I'm sorry, but, due to my inability to clearly express my thoughts (and perhaps
some other reasons), the essay dealing with the lawlessness of legalism has
been temporarily removed for at least a week. Check back here on or
around August 30, 1998. The essay - in either its original or modified
form - should be restored by then. Please accept my apologies for any
inconvenience this may cause you.
Sincerely,
Gary D. Fancher
UPDATE NOTICE - 29 August 1998
The updates which I want to make to the legalism essay are not close to being
completed. Preacher Allen and I (as well as a few others) are in the process
of going over the essay with a fine-toothed comb in an effort to make sure that
it says exactly what is acceptable to all of us, and nothing more. This is a
tedious process to say the least. I am working under a threat of being
disfellowshipped, and if we are not able to come to a workable agreement,
they will proceed with the disfellowshipping. In the meantime, if you have
any questions, or if you would like to be notified as soon as it is available,
let me know at [email protected].
Your prayers are requested in this matter.
gdf
UPDATE NOTICE - 26 Sept. 1998
I must apologize again for my essay "The Lawlessness of
Legalism." It is still in the process of being updated. It does
indeed have some flaws - after all, it was written by a flawed human
being. The major flaw with the essay came to light in my last
discussion with Allen. I told him that it was my desire to, via the
essay, point people to the cross and to glorify God, and he asked
"Where is it?" I was sure that I could point it out, but,
when I looked for it, I was embarrassed to find that I had completely
left it out of the essay, except by implication. It should have been
stated in no uncertain terms, but I simply overlooked it. I was sure
that I had put that into the essay since it was so much in my mind to
do so, but, in spite of my best efforts, I failed to do what I wanted
to do. (One of the points made in a portion of the essay is that even
our best efforts are often short of the mark. I am, again, living
proof of that fact.)
Several people have asked what it was about the essay to which
Bro. Allen Bailey objected so strongly. Rather than my trying to
speak for him, I would encourage you to write to him directly at [email protected] and ask
him. We are hoping, praying, and working for a peaceful resolution to
our differences. We solicit your prayers in this matter.
May God be merciful to us all,
gdf
UPDATE NOTICE - 06 Oct. 1999
I plan to store the updated "Lawlessness of Legalism"
essay back onto the Internet before the end of this year. The changes
have not been as difficult as it may seem (seeing as how it has taken
me more than a year to get them done), but the truth is that I have
not had much of a desire to work on them. I do not like getting people
upset at me for telling them the truth, but I suppose that that is my
cross to bear. I cannot sit by while people are being deceived and led
to a false confidence in a false religion of self-righteousness via
their legalistic works. This essay must come back to life regardless
of the expense to me personally. The glory of God is under attack,
and, after all, I am just a servant of the Lord's, and anything I do
to preserve myself is lost for Christ. It is my prayer that we may
never give in to the pressures of self glory and self preservation. I
request your prayers in this endeavor.
I want to publicly thank all of you who have given me your comments
regarding the original version of the essay, both those who agreed
with me and those who didn't. The next version will be much shorter
than the original one was, but it will contain links to lots of notes
and supporting text. The total number of words supporting the concepts
in the original essay (as well as that primary concept which was
omitted from the original - the glory of God)
has been greatly expanded, but the average reader will not have to
read nearly as much as they would in the original version. If you have
further suggestions for improvement, please let me know via e-mail ASAP.
Sincerely,
gdf
Back to home page