 4th of July is considered by some to be celebrating the birthday of the United States. Even if you do go and no one knows, the guilt of the Watchtower's interpretations of what displeases Jehovah is "heavy" and "burdensome." I was a bad boy and took my wife and children to see the fireworks at a local high school every year. Of course I did not tell anyone in the congregation, except some more mature witnesses who were not so legalistic. This petty, gnat-straining list goes on and on, and can fill this entire page and more.

Really this is pure legalism and buts a "heavy load upon the shoulders of men" and into spiritual bondage, enslavement, to the teachings of men. It robs one of true Christian "freedom" and diminishes individuals from having an intimate personal relationship with God and Christ, for the "organization" comes first. One must walk in step with the organization to please Jehovah.

Then there are many more rules that "strain out the gnat", overlooking "justice and mercy", and are disfellowshipping offenses for instance, anyone doing cleaning work or any other type of work, being employed by the military is disfellowshipped. The ironic thing about this is if a Jehovah's Witness works as a house cleaner on an army base, employed directly by an individual military officer, it is allowed and acceptable by the Watchtower organization, however if this same person is directly employed by the government, then this is considered a compromise of integrity to God and the Watchtower Society disfellowships the person.

"In fact, you put up with whoever enslaves you, whoever devours, whoever grabs, whoever exalts himself over you, whoever strikes you in the face." -- 2 Cor 11:20.

According to The Watchtower Society, Smoking Tobacco Is Worthy Of Death in God's Eyes.

Loading vending machines with tobacco or horoscope notes is not allowed and depending on the congregation and circuit overseer, the disciplinary action varies. I personally knew of a young man who could not be baptized because of this. The elder who studied with him had to contact the circuit overseer, after presenting two separate kingdom ministry articles, that were so complicated and legalistic, that you needed a lawyer to interpret them. The result was, he had to give up his high paying job along with his independence in order to be baptized and for some time was in an Elder's basement apartment with very low rent. He has no trade and no college skills, and in my opinion, will never have the opportunity to obtain a decent paying job as the one he left because of the legalistic restrictions of the Watchtower Society. Perhaps he will obtain a moderately wealthy father-in-law to help him in this area. I frequently see him drive past my house, and he must shun me or be disfellowshipped.

"Sometimes our traditions compromise our theology; they even encourage us to look toward wrong solutions to the sin problem. We Christians at times produce lists of rules that protect us from defilement. Though it may not be packaged as such, defilement is viewed as "out there in the world." Certain people are designated as defiling. Thus we were taught (wisely) to pick good Friends and avoid bad people. Certain places are inherently compromising; wherever alcohol is served or pot smoked, wherever rock music is played and bodies move to the beat-wherever secular activities occur. And certain objects like face cards and a variety of magazines are dirty. While there is wisdom in many of these rules, they subtly communicate that defilement is external and not internal, the opposite of bedrock biblical theology." Seeing Ourselves In The Extreme Righteousness of The Pharisees - Tom Hovestol (12c)

Installing alarms or monitoring them for any church is subject to disfellowshipment. This includes any construction or continual repairs to any church. At first one brother, who owned an alarm company was called in the back of the hall and told by the elders to stop installing new alarms at churches, since they are interpreted by the Watchtower, to be "Babylon the great", or false religion. He obeyed. Then a short time later, he was further instructed to stop repair work on the alarms that he had previously installed. Again he obeyed and contracted the repair work out to other companies or contractors. Then a short time later he was again instructed to stop all monitoring of the alarms he installed at the churches. He was given somewhere around three months to obey or be disfellowshipped. When the deadline was up and he did not meet it, he pleaded for more time, but was refused and was subsequently disfellowshipped, shunned by all.

I have personally spent an entire Sunday morning at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, hearing a talk and later comments, about the "wrongness" of using the telephone to call another person with only one ring and then hanging up, in order to let the person on the other end know you arrived at your destination safely. This was condemned as "stealing from the phone company." It was claimed that by performing this act of communication, was in essence, using the phone company's services without paying for it, thus being fundamentally labeled as "stealing." But even further, this act was considered as "sinning against Jehovah God," putting undue guilt and pressure on anyone who followed this practice. This is the way a controlling organization teaches, doing so with an inflexible, fundamentalist and legalistic mind. Can you imagine, Jesus broke the laws left and right due to individual circumstances, and yet we will have to live with negative judgment against us for using the telephone in a legal way (loophole) from paying - a ring and a hang up.

