Measuring ourselves by lists of laws and sins is a mistake in my opinion. Our law is love, and our law is trust, and until we are perfected in love and trust, we're still a work in process. We still fall short of God's love.
Are you making a general statement, or are you directing this to me, because if it is the latter, you are
still calling me a legalist. I'm not even sure you know what that entails, because some take the opposite very liberally, and find themselves indulging in the lusts of the flesh and vile hedonism, equally falling from grace. Galatians 5:19-21
What being a legalist actually means is we are still abiding by laws
NOT written on our heart. They would be outward rituals having nothing to do with love, like laws about which day of the week to assemble together, never playing cards, never dancing, not wearing any makeup or jewelry at all, men never cutting their side burns or beards, only eating certain meats, never drinking wine, having to stop smoking, ritually being circumcised, or making a show of never being circumcised, not owning a television, radio or electrical appliances and lighting, never celebrating Christmas or Easter because of historical pagan beginnings long forgotten, even birthdays, and limiting or figuring out paying a tithe to the penny. And the worst:
showing disdain for anyone who abides by these laws for themselves! They are the most legalistic of all.
(Not through with your paragraphs.)