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In putting this issue together, we confess that we feel no small amount of confusion, frustration and even anger
towards the subject of legalism, and this is reflected in the tone of some of the articles. We are confused because we do not understand why so much emphasis is placed by some on irrelevant matters which are magnified
to become issues of division and bondage. We are frustrated because it seems to be so hard to get this type of people to become aware of the problem, and to do anything about it, other than pat themselves on the back
for their imagined faithfulness to the cause. And we are, yes, even angry, because while legalism prevails we see our fellow young people leave churches, and even leaving Christianity itself, fed up with the
shallow external religion they have been raised on. Meanwhile, the legalists refuse to budge, blind to the damage caused by their own self-righteousness, condemning those who walk out, and encouraging the ever smaller
remainder to even greater conformity to their rule of life. We trust that you will find this issue to be tough and uncompromising on the subject of legalism for
that is what we have aimed for. It might not be pretty and might not be overly positive, but we don't feel any sympathy towards legalism whatsoever - it has been responsible for so much corruption of Christian work.
Not many announcements needed this time- other than the following: of course the mandatory apology for the lateness of this issue. Yet on the other hand, we don't really feel the need to apologize for the date for the
Lord knows we have been kept occupied well enough with other commitments lately. We did put on a conference in April at Six Mile Convention which was enjoyed by all, so we might try to aim to get another one going
sometime as well. Stay tuned if you missed out last time. I think that's about all that needs to be said- now into the heavy stuff! |