Celebrating birthdays, Christmas, Father's day, Mother's day, Valentines day, Easter and many, many more. Again, the ruling on these holidays, because of Pagan roots in their origins are a legalistic and unchristian approach to pleasing God. Not only was the very act of Baptizing another a practice that came from Pagan origins, but Apostle Paul also stated "One man esteems one day as better (or worse) than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let every one be fully convinced in his OWN mind" showing that it is not up to the rulings of a religious organization or "slave class" as to whether a person can or cannot celebrate a holiday, but it is up to "each individual" who "must be fully convinced in his own mind" of what day to esteem better then the next. The only exception to this is: if a celebration of a holiday contains actions, not origins, that are hurtful of others and directly worship other gods. Pagan origins do not constitute this, for even Jesus was Baptized, a practice that came from Pagan origins and at death, his own body was prepared with spices and mummification according to the ancient Pagan origin of the immortality of the soul of the Egyptians.

Joining the Red Cross, joining the YMCA.

Voting at any type of political election and or any type of involvement therein merits disfellowshipment.

Bingo Is Gambling

Bingo is considered a gambling sin. Lottery tickets are also considered an offense against God, interpreted to be trusting in the "God of Luck" of Isaiah 65:11. If a witness continues to buy lottery tickets on a continual basis and does not stop after the elders counsel him to do so he will be disfellowshipped and yet, according to a Kingdom Ministry article, if that same brother is given a lottery ticket as a gift he is permitted to keep it, along with the prize money if he wins. Again, this can be confirmed in a Kingdom ministry article and Watchtower articles. I personally do not think an organization can get much more pharasaicle and legalistic then this. Really, is this any different from healing on the Sabbath or a non-Sabbath day or washing the hands up to the elbow or wrist?

And at the yearly district conventions, each witness can only go to the hotel on the list supplied by the Watchtower or face certain consequences as counseled from the platform on many occasions. The Watchtower Society could not obtain lower rates for the Marriot Hotel, next to the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island NY, USA, as well as many other Hotels that refused to lower their prices. So the Watchtower Society banned all Jehovah's Witnesses from staying at these hotels, even though they were right next door or extremely close to the coliseum. I remember some brothers dared to disobey and stay at the Marriot hotel, only to receive strong counsel and possible deletion of privileges or position in their congregations. Certainly Christians are to be "obedient to those taking the lead," but this goes far beyond the obedience of humble servants who serve in a kind loving way, to "masters over ones faith", and a legalistic "washing of the hands to the elbow", that is the traditions and enforcement of man made rules and regulations. "The letter kills, the spirit gives life."

Questions From Readers, Watchtower Articles and Various Other Publications Set The Tone and Make The Laws That Must Be Followed.

"While they are promising them freedom, (the Watchtower Society) they themselves are existing as slaves." -- 2 Pet 2:19.

If one fails to accept many of the teachings and interpretations of the Watchtower, then they are disfellowshipped. Such teachings include, 1914 as the year of Jesus Christ's supposedly invisible presence as ruling king, the Watchtower Society as the "faithful and discreet slave" class, 144,000 as a literal number, storing one's own blood for surgery is wrong, celebration of most holidays (why father's day ?), the counting of time spent preaching, the judging of others spirituality based on field service hours, the amount meetings attended, the teaching that we are living in the "last days" since 1914, that Satan was thrown out of heaven sometime around 1914, that the anointed were resurrected in the year 1918, and many more teachings that again could fill most of this p.. Not believing and privately speaking to others a disbelief in these teachings, could result in being cut off completely, "disfellowshipped" from his complete social circle, that is every friend he or she has. also if a parent, then you would be cut off from your witness child, if a child, your parent and all relatives who are Jehovah's Witnesses for that matter. The application used is 1 Cor 5:11 not to eat with drunkards, greedy persons, fornicators, idolaters, extortioners. However, one just has to disagree with any of the organizational policies and teachings to have this scripture applied to them. No greetings could be exchanged either. They apply 2 John 1:10 for this. This scripture applies to the "antichrist" or one who leaves the teaching of the Christ, NOT the Watchtower interpretations, policies and rules as laid out in thousands of "Questions From Readers" and many other publications.

The Black & White Meaning.

According to Jehovah's Witnesses all Governments and all Religions, except theirs, are from "The Ruler Of The World", Satan The Devil.

Can you imagine seeing a person, who left or has been expelled by the Watchtower Society, who you know is a good person and have personally known for years, and you are forbidden to speak to them? If you do decide to disobey the Watchtower and speak to him or eat a meal with him, then you are also disfellowshipped. Now you loose all of your friends and family that are in the Watchtower organization and they cannot even speak to you. This is no different from the blind man who was healed by Jesus. His parents were brought before the Pharisees and demanded to supply them the answer to their son's new found sight. They managed to get out of it saying "Our son is of age, go ask him!" They were afraid to say the wrong thing and be excommunicated or disfellowshipped from the Jewish congregation, loosing association with all their friends and relatives. The son then dared speak up to them about the Christ and was disfellowshipped. The legalism blinded the Pharisees despite the rightness of Jesus miracle, just as today, speaking to anyone who leaves the organization is condemned by the Watchtower Society, despite any valid points they may make, for their legalism has blinded their eyes. (John 9:8-34).

