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Legalism in Churches Today
Link: http://www.pleasantplaces.biz/titles/machen_faith.php
Dr. Gresham Machen was interested in a "modern" education and so pursued the path to the extent of going to Germany to learn from the source of this philosophical religion source. The process almost made him an infidel, but by God's grace, he learned of the error of his way and repented. He then gave the rest of his life to fighting this horrible heathenism that has become the mainstay of churches today.
His book, What Is Faith, is a powerful definition of the meaning of faith and why it is so important that we not try to redefine it based on feelings or social "norms." He explains why modern ecumenism is not the saving faith of the Bible, but instead a dangerous heresy that has extreme consequences, starting not only in the condemnation of one's soul to hell, but the destruction of society.
The following clip is the conclusion of chapter 4.
A new and more powerful proclamation of that law is perhaps the most pressing need of the hour; men would have little difficulty with the gospel if they had only learned the lesson of the law. As it is, they are turning aside from the Christian pathway; they are turning to the village of Morality, and to the house of Mr. Legality, who is reported to be very skillful in relieving men of their burdens. Mr. Legality has indeed in our day disguised himself somewhat, but he is the same deceiver as the one of whom Bunyan wrote. “Making Christ Master” in the life, putting into practice “the principles of Christ” by one’s own efforts—these are merely new ways of earning salvation by one’s own obedience to God’s commands. And they are undertaken because of a lax view of what those commands are. So it always is: a low view of law always brings legalism in religion; a high view of law makes a man a seeker after grace. Pray God that the high view may again prevail; that Mount Sinai may again overhang the path and shoot forth flames, in order that then the men of our time may, like Christian in the allegory, meet some true Evangelist, who shall point them out the old, old way. through the little wicket gate, to the place somewhat ascending where they shall really see the Cross and the figure of Him that did hang thereon, that at that sight the burden of the guilt of sin, which no human hand could remove, may fall from their back into a sepulcher beside the way, and that then, with wondrous lightness and freedom and joy, they may walk the Christian path, through the Valley of Humiliation and the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and up over the Delectable Mountains, until at last they pass triumphant across the river into the City of God.