Related commentaries – Legalism

Peter’s Defense to the Legalists – Acts 11:1 – 11:18

Legalistic Thinking Thwarted

A creative youth leader decided to show his youth group a missionary film. The film projector hadn’t been off an hour before a group of the leaders in the church called him in and asked him about what he had done. They asked, “Did you show the young people a film?” He responded that he had. “We don’t like that,” they replied. Without trying to be argumentative, the youth worker reasoned, “Well, I remember that at the last missionary conference, our church showed slides–” One of the church officers put his hand up signaling him to cease talking. Then, in these words, he emphatically explained the conflict: “If it’s still, fine. If it moves, sin!” You can show slides, but when they start movin’, you’re gettin’ into sin. ©. Swindoll, The Grace Awakening, Word, 1990, pp. 160-161).