Friday, September 10, 2010

Max Lucado says: " all religion falls into...two camps: legalism or grace.  A legalist believes  if you look right, speak right and belong to the right group, you'll be saved...The outside sparkles...but something's missing...Joy.  What's there instead? Fear-that you won't do enough.  Arrogance-that you've done enough. Failure-that you've made a mistake.  Legalism is...slow suffocation of the spirit, amputation of one's dreams...enough religion to keep but not nourish you...Your diet is rules and standards.  Legalism...doesn't need God...It's the search for innocence-not forgiveness...a systematic process of defending...explaining...exalting...justifying...It turns my opinion into your burden.. There's only room for one opinion...and guess who's wrong?  It turns my opinion into your boundary.  Your opposing opinion makes me question not only your right to fellowship with me, but your salvation.  It turns my opinion into your obligation.  Christians must toe the company line.  Your job isn't to think, it's to march...Salvation is God's business.  Grace is his idea, his work, and his expense.  He offers it to whomever he desires, when he desires.  Our job is to inform people not screen them."