With so many ways being taught, who am I supposed to follow?
Question:
Christ liberated us from legalism. I'm confused about determining what is wrong in our culture. I've always been brought up with a tough view on things that aren't customary. My question is: if we're called to preach the gospel to the world, how do we do it? Are we to be with the world then?
I don't know Jeff, everybody has so many different ways of doing things, I don't know who to follow.
Answer:
Christ freed us from the Old Testament law, but some people misuse those statements to make it appear that Christ freed people from all law. When Paul talked to the Gentiles who did not have the Law of Moses, he said, "to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law" (I Corinthians 9:21). Notice that Paul made it very clear that he was not without all law. He was bound by the law of Christ. "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). Or as James said, "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does" (James 1:25).
Take a look at Legalism: The Un-Sin
There is only one way to follow and that is God's way. There is only one person to follow and that is Christ. "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). What people do is add or take away parts of Christ's law to make their own versions. You can often see this when a plain verse, used in proper context, is brought up and the person responds that it doesn't mean what it clearly says. For example, there are quite a number of groups that say we are saved by faith alone when the only passage that talks about faith alone says, "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only" (James 2:24). While it is popular to say we are saved by faith alone, I don't know of anyone who actually believes it. It is always faith accompanied by something else, such as Jesus' death. If you are interested, look at What Saves a Person?
How is preaching accomplished? "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (I Corinthians 1:21). It is done by teaching the Bible.
