Legalism is Alive and Well in the 20th Century

Recent events have led me to post the following...

Legalism is as alive today in some congregations as it was in the 1st Century!

You may ask, "why" or "how"? I first would like to call your attention to Acts 15:4-31 NKJV And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. (5) But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." (6) Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. (7) And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. (8) So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, (9) and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (10) Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (11) But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they." (12) Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. (13) And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me: (14) Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. (15) And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: (16) 'AFTER THIS I WILL RETURN AND WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, WHICH HAS FALLEN DOWN; I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL SET IT UP; (17) SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, EVEN ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SAYS THE LORD WHO DOES ALL THESE THINGS.' (18) "Known to God from eternity are all His works. (19) Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, (20) but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. (21) For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath." (22) Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. (23) They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. (24) Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law"—to whom we gave no such commandment— (25) it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, (26) men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (27) We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. (28) For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: (29) that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. (30) So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. (31) When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

As we see from the above text, the Pharisees were attempting to try and make the Gentile converts submit to the circumcision of the law of Moses. I have also encountered a 21st Century version of this same legalism today.

I was told by an individual that had invited me to speak to his congregation that because I was not "re-baptized" in the church of Christ that I wasn't qualified to preach at his congregation. I was baptized in a denominational congregation, but my baptism was scriptural according to the Plan of Salvation. This person stated that I "should have been re-baptized" when I started attending a church of Christ. I can find no Biblical reason for anyone that has been baptized according to the Plan of Salvation to ever be "re-baptized", EVER!

Let me also add that my baptism was examined by the good elders of the congregation that I now attend, as well as several established veteran Gospel preachers, and found to be Scriptural and sound. I was baptized 34 years ago in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of my sins, just as the Scriptures command. In my baptism I died, was buried in the watery grave, and was resurrected a new creature; just as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3-7 NKJV Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (4) Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (5) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' I have been reborn of water and spirit just as the Lord commanded. To invalidate my baptism just because it did not take place in a church of Christ is as legalistic as requiring Gentile converts to be circumcised. It bothers me that some in the Lord's church have forgotten an old creed...." Speak where the Scripture speaks, and be silent where the Scripture is silent".

So therefore, I will answer this issue with Scripture, as I do with all questions to do with the Lord's church. What other source can we cite but God's Holy Word when it comes to issues and doctrine regarding the church purchased with the precious blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Let us all strive to follow Paul's exhortation to the church in Rome found in Romans 14:4 NKJV Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. Let us love one another and remember what Paul wrote in Galatians 5:1 NKJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. I also want to restate what Peter said to the Jerusalem council in Acts 15:10 NKJV Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

I pray for this individual, his congregation, and the church as a whole. Let us not place this "yoke" upon our brothers and sisters. And I pray that the more like Christ we become, the less we are like the Pharisees and Scribes of the 1st Century.