The end result in failure to conform to all the legalism, interpretative rulings, and organizational policies of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, result in "disfellowshipment", causing one to lose his friends and any family who are Jehovah's Witnesses. This misapplication of 1 Corinthians chapter 5 , 2 John, and Matthew 18 has brought emotional trauma to millions of individuals over the years, and is still continuing today. All of this brings persons under a "heavy yoke" of "bondage" to men. This so called "truth" has not set them free, but instead, man-made teachings enslave Jehovah's Witnesses to guilt and performance of sacrifice that can never really please their God.

Jesus Cures A Blind Man, But By Breaking The Law By Doing This On The Sabbath, The ("Slave Class") Leaders Who "Knew" The Bible, "Knew" He Was Not the Christ.

The danger of correct theology by our so called respectable leaders, the "slave class," the pastor, reverend, priest or any other man for that matter, can find the truth of God missed, overlooked and invisible to all studied knowledge. The Pharisees "knew" the Bible, but without having a personal conversational life with God, their intimacy, internal discernment of faith and wisdom could not lead them to the revelation of God's spirit that Jesus was indeed the Christ. Dallas Willard writes:

"Danger comes not only from the wild side of religion, however, it can also come from the respectable side of religion. In John chapter 9, Jesus healed a blind man man on the Sabbath. The leaders of the people, proud of being Moses' deciples (v.28), "knew" that Jesus could not possibly be of God because he did not observe their restrictions on working during the Sabbath (v.16). They just "knew" that this man Jesus was a sinner because they "knew" the Bible. And they "knew that the Bible said you were to supposed to do the kinds of things Jesus was doing on the Sabbath. Therefore, since this man Jesus did these kinds of things on the Sabbath, he was a sinner.

They had good, reliable general knowledge of how things were supposed to be. For his part the man healed could only repeat, "I do not know whether he (Jesus) is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see" (v.25). But that was not in the Bible, in the law. The leaders had their own guidance, and they thought it was sufficient. but it was not sufficient, though it was very respectable. For it allowed them to condemn the power and works of love in Jesus himself. "We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from" (v.29).

We don't know! That is perhaps the most self-damning statement they could possible have made. They looked at what Jesus did and said, "We don't know what this person is doing. We don't know where his is coming from. We don't know that he is of God." Why didn't they know?

What they were really confessing was they they did not know who God is or what his works are. In their own way they shared Nicodemus's problem of not being able to see the kingdom of God--though they were sure that in fact they did. Many stand in that same place today. They could look at the greatest works of love and righteousness, and if those works did not conform either to their legalistic ideas of what the Bible or their church teaches or to what their own subjective experiences confirm, they could condemn those works without batting an eyelid, saying, "We know that this is wrong!" We all need to be delivered fro such knowledge!

In the face of the mad religionist or the blind legalist, we really have no recourse, no place to stand, if we do not have firsthand experience of hearing God's voice, held safely within a community of brothers and sisters in Christ who also have such knowledge of God's personal dealings with their own souls." (13)

The Cure To Legalism

As with the Jehovah's Witnesses, Fundamentalist Christians and the many other social, political, legal, commercial corporate and religious groups and organizations, the only real "cure for legalism, and self-righteousness must begin with a growing awareness and admission of self flaws and the intolerance of enforcing others to follow our perception of obedience, along with our own narrow dependency on the obedience of many stipulations. After all, the fundamentalist flaw of Pharisaism and legalism is a superficial understanding of ones personal depravity, weaknesses and unfairness, along with a corresponding failure to depend fully on living a life of agape love, mercy and justice to our fellow man, which would in essence be depending on God's kindness. (10)

True Justice Recognizes Individual Circumstances That Justifiably Break Even The Strongest Of Laws.

1. We must admit that we are powerless over our selfish tendencies, our habitual patterns of self righteousness and contemptuous view of others. That our external emphasis and judgementalism of others are unmanageable. We cannot fully on our own curb this way of thinking, nor change our habits in this area.

2. We come to believe that a power greater than ourselves, God, is the only one who can transform us into this way of thinking -- His way of thinking. It is only with the power of His Spirit that "dwells within us," internally, that can give us the strength, power, and compassion of others, to see people for what they truly are -- our brothers. We put our faith, reliance, dependence, and trust, in God and Christ alone, Our faith rests in an invisible reality, a spiritual connection of intimacy, a vertical relationship between you and God alone. A faith that is real, seeing with our eyes of faith, knowing with full confidence that God really does loves us, personally knows us, hears our prayers, and even listens to them. In turn, he grants us our wishes that are in agreement with his will, subject to his timing of things. As we put our faith in him, he supplies us and anoints us with his Holy Spirit, giving us His power, increasing our faith, our knowledge, our wisdom, and our giving love and forgiveness to our fellow man.

