CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 My father and


grandfather both changed as a result of their experienc- es together, and they interacted with my siblings and me different- ly because of it. They were able to demonstrate a selfless love that helped us to grow.


Now I have


Four generations of Guthrie men: (fom leſt to right) Scott, Jack, Seth, Ezra.


sons of my own,


and with that comes the responsibility of


passing on the legacy of Godly fatherhood. Because of the choices of the men who came before me, I am


CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Condescension and condemnation are cloaked as


doctrinal superiority. After all, we are called to walk in truth. That emphasis overshadowed the importance of walking in love. Rule-keeping dampens compassion and promotes performance-based worth — for ourselves and others. So God in His mercy judged us.


This is painful to recount — embarrassing that we


missed it for so long; discouraging to see the wreckage that cannot be undone in so many lives. Practices that are wonderful spiritual disciplines in the toolbox of a godly servant of God became oppressive legalistic drudgery in a law-keeping system. I submit that legalism is a snare to every believer. I tell my story so that the reader may guard against it in his own heart and fellowship. Let my story bring hope that there is forgiveness and freedom.


Extricating judgmentalism from one’s soul is a


lifelong journey. One will ping pong from “Whatever people think and do is fine” to “I am so despicable God will never use me again” to “How can we really know God’s perspective” to “It doesn’t matter” to finally just saying “God, I repent! Cleanse my law-loving heart and bid me get out of the boat into unfamiliar territory.” Everyone involved in legalism is a victim, the perpetrators and followers alike. Thankfully, God’s grace is measure- less, and forgiveness is freely offered if we will receive it.


Our hyper-keep-the-law-to-be-ok consciences can be cleansed by faith. All the lint of legalism and guiltism will be power-washed out by a merciful God. Once you have experienced a purging that rearranges the core of your being, you are forever changed. Forgiveness is sweet, prayer is fervent, grace is cherished and offered to all. But one must go to the heavenly gym of humility every day so as not to be ensnared by the pride of overcoming legalism, for even that can turn into a law-keeping accomplishment. Legalism lies dormant, waiting to reemerge and snare the careless soul.


So, there is life after legalism. We come back to where


we started in the first place with God — desperate, forgiv- en, and grateful. The recognition of failure,


the humility of receiving forgiveness, the discipline of obeying, the joy of receiving unearned rightness, the desire to share His love as we did at first is like déjà vu. So I con- tinue to walk with God, but now with a limp.


Shalom Cheryl in a member of Community Bible Church in Oma-


ha, Nebraska. She has been a believer for 45 years. Much of that time she was heavily involved in a home church fellowship ministry that had a big emphasis on outreach. Alongside her husband and other church members, Cheryl witnessed in the parks, had tent meetings, and did many Gospel sharing activities. She was a youth ministry leader, she and her husband (an elder at the time) did couples and singles retreats, and they traveled to do ministry in other churches as well. Cheryl has six children and 12 grandchildren.


FELLOWSHIP FOCUS, JUNE/JULY 2021 16


equipped to show grace to my own kids, to teach them, to love them, and to encourage them to be the best versions of themselves. If it weren’t for the generations before me, I would not be the father I am today.


God takes fatherhood very seriously. It’s work, it’s


relationship, it’s ministry, and it’s rarely easy. But we owe it to future generations to do the best we can. We should look back to move forward, learning from the successes and mistakes of those who came before, so that we can equip the next generation to be faithful servants of God, even to a thousand generations.


Seth is the pastor of children’s ministries at Community Bible Church in Omaha, Nebraska. He oversees the largest Awana program in the Midwest, a children’s ministry volunteer team of over 100 people, summer sports camps, and more. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three sons — the third is due this August. In their spare time, Seth and Jennifer enjoy spending time with their boys, playing board games, reading, and performing music together.


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