So, since we are all related to the world of fundyland in some sort, this blog points to the ugliness of legalism (or at least something close to it) I think there's a narrative in that world that makes it easy to point fingers or blameshift. Let me explain. I didn't grow up in an environment like this, or anything close. I was saved as a young man, and never knew the external peer-pressures (until that time I was saved) of the idea of conformity to a (religious) group.
My desire to rebel came natural to me regardless of the moral environment (or comparatively speaking) I was reared in, and despite the relatively grace-filled surroundings of the church I was saved in. I didn't get baptized for 10 years after trusting Christ, all because of that pig-headed stubborn (translate=carnal) state I was used to indulging. I fell away from church after about a year and half. At the time of my exodus I blamed it on the fact that none of the stronger Christians properly reached out to disciple me, as well as blaming the rough circumstances of a church split. The pastor, who even though I was not very spiritual at all, and had no fundamentalist training whatsoever, I idolized somewhat because he had a picture perfect family (beautiful and dutiful wife, 4 kids, etc). Little did I know until much later that the church split occurred due the fact that the wife wanted a divorce. The pastor's marital situation was crumbling, and the house of God he served as undershepherd shattered along with it. That didn't help my growth, but maturity in Christ eventually would help me see that though in reality there was some fault to be laid at the feet of those that should have discipled me, ultimately my spiritual walk isn't anybody else's responsibility but mine own.
It wasn't until I was in my early 30s, childless and unable to naturally produce offspring on my own that I started listening/seeking for God's direction in my life. What's the point? I think all too quickly we are apt to point fingers at those boogey-men legalists, and though it's true that a church should be the place for mature men and women to come along side of those younger in the faith to help them grow, the overwhelming reason that a person resorts to sin is because they desire it more than they desire Christ, and that occurs in a host of Christian denoms and settings, many of which are rightly striving to do the work of the ministry with ample grace.
