As I typically do in the morning, while getting my kids to school, I sit down and read the letters you all write in the morning while eating breakfast.
 
For the first time in the year and half or so that I have been reading the letters, I noticed a very negative tone in many of the comments. Perhaps this is due to the topics discussed (Texxe Mars/Billy Graham, the trinity,etc) which resulted in this, or perhaps it is the sense of urgency to make oneself ready for his coming that has everyone on their toes.
 
But there is also the possibility that the spirit of legalism has taken hold, and that is what I want to write about. I am not pointing to any in particular here, just writing what I am led to write.
 
As I have written before, both lawlessness and legalism are selfish actions of the flesh. When we fall to either of these we are living by the flesh, and not of the Spirit. In the light of Jesus second coming, we will see our own weakness, and unworthiness, and in so doing, we are susceptible to falling into legalism. Trying to Justify ourselves, and exalt ourselves above others.
 
This is easy to do. I know in my debates on and with false prophets it is easy to fall into this "I am right, they are wrong attitude", and thereby placing ourselves on a pedestal. But it is only when we compare ourselves to Christ on the cross that we realize our unworthiness, and come on our knees in repentance saying "Lord have mercy on me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13)
 
I recently had a discussion on a certain tele-evangelist with a family member of mine. He raised the following question to me, which is one that we all must answer, for all of us, including our teachers are human, and flawed, and prone to error.
 
 ....NO TEACHER (excepting Christ and I suppose the inspired writers of the Bible) is free from teaching FALSEHOODS, whether past, present, or future.  I am troubled by WHERE is the line drawn between TRUTH and FALSE TEACHINGS within the Church....as in WHEN is there TOO MUCH FALSEHOOD in it.....and are we then to CONDEMN the teacher along with CONDEMNING the teachings as they persist within the Church?
 
The following is MY response to this question. You will each have your own response. I am sharing mine, just so that you will know why I am writing this.
 
I Think the answer lies in the question.
 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and L)"do not lean on your own understanding. [or the understandings of men]
6 In all your ways M)"acknowledge him,
    and he N)"will make straight your paths. ( Proverbs 3:5-6 [brackets added])
 
All truth is discerned by the Holy Spirit. The teachings of man will always fall short of the Word of God. Marcionism disposed of most of the new Testament writers, with the exception of Paul's teachings, because of the apparent (misunderstood) contradictions between law and Grace. Many of the Messianic Jewish movement, and Hebrew roots teachers have virtually eliminated the writings of Paul, because of their lack of understanding on unmerited grace.
 
But the Truth is that Law and Grace are mutually dependent on each other. They fulfill each other. If there is no Law or condemnation, then grace does not exist as there is no reason for it because none are law breakers. In the opposite If there is only law and condemnation, Then obedience is only coercive obedience (fear of punishment), and not willful obedience done out of Love and admiration for the one who has bestowed his grace upon us as a free gift (unconditional love). In other words, The Law is thereby written on our hearts. Our obedience is not from a heart of stone (legalism), but from a heart of flesh (Love). It is the Spirit of the Law, not the Letter of the Law that we obey.
 
This is the sermon on the mount in a nutshell. (Matthew 5-7) It is simple common sense.
 
It is almost too SIMPLE, when you think of it this way, But a proud heart is a hardened heart. Most preachers and teachers have so much invested in their own kingdom to admit their errors, that they refuse to repent and correct the false teachings from their churches. In so doing they fear that they will disenfranchise the core of their "investors", and their house will crumble. But in God's eyes, their house is a dung heap already. Why do they store up treasures for themselves on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt? But the members of the churches are also to blame, in that they are all too content to be suckled on breast milk.
 
Now forgive the long response, My point being to illustrate that it is easy to trust in the teachings of men, as opposed to the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Every Man will be erroneous in their teaching. But we are not following men, we are Following God. He is the Head, and there is no other. Rowina brought up Dave Hunt in her letter. Though I think she is wrong in grouping him with Texxe Mars, and it was his writing that brought me back from my prodigal ways, I do see error in his teachings too. But I do respect him and his ministry. I also recently criticized John MacArthur on his teaching on the Mark of the beast. Yet I still hold him in high regard as a teacher and an elder in the church. I too have made many errors in my life, and if I am to be judged by them, then my only response is the prayer of the tax collector I quoted above.
 
It is my belief, and I could be wrong, that instead of looking at the errors of men, we should be looking at the fruit they are producing for God's Kingdom. Yes Billy Graham has made some outlandish claims, yet thousands have heard the gospel through him. And yes, there are thousands who are saved in the catholic church, yet most are following a man (the pope) and not God. Martin Luther was right in many ways about the catholic church, yet his teachings were erroneous and led to the Holocaust. There were also many Lutherans and catholics who risked their lives to save the Jews and stood up to Hitler as well. Even the Liberation theologists of South America were right in standing up for the oppression of the poor, but they succumb to the errors of communism, which is even more oppressive than the dictators they were standing up to.
 
Now I could go on pointing out the errors of men such as John Calvin, Spurgeon, or even Tozier and Wilkerson. But they all, in their own way produced fruit, despite their errors. But we follow and Trust God, not men.
 
This goes for the apostles as well. Yes their writing was inspired by the Holy Spirit, yet each writer alone does not make the whole Gospel. I mentioned Marcionism above which only accepted the teachings of Paul. But Paul was an apostle to the gentiles. His letters reflect this, and this is the culture they are addressed to. Do we thus excommunicate Paul's teaching because of the Apparent contradiction to James' teachings? NO! Because his teaching on grace balances out James' teachings on Obedience and works of faith. Were Paul and James erroneous? NO! I believe in the inerrancy of the Word of God. To state otherwise would be to contradict my belief. Rather they both have a piece of the whole of the Puzzle, John another, Peter yet another. It is in unity that the Whole Truth is come to. Just as the Godhead is both ONE and three persons, Our understanding cannot grasp such apparent contradiction. When we try to, we will fall either to oneness doctrines, or making Jesus less than God. Both are false, and both are based on OUR (Man's) understanding.
 
I also think, that at the very heart of this is where Israel lost its way. They followed men, whether it was Moses, David, or the Kings that did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They did not follow God. Though it was God that led them through the wilderness, and provided Manna and water for them, they did not trust him to provide victory over the obstacles in the promised Land. That is because they were following Moses and not God. They were  trusting a Man, and saw the weakness of that man, and did not have faith that they could overcome. In turn, they accused Stephen of Blaspheming Moses, and the Law. They could not comprehend in their own understanding, that Jesus (Their Messiah) was both Man and God(which is what they needed because of their weakness of following men) So they trusted in their own understanding in condemning Stephen.
 
There are two examples of confrontation of leaders in the church, both done by Paul, that point to his agreement with what I am writing here. In 1 Corinthians 5, he confronts a leader in the Corinthian church who was sleeping with his Mother. This person had fallen into the trap of Lawlessness. In Galations 2, Paul explains how he confronted Peter, Who had fallen into the trap of Legalism. Any person who says that Paul and his letters should be ignored should be pointed to both of these examples, to show that they have either fallen to the side of legalism and trusting their own understanding, rather than Living by the Spirit. And the opposite can be said of anyone that says the Law is obsolete using the teachings of Paul alone. Satan will attack you from these two towers continually throughout your life. He will even send allies to fight along side you that will lead you one way or the other when you have won the battle.
 
My message here, is rather simple. Trust God, and not man. Both legalism and lawlessness are trusting in man's understanding, And not the Holy Spirit.
 
  10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
    on level ground! (Psalm 143:10)
 
God bless