What is legalism and why is it dangerous for your faith?
Legalism has been in our churches and lives ever since Satan convinced Eve that there was something other than God's way. It is a word no one wants to use. Being labeled a legalist usually carries a negative stigma. Legalism can tear people and churches apart. The shocking part is that most people don't know what legalism is and how it affects our Christian walk on an almost hourly basis.
My husband is a pastor in training. As her time in school draws to a close, our family has looked in prayer to the churches to minister to. Through our research we found that the phrase "King James Version Only" appears frequently. Now we are not people who despise any believer who chooses to read the KJV, but we find it troubling. How many men and women of God have examined these churches because of this statement?
To better understand this subject we call legalism, we need to examine what legalism is and identify the three types of legalism prevalent today. So we need to address what God's word says on this matter and how we can combat the repercussions of legalism in our churches and lives.
What is legalism?
For most Christians, the term legalism is not used in their congregations. It is a way of thinking about their salvation, on which they base their spiritual growth. This term is not found in the Bible, instead we read the words of Jesus and the apostle Paul as they warn us of the trap we call legalism.
A Gotquestions.org writer defines legalism as "a term Christians use to describe a doctrinal position that emphasizes a system of rules and regulates the attainment of salvation and spiritual growth." Christians who sway towards this way of thinking require strict adherence to rules and regulations. It is a literal obedience to the Law that Jesus fulfilled.
Three types of legalism
There are many faces to legalism. Churches that adopt a legalistic view of doctrine will not all look or operate the same way. There are three types of legalistic practices found in churches and homes of believers.
Traditions are probably the most common within the realm of legalism. Every church has certain traditions that would incite heresy if they were altered. The examples come in many forms, including communion which is always given on the same Sunday every month or that there is always a Christmas play every year. The idea behind these traditions is not to hinder, but to worship.
The problem is when a church or a believer feels they cannot worship without another form of tradition. One of the most common problems with traditions is that they lose their value. It becomes a situation where "this is how we've always done it" becomes an obstacle to worship and the ability to praise God in those sacred moments.
Personal preferences or beliefs are the second type. This happens when a pastor or an individual strengthens their personal beliefs as a requirement for salvation and spiritual growth. The action of enforcing personal preferences usually occurs without a clear answer from the Bible. This variety of legalism rears its head in the personal life of believers. Examples include reading the KJV Bible only, requiring families to go to school, having no guitar or drums on duty, or banning the use of birth control. This list could go on and on. What believers need to understand is that these are personal preferences, not laws. We cannot use our personal beliefs to set a standard for all believers. Christ has already set the standard and established how we should live our faith.
Finally, we find Christians who promote their personal views on the "gray" areas of life. They have a set of personal standards that they believe all Christians should live up to. Writer Fritz Chery explains it as a "mechanical faith". Basically, we should pray at a certain time, finish Sunday worship at noon, otherwise the only way to learn the Bible is to memorize the verses. Some believers even say that certain stores should not be shopped because of donations made to non-Christian foundations or for the sale of alcohol.
After examining these three types, we can see that having a personal preference or choosing to read a certain version of the Bible is not bad. It becomes a problem when one begins to believe that their way is the only way to obtain salvation. David Wilkerson sums it up nicely with this statement. “At the basis of legalism is the desire to appear holy. He is trying to be justified before men and not God “.
The biblical argument against legalism
Scholars in all areas of religious study will try to justify or reject legalism in our churches. To get to the bottom of this topic we can look at what Jesus says in Luke 11: 37-54. In this passage we find Jesus invited to dine with the Pharisees. Jesus performed miracles on the Sabbath and the Pharisees seem eager to talk to him. When Jesus sits down, he does not take part in the ritual of washing the hands and the Pharisees notice it.
Jesus replies: “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and plate, but your inside is full of greed and evil. Fools, didn't he also make the outside? “What is in our hearts is more important than what is outside. While personal preference can be a way of showing our love for Christ to others, it is not our right to expect others to feel the same way.
The reproach continues as Jesus says to the scribes: “Woe to you experts in the law too! You burden people with burdens that are difficult to carry, yet you yourselves do not touch these burdens with one of your fingers / "Jesus is saying that we should not expect others to obey our laws or preferences, if we evade them to meet our needs . Scripture is truth. We are unable to choose and choose what we will obey or not.
William Barclay writes in The Daily Study Bible Gospel of Luke: “It is amazing that men ever thought that God could establish such laws, and that the elaboration of such details was a religious service and that their maintenance was a matter of life or death. "
In Isaiah 29:13 the Lord says, "These people come to me with their talk to honor me with their words - but their hearts are far from me and human rules direct their worship to me." Worship is a matter of the heart; not what humans think is the right way.
The Pharisees and scribes had begun to consider themselves more important than they really were. Their actions became a spectacle and not an expression of their heart.
What are the consequences of legalism?
Just as every decision we make has consequences, so does the choice to become a legalist. Unfortunately, the negative consequences far outweigh the positive ones. For churches, this line of thinking could lead to less friendship and even church splitting. When we begin to impose our personal preferences on others, we walk a fine line. As human beings, we will not agree on everything. Nonessential doctrines and rules can cause some to leave a functioning church.
What I believe is the most tragic consequence of legalism is that churches and individuals fail to fulfill God's purpose. There is an outward expression but no inward change. Our hearts are not turned to God and His will for our lives. Tullian Tchividjian, grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham says: “Legalism says that God will love us if we change. The Gospel says that God will change us because He loves us “. God will change our hearts and those of others. We cannot impose our own rules and expect our hearts to turn to God.
A balanced conclusion
Legalism is a sensitive subject. As human beings, we don't want to feel we could be wrong. We don't want others to question our motivations or beliefs. The truth is that legalism is part of our sinful nature. It is our minds that take charge when our hearts should guide our walk with Christ.
To avoid legalism, there must be a balance. 1 Samuel 16: 7 says “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I rejected him. Human beings do not see what the Lord sees, since human beings see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart. ”James 2:18 tells us that faith without works is dead. Our works should reflect our heart's desire to worship Christ. Without a balance, we can create vain way of thinking.
Mark Ballenger writes "The way to avoid legalism in Christianity is to do good deeds with good reasons, to obey God's law out of relational love for him." To change the way we think, we have to ask ourselves the hard questions. What are our motivations? What does God say about this? Is it in line with God's law? If we examine our hearts, we will all find that legalism stares at us. Nobody is immune. Each day will be an opportunity to repent and turn away from our wicked ways, thus shaping our personal faith journey.