Legalism.

I'm listening to Scott Richards Live on the way home and a man called on behalf of his wife who believes that if you don't go to church, you will go to hell. Now first, there is NO part of this that is meant to mock her. I just want to say that it amazes me the legalistic things people believe just because someone told them it's true. In her case, she was taught by her father since she was a little girl that if you don't go to church, you go to hell.

A couple things I want to say about this. 1) Question authority and 2) Think it through with common sense (again, not mocking her, not belittling her... I'll explain in a moment.)

Question authority. Perhaps more aptly said to "consider the source." If you believe something about the Christian faith, you should know where in the Bible to find supporting scripture. Now, that doesn't mean you should know every chapter and verse (well, perhaps we all *should* do that!) but I'm suggesting you a) know that you've read it in the Bible and b) can find it with a concordance or c) if you can't prove what you believe, look to disprove it in the Scriptures.

Example: Dad has said all your life that you go to hell if you don't go to church. Now you think that if you're sick Sunday and miss church and die on Monday, you go to hell. Friends and family tell you they don't think this is true. Answer: Go ask dad to show you in the Bible where he gets it. When he can't do that or gets offended that you'd even ask, go to a pastor or, as in this case, a call-in radio show. Keep looking until you find or are shown passages that, in context, support or deny what you believe.

Next, learn for yourself the Bible. We're free... read it... buy Bible studies...listen to solid Bible teachers... don't let others define your faith. Spend time in God's Word, spend time with God, and He'll reveal Himself to you.

Common Sense: I realize this is much easier said than done when I'm sitting outside this particular situation, but let's think about it a moment. If you don't go to church, you go to hell. Can I go to any church? Can I go to a church of Satan? Can I go to a wiccan church? Is going to synagogue the same as going to church?

How often must I go to church? Must I attend each service? Some churches have services every day. Some have one per week. How many services attended assure salvation?

What if I'm sick one week? What if my job makes me work every weekend, or even one weekend? Am I going to hell for working?

What is it about 'going' to church that saves me? If I listen to a sermon online from home, is that the same, or must I walk into the church building?

What if I go to church, but sleep through service? Am I still saved or not?

This kind of thinking can be applied to many legalistic views: being baptized as an infant saves you; being Catholic saves you; being Lutheran saves you; being Jewish saves you; upholding 612 laws saves you (except that you cannot uphold 612 laws... sorry, but who do you know who can even keep the Ten Commandments?); being a 'good person' saves you; not murdering anyone saves you; believing everyone goes to heaven saves you; and on and on.

What if a baby dies before being baptized? What if you break one of the Jewish laws or one of the Ten Commandments? How good is good when it comes to being saved? What if you accidentally kill someone?

THINK about what you believe. LOOK UP what you believe. ASK other people and then LOOK UP what they tell you. Test all things, don't just believe all things. You might be right in what you believe, but you may also be wrong. Be assured in what you believe!