Hamo has blogged about the issue of legalism in the church, he says,

I went thru my own rather bizarre legalistic period as a teenager, but I am more and more coming to believe that the ability to truly leave legalism behind is a mark of Christian maturity – although the legalists will call it ‘liberal’ or some other equally nebulous but deprecatory term.

Well, that was my upbringing too and I agree with Hamo, a bit; but I also want to embrace it, a bit. I don’t see the point of choosing to live a life as a Christian and there not to be consequences in the choices I make for my life. Given the opportunity I would make that suggestion to others as well, from an emotional, practical and spiritual point-of-view, but I’d also like to think that I’d encourage people to consider a relationship with God first. Otherwise isn’t it the same as trying to follow all the laws the Pharisees were promoting?