Most of us who have been bible-believing Christians for any length of time have probably fallen under the influence of legalism. We have absorbed half truths and Christian "conventional wisdom" through sermons, misinterpreted scriptures, and let's face it, demonic lies.
I quote: "The word 'legalism' does not occur in the Bible. It is a term Christians use to describe a doctrinal position emphasizing a system of rules and regulations for achieving both salvation and spiritual growth. Legalists believe in and demand a strict literal adherence to rules and regulations. Doctrinally, it is a position essentially opposed to grace. Those who hold a legalistic position often fail to see the real purpose for law, especially the purpose of the Old Testament law of Moses, which is to be our “schoolmaster” or “tutor” to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). The apostle Paul warns us of legalism in Colossians 2:20-23: “Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” Legalists may appear to be righteous and spiritual, but legalism ultimately fails to accomplish God’s purposes because it is an outward performance instead of an inward change."
[From http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-Christian-legalism.html]
I submit it's far easier to operate under a legalistic rule-based faith than it is to search out scriptures for ourselves with an open mind, uncolored by preconceptions, crying out the Holy Spirit for discernment.
In biblical times the Pharisees, a group of Jewish religious extremists, epitomized legalism. They rigidly adhered to a "godly" law of mostly their own making and Jesus vehemently and often harshly rebuked them. In Matthew chapter 23 Jesus makes it pretty clear how He feels about legalists. Here are a few excerpts:
"But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them... Everything they do is done for people to see...
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to...You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel [my favorite!]. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former...You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?"
We are to be people who "walk in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25), not people who default to a set of fear-based rules in order to be "safe" and to practice a lazy faith. Some examples of legalism I have encountered in my 40 years as a Christian:
"It's Godly to remain in an abusive marriage rather than the sin of divorce. God will bless the wife, even if she ends up being martyred in the marriage." Are you joking?
"Ear piercing and tattoos are sin. Says so right in the bible." These misconceptions come from the misinterpretation of Leviticus 19:28: “You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.” Context, people! This scripture does not refer to body decoration, but trying to atone for the dead, not merely honor and remember them.
"Drinking alcohol is a sin." Now this is definitely NOT in the bible. Drunkenness is a sin, but not the consumption of alcohol, which, by the way, Jesus did, and was severely criticized by, guess who? The Pharisees, of course! (Luke 7:33-35).
"It's a sin to skip church." This one REALLY irritates me. As if church is the answer to all our problems. I strongly suggest that church is made for man, not man for church. The Word teaches that "... let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" in Hebrews 10:23-25, but it does not follow that a day off from church is a step onto the path of Hell. There are lots of other gatherings that constitute "meeting together," and the point is to stay in fellowship with Christians. Church can become an addiction and another stone in the load of legalistic expectations. I personally don't usually miss church simply because I like being there and I find it a great encouragement to me, but if I want a day off, I'm taking a day off, and I ain't going to believe the lie that Satan kept me away from church simply by whispering, "you should skip...." Good one.
Let us be people of FAITH, people of the SPIRIT, not scared rabbits who default to a set of rules and regulations in order to feel safe or good about our "Christian" performance.
