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You are here: Home / Practical Theology / Confessions of a Recovering Legalist

Confessions of a Recovering Legalist

August 2, 2012 by Andy Naselli

BobBeckyMy friend Bob Gonzales shares what he calls “Confessions of a Recovering Legalist.”

He identifies three areas of “remaining legalism”:

  1. Elevating My Own Opinions
  2. Looking Down at Others
  3. Trusting in Human Tradition

He explains why he calls himself a “recovering legalist”:

Ironically, one area I’ve been wrestling with lately relates to my attitude and posture towards other Christians in whom I perceive the tendencies of legalism. Christ has been so patient with me, yet I’ve not always been as patient with them. Instead, I’ve become so preoccupied with what I perceive to be their tendencies toward an imbalanced rigidity, a sectarian spirit, and an inordinate veneration of human tradition, that I’ve sometimes lost sight of God’s grace in their hearts and ministries. This too is a legalistic tendency.

Related:

  1. Judgmentalism
  2. Judgmental Statements
  3. How to Play Uno in Real Life
  4. Legalism

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Filed Under: Practical Theology Tagged With: judgmentalism, sanctification

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  1. Ivan Lambert says

    August 2, 2012 at 9:56 am

    This is such a struggle for all of us who have genuine concern with the cultural and ecclesiastical drifts away from truth. We in turn can (and in my case have) become self-righteous over our desire to stand for truth, love truth, be faithful to Scripture and the gospel. In the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, I have certainly noticed that I can be the elder brother. It frustrates me, and then the gospel reminds me Jesus died for my self-righteousness as well.

    Thanks, Andy.

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