3. We develop "the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge", showing mercy and love to all persons, not doctrinal interpretations -- inflexible obedience to rules, or the judging of others who do not live up to our interpretive standards. True doctrine is faith in Christ and more importantly, loving kindness to all. This far outweighs and overrides the strict obedience to rules, and the doctrinal knowledge and blinding intellectualism of the men who interpret scriptures. With the power of God's Holy Spirit, personally dwelling inside us, we use this to show agape love, forgiveness, and compassion towards our fellow man. We look towards our faith and love as the key elements of following Jesus Christ, and put all of the various doctrinal, theological, and numerical explanations far behind, realizing many are gnat-straining issues, and need to be addressed with discernment, discretion and balance. (Eph 3:19).

4. We must discern between nonnegotiable and negotiables. Those who wish to avoid Pharisaism must develop true justice or godly discernment. Not all areas can be labeled "Black and White" or "Right or Wrong." We must recognize that outside of the doctrinal basics and foundation stone of Christ, the majority of scriptures are "gray areas" or conscience matters. Here is where we must individually train our perceptive powers to discernment, growing and pressing on to maturity and becoming full grown in our powers of understanding, digesting the solid food of individual responsibility.

5. We must be constant learners, not theological know-it-alls. We cannot rely and parrot what other men or "slave classes" interpret for us. Humility, flexibility, and a willingness to change are theological virtues. This would enable us to listen and accept the advice of what we may have formerly considered the weakest of people and instead listen to what they say and respect, honor and take stock into any valuable thoughts they may convey.

6. We should not resort to ungodly methods, as the Pharisees did, to promote our theology. Ridicule, name-calling, such as "sinner", "apostate" and "evil slave", along with stereotyping, slander, impugning wrong motives, such as accusing others of "leaving God or Jehovah", and power plays are all telltale signs that something is amiss. So are sarcasm, deception, coercion, manipulation, as with the enforcement of the loss of association with family and friends. The Pharisees were intent of surfacing flaws and used whatever means were available to discredit Jesus, just as the Watchtower and other organizations do to people who leave their man made organization. Sometimes we too find flaws and discredit people and movements. Would it not be better for the making of disciples to encourage freedom but teach discernment?

Of course it would be the best to make disciples and encourage freedom but teach discernment. That is the most balanced. However, when laws, policies and obedience go beyond mere disagreement, imposing teachings and theology that enforce hurtful and slanderous actions, this must be exposed to others. Just as Christ spoke against the practices of the Pharisees in his day, including turning over the money changing tables in the temple, we all have the responsibility to speak out when others are being hurt and we have either the knowledge and experience to help.

7. We must have a settled conviction that truth is powerful and questions are not to be feared. Being an independent thinker along with the freedom to question the leaders or slave class and governing bodies, are what causes Christians to mature, leaving their grids or molds and guru-given answers, resulting in using their thinking abilities, growing, "training their individual perceptive powers to distinguish right and wrong", "leaving the milk and digesting the more hard to absorb meatlike information, forming a individual relationship with God, fully depending on him along with true discernment. (11)

Footnotes:

1a. See Ourselves In The Pharisees Extreme Righteousness, Tom Hovestol, pp107- 111.

1a. Ibid. p44.

1. Surprised By the Power Of The Holy Spirit, Jack Deere, p86.

2. Ibid.

2a. Seeing Ourselves In The Pharisees Extreme Righteousness, Tom Hovestol.

2aa. Ibid. pp79, 107.

2b. Growing Deep In Christian Life, Charles Swindoll, p31.

2bb. No Man Is An Island, Thomas Merton, pp39-40.

2d. The Bible Says, John Huxtable, p70.

3. The Mustard Seed Book, Mike Flynn, pp148-149.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

5a. In Search of Christian Freedom, Raymond Franz, p11.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8a. Seeing Ourselves In The Pharisees Extreme Righteousness, Tom Hovestol.

8b. Ibid. pp76-77.

8c. You Can Be Happy No Matter What, Richard Carlson, PH. D., p139.

9. Ibid.

9b. Ibid. p131.

10. Ibid - p59.

11. Ibid. pp.73, 74.

12. Celebration of Discipline, Richard J. Foster, p10.

12b. Ibid. p121.

12c. Seeing Ourselves In The Pharisees Extreme Righteousness, Tom Hovestol, p112.

13. Hearing God, Dallas Willard, pp187-188.