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Re: How Should Christians Treat Those Who Seem To Want To Be "Under The Law"?
What do you mean to be 'under the law'? Are you talking about an individual who keeps the Sabbath, festivals, and whatever else because he thinks they have meaning, but doesn't condemn others for not keeping them?
Or, does he believe they are earning, meriting, or continuing his salvation? Does he believe that his salvation is conditional upon doing these sorts of things?
I believe the second individual should be confronted in a firm but loving way. These sorts of people are the topics of the books of Galatians, Colossians and Hebrews. The first individual should be left alone as he's simply exercising his liberality under Romans 14.
By the way, according to Acts 21, the Palestinian Jews were concerned that Paul was teaching the Diaspora Jews that they shouldn't observe elements of the Law. Paul participated in some Jewish purification rites as a result; to prove that he was not promoting such things. So, this tells us that the Jewish Christians of this time were keeping elements of the Old Covenant laws. However, it is plain from the context, as well as Acts 15, that they were not required of Gentile Christians.
Gentile Christians, on the other hand, were being taught by Judaizers that they needed to keep the Old Covenant. This was an outright heresy, and Paul confronted it in STRONG terms in the book of Galatians. Colossian Christians were warned against Judaizers who were promoting similar things such as festivals, new moon, and Sabbath observance. Hebrews was written to confront Jews who were being taught that salvation was about Jesus plus the Old Covenant, and this too was condemned.
I have no issue with Sabbath or festival keepers who believe it's a worthwhile practice and that the days have meaning. if they are trying to promote their practice to others, though, I will ask them if they think observing those days are a condition of their salvation, or if they earn, merit, or continue their salvation in any way. I may ask them if they think other Christians who don't observe these days are still in their sins and unsaved. If they respond with yes on these sorts of questions, I would inform them of the Scriptures that prove that these days are not binding requirements on New Covenant Christians.
The older Sabbath and festival keepers are deeply indoctrinated so I don't spend much effort on them if they combat me. It's usually those who are less indoctrinated that are reachable. It's a useful endeavor as young people have so many years ahead of them and they can spend it trying to reach people with the true gospel rather than the fake gospel of legalism.
I spend 10 years as a Sabbath and festival keeper in a legalistic cult so I am very familiar with the mentality. I doubt I would have listened if someone had attempted to dissuade me from legalism but I wish someone had, in my earlier years. I think about all the worthwhile endeavors I could have done during this time that was sort of wasted with foolishness.
What do you mean to be 'under the law'? Are you talking about an individual who keeps the Sabbath, festivals, and whatever else because he thinks they have meaning, but doesn't condemn others for not keeping them?
Or, does he believe they are earning, meriting, or continuing his salvation? Does he believe that his salvation is conditional upon doing these sorts of things?
I believe the second individual should be confronted in a firm but loving way. These sorts of people are the topics of the books of Galatians, Colossians and Hebrews. The first individual should be left alone as he's simply exercising his liberality under Romans 14.
By the way, according to Acts 21, the Palestinian Jews were concerned that Paul was teaching the Diaspora Jews that they shouldn't observe elements of the Law. Paul participated in some Jewish purification rites as a result; to prove that he was not promoting such things. So, this tells us that the Jewish Christians of this time were keeping elements of the Old Covenant laws. However, it is plain from the context, as well as Acts 15, that they were not required of Gentile Christians.
Gentile Christians, on the other hand, were being taught by Judaizers that they needed to keep the Old Covenant. This was an outright heresy, and Paul confronted it in STRONG terms in the book of Galatians. Colossian Christians were warned against Judaizers who were promoting similar things such as festivals, new moon, and Sabbath observance. Hebrews was written to confront Jews who were being taught that salvation was about Jesus plus the Old Covenant, and this too was condemned.
I have no issue with Sabbath or festival keepers who believe it's a worthwhile practice and that the days have meaning. if they are trying to promote their practice to others, though, I will ask them if they think observing those days are a condition of their salvation, or if they earn, merit, or continue their salvation in any way. I may ask them if they think other Christians who don't observe these days are still in their sins and unsaved. If they respond with yes on these sorts of questions, I would inform them of the Scriptures that prove that these days are not binding requirements on New Covenant Christians.
The older Sabbath and festival keepers are deeply indoctrinated so I don't spend much effort on them if they combat me. It's usually those who are less indoctrinated that are reachable. It's a useful endeavor as young people have so many years ahead of them and they can spend it trying to reach people with the true gospel rather than the fake gospel of legalism.
I spend 10 years as a Sabbath and festival keeper in a legalistic cult so I am very familiar with the mentality. I doubt I would have listened if someone had attempted to dissuade me from legalism but I wish someone had, in my earlier years. I think about all the worthwhile endeavors I could have done during this time that was sort of wasted with foolishness.
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