The gospel calls people to repentance, holiness, and godliness. For this reason, the world finds the gospel offensive. But woe betide us if we unnecessarily reinforce this offense by distorting the true nature of Christianity by linking it to legalism. Because Christianity is about morality, righteousness, and ethics, we can easily take that subtle step from a passionate concern for divine morality to legalism if we are not careful. Joe writes and asks, “Pastor John, what is legalism?” It is important to distinguish this type of legalism from the above. Many Christians are quick to add man-made rules to their faith, although far fewer would think they must follow them to be saved. This means that a person can reject the legalism of salvation, while adhering to the legalism of rules. As promised, I saved the best for last. I saved this for last, because it is my observation that this definition is the one that people most often have in mind when they use the term legalism, but the Bible in no way describes strict adherence to God`s Word as a bad thing.
So, if legalism is really de rigueur (which it is not), then call me a legalist, call Jesus a legalist. Consider two main reasons why I say this. After reviewing these three types, we can see that it is not bad to have a personal preference or choose to read a particular version of the Bible. This becomes a problem when one begins to believe that one`s way is the only way to attain salvation. David Wilkerson sums it up nicely with this statement. “At its core, legalism is the desire to appear holy. He tries to be justified before men and not before God. For most Christians, the term legalism is not used in their churches. It is a way of thinking about their salvation on which they base their spiritual growth.
This term is not found in the Bible, but we read the words of Jesus and the apostle Paul, who warn us against the trap we call legalism. In Christianity, the term “legalism” refers to (1) asking for works for salvation, which is the opposite of sola fide – faith alone. (2) Emphasize a system of rules and regulations to achieve spiritual growth. This follows from the legal system of commandments, ordinances and regulations contained in the Mosaic Law. Legalism is formed “where it is only a matter of keeping God`s law as an end in itself.” Sproul points out that legalism separates obedience from God`s love and salvation. “The legalist focuses solely on obedience to bare rules and destroying the larger context of God`s love and salvation in which He gave His law in the first place.” I encounter more the legalism of tone of church people, not really pastors. I met a couple who visited our church and learned that they drove an hour to be there. When I found out where they lived, I told them there was a great church in their church and a great pastor I know. They told me that the pastor was unacceptable. It turned out that his daughter was known as a fan of the Harry Potter books. Even this pastor did not adhere to many of the teachings of a famous pastor (which should not be mentioned here).
I was overwhelmed by these reasons for rejecting a very good man, but it doesn`t matter. Distinguishing between three types of legalism is very useful. Antinomianism is often seen as the opposite of legalism,[11][12] with situational ethics as the third possible position. [12] Traditions are probably the most common in the field of legalism. Every church has certain traditions that would trigger a heresy if changed. Examples come in many forms, including communion, which always takes place on the same Sunday of the month, or a Christmas play each year. The idea behind these traditions is not to hinder but to worship. But there are other ways to define legalism. Another form of legalism is also common in Scripture, when believers are told that they must follow man-made rules rather than (or incidentally) God`s rules.
Not only does our fallen human nature tend to defy God`s law, but we also tend to make our own laws. In short, legalism is a multidimensional phenomenon. And understanding the nuances of the term can help guide conversations and theological discussions. The next time a person says, “This is legalism,” you can start by asking them what definition they use. Legalism is a sensitive issue. As human beings, we don`t want to hear that we could be wrong. We don`t want others to question our motives or beliefs. The truth is that legalism is part of our sinful nature. It is our minds that take responsibility if our hearts are to guide our walk with Christ. Citing Philippians 2:12, Christian interpreter Tony Cooke explained that the term “legalistic” has often been misapplied to those who follow biblical guidelines “relating to holiness, obedience, and godly living,” concluding that “God`s grace leads us to obedience, not far from it.” [9] In the same vein, theologian Leonard Ravenhill summed up: “If there is something in the Bible that churches do not like, they call it `legalism.`” [9] To avoid legalism, there must be a balance.
1 Samuel 16:7 says, “Do not look at his appearance or stature, for I have rejected him. People do not see what the Lord sees, for men see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart. James 2:18 tells us that faith died without works. Our works should reflect the desire of our hearts to worship Christ. Without balance, we can create a vain state of mind. What makes this difficult is that there is no Hebrew word in the Old Testament and no Greek word in the New Testament for legalism. So whenever someone uses the word, you have to do two things: you have to find out what they mean by that, and then you have to know if their meaning is consistent with something in the Bible, or if they use the Bible in an inappropriate way. The dictionary defines “legalism” as (1) strict compliance or the principle of strict compliance with laws or regulations, especially the letter and not the spirit. (2) Theology. a) the doctrine that salvation is obtained through good works. (b) the assessment of conduct with respect to compliance with specific laws.
And this is the definition of sinful judgment. There is a good form of “judgment” where we distinguish between good and evil (as opposed to what the world thinks). But biblically speaking, telling someone that their behavior is wrong when they are not really bad is sinful judgment (Romans 14:3). Why would a person do that? Why are people so sensitive to the legalism of the rule? Because it gives us a way to feel better.