My Rant

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Here's my RANT for today:

I get very tired of reading generalizations of groups of people when the word "MOST" is used. (see below for example)

Quote:

Most SDA are by nature legalistic.

Nobody should use that word unless you have positive proof that it describes the majority of people in said group. Otherwise, the word "MANY" should be used, and stated that it is your opinion from what you've observed.

I know I'm being "picky", but if you're going to write/say something, at least be accurate.

Okay. Now I'm off my

[Bravus]

Maybe it's actually just shorthand for 'in my experience, most...'. Not a quantifiable statement of fact but an imprecise statement of opinion...

[Dr. Shane]

When I proofread, I normally change my usage of the word 'most' to the word 'many'. When a fail to proofread, it sometimes slips through.

My personal opinion is that *most* people are legalistic. It doesn't matter if they are Muslim, Jew, Christian, Hindu or Buddhist. When we realize we are sinners and have fallen short of the mark, the natural tendency is to want to do something about it. Understanding and accepting grace is more of a struggle with some than others. The fact that there are legalists in Adventist movement doesn't bother me too much because the church itself is not a legalistic movement.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Most of the Adventists I know are not legalistic at all in their religious perspective.

[Woody]

Most of the Adventists I know are not legalistic at all in their religious perspective.

Perhaps you should get out more !!!

Really though ... I suspect that we Adventists are by nature somewhat legalistic. And 'some' REALLY ARE legalistic.

I do think that it is an easy thing to struggle with. The struggle is not easy. But, it's easy to slip into.

[phkrause]

Most of the Adventists I know are not legalistic at all in their religious perspective.

I agree with your post. But at the same time I have to agree with rudywoofs. From my own experience when I use "most", I'm trying to make a point, but fully knowing that I have absolutely no proof to back it up. Just that in your little world maybe 5 out of nine agree with you, doesn't really mean that if you polled more you would still get the same results.

[GreatLakesGramma]

I know a lot of Adventists, in other states and localities besides where I live right now. And I can only think of a few that have a noticeably legalistic perspective on religious matters. Most of them don't seem to really give much thought to spiritual matters at all.

It depends on what you mean by legalistic, I guess. If you're including in your definition of legalist those who don't really think about it or worry about it, but just feel they're OK because they go to church on Sabbath and pay their tithe, and pretty much live the rest of their lives however they feel like, then yes, most of the Adventists I know are legalists. But that is not what I think of when I think "legalist."

[Woody]

Well ... All I can say GLG ... is that there are times I look at myself and see some legalistic thinking going on. I try to quickly reject them .... but they do pop in now and again.

[Dr. Shane]

Like I mentioned before, I think it is our natural tendency to be legalistic. It is not an "Adventist" thing. It is a "human" thing. Most false religions are legalistic. Christianity is one of the few religions that is not legalistic.

[Bravus]

As far as I can tell, the thread was about grammar and statistics, rather than about legalism.

It's interesting to me that legalism tends to be one of those 'strange attractors' in terms of topics, though...

Hmm, I feel a blog post coming on...

[Bravus]

Check it out. This may also address some of Neil's concerns... http://www.bravus.com/blog/?p=2032

[Woody]

Check it out. This may also address some of Neil's concerns...

I haven't seen Neil post on this thread. Perhaps he deleted it before I got here.

[Bravus]

Sorry, not on this thread: the concerns underlying his 'What is ClubAdventist to you?'thread.

[LifeHiscost]

Perhaps you should get out more !!!

Really though ... I suspect that we Adventists are by nature somewhat legalistic. And 'some' REALLY ARE legalistic.

I do think that it is an easy thing to struggle with. The struggle is not easy. But, it's easy to slip into.

Maybe if she were to say, most of the people I meet are not legalistic. Or perhaps she could say, most of the people who are legalistic, don't think they are legalistic. Or maybe on the other hand, she could say, I'm not legalistic and the friends I have, enjoy not being legalistic with me. Then again she could say, most of the people who think others are legalistic are legalistic themselves, but don't think they are. Then again she could say, most people who have nothing good to say of others, suffer from a guilt complex and need to cover up their own flaws by making everyone else look bad, or at least as bad as they feel they themselves are.

Isn't it great to have a Friend like this, and wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone we meet could get better acquainted with Him through our witness.

"Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 NLT

God blesses!

[phkrause]

Maybe if she were to say, most of the people I meet are not legalistic. Or perhaps she could say, most of the people who are legalistic, don't think they are legalistic. Or maybe on the other hand, she could say, I'm not legalistic and the friends I have, enjoy not being legalistic with me. Then again she could say, most of the people who think others are legalistic are legalistic themselves, but don't think they are. Then again she could say, most people who have nothing good to say of others, suffer from a guilt complex and need to cover up their own flaws by making everyone else look bad, or at least as bad as they feel they themselves are.

Isn't it great to have a Friend like this, and wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone we meet could get better acquainted with Him through our witness.

"Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 NLT

God blesses!

All I can say LHC, is that is one interesting post. :)

[LifeHiscost]

All I can say LHC, is that is one interesting post.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Well ... All I can say GLG ... is that there are times I look at myself and see some legalistic thinking going on. I try to quickly reject them .... but they do pop in now and again.

So what? Having a legalistic thought doesn't make you a legalist any more than being tempted to talk about other people's business makes you a gossip. You're only a gossip if you do talk about things that are none of your business, and you're only a legalist if you believe in and act on legalistic ideas.

[Dr. Shane]

Most people that protest legalism too much do not themselves have a proper understanding of how obedience fits into a relationship with God. They say it is "relationship" verses "works". They are real good at defining works but do not fully comprehend what is involved in a relationship. The husband and wife relationship is a model of for us to learn from about the kind of relationship God wants with us.

[GreatLakesGramma]

I agree with you, Shane. We need to live a life of obedience to God because we love him and trust him to know what's best for us, not because we think we have to do it to be saved.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Bah, humbug, on the topic of legalism.

[Dr. Shane]

We need to live a life of obedience to God because we love him and trust Him to know what's best for us, not because we think we have to do it to be saved. (emphasis added)

When we deliberately disobey we are making the claim that we know more than God. God tells us to do "A" but we decide we are going to do "B". We are saying "God is wrong about what is best for me. So I will do my will instead of His will." That isn't exactly the kind of relationship He wants to have with us.