Lethal Legalism
Lethal Legalism
Is legalism too pervasive in Christian culture these days? Or is there not enough legalism which then turns into too much liberalism in Christian life? Is there such a thing as a healthy balance between legalism and liberalism? I’m not sure that I can give totally definitive answers to any of these questions. Maybe someone out there can, but I’ve got some thoughts about legalism, liberalism, and what might happen when each are taken too far.
Let’s talk about liberalism first. And no, I do not mean liberalism in any political way or ideology. I mean it in the way of all freedom and no discipline - all grace and no correction. Legalism doesn’t give enough grace. Liberalism gives too much.
I definitely think there can be an abuse of grace - that’s liberalism. Where is that line? I’m not sure. But if you sin because you know there’s grace and forgiveness that can and will come, I’d say that’s the line.
Liberalism not only throws caution to the wind; it also throws grace in the mud. It uses grace as a doormat to wipe the mess off your shoes that you stepped in of your own volition. It uses grace as a rag to wipe the filth off your hands that you willingly took hold of. Liberalism makes a mockery of grace… and then uses it anyway.
But grace is a safety net in case you fall - not a tightrope to make you fall.
This is where legalism hides and lies. To think that God is waiting for you to slip up so He can banish you to eternal punishment. This is the legalistic approach to grace. That God only extends love and grace to those who perfectly obey every law and rule. They dot every “i” and cross every “t.”
If there’s any character in the Bible that truly understands legalism, it’s Saul. No, not king Saul - Saul of Tarsus. The same guy who authored most of the New Testament. Yeah, that guy was a legalist through and through.
In his letter to the Philippians, he makes his claims of being among the elites of the Hebrew people, a Pharisee, zealous for the law, and even blameless under the law. It was his legalism that made him persecute the church. And yet after his life-altering encounter with Jesus, he counts all his fleshly “accolades” as loss for the sake of Christ.
Saul knew the Law, but Paul knew Christ.
Saul knew the Torah, but Paul knew the Messiah.
Saul knew legalism, but Paul knew freedom.
Saul was a legalist, but Paul was an evangelist.
So how does one know or find out if they are too legalistic? Well, first, you ask the Holy Spirit. Second, here’s a little quiz. If you put your personal convictions onto other people and hold them to your personal standard, then there’s a good chance you’ve got some legalistic tendencies.
The Bible certainly covers many topics directly, but it doesn’t cover all of them directly. With some wisdom I think that people can come to a God-honoring conclusion about ambiguous topics that aren’t directly covered. But I also think that some personal convictions are exactly that - personal.
Both legalism and liberalism operate from a position of love but from very different places. Legalism operates from love of rules and works. Liberalism operates from a love of self. Neither operates from an agape God-like love. Neither please God.
A religion that exalts works, deeds, and actions is exactly that: a religion. And it was a religion that sacrificed the only sinless Lamb for mankind. A religion exalts doing over being. But a relationship will humble self and exalt others over self. That’s what Jesus did. And He never pushed His perfection onto anyone else. Even when He could. Sure, He challenged many to change and to go and sin no more, but He never pushed.
All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. All like sheep have gone astray. Rules and laws won’t get you to relationship. Abusing grace won’t either. In the middle is where the healthy mix is found. That’s where Jesus is found.
The Law exposes our need for a Savior and even points to Him. And Jesus always gave a healthy dose of grace to those who need it.
The legalist needs freedom. And the liberalist needs discipline. Both need Jesus. Both push people away from Him in their own respects. Don’t be one or the other but be in the middle giving a healthy mix of both. For Jesus is still standing in the middle. With His arms stretched out for all.
Is legalism too pervasive in Christian culture these days? Or is there not enough legalism which then turns into too much liberalism in Christian life? Is there such a thing as a healthy balance between legalism and liberalism? I’m not sure that I can give totally definitive answers to any of these questions. Maybe someone out there can, but I’ve got some thoughts about legalism, liberalism, and what might happen when each are taken too far.
Let’s talk about liberalism first. And no, I do not mean liberalism in any political way or ideology. I mean it in the way of all freedom and no discipline - all grace and no correction. Legalism doesn’t give enough grace. Liberalism gives too much.
I definitely think there can be an abuse of grace - that’s liberalism. Where is that line? I’m not sure. But if you sin because you know there’s grace and forgiveness that can and will come, I’d say that’s the line.
Liberalism not only throws caution to the wind; it also throws grace in the mud. It uses grace as a doormat to wipe the mess off your shoes that you stepped in of your own volition. It uses grace as a rag to wipe the filth off your hands that you willingly took hold of. Liberalism makes a mockery of grace… and then uses it anyway.
But grace is a safety net in case you fall - not a tightrope to make you fall.
This is where legalism hides and lies. To think that God is waiting for you to slip up so He can banish you to eternal punishment. This is the legalistic approach to grace. That God only extends love and grace to those who perfectly obey every law and rule. They dot every “i” and cross every “t.”
If there’s any character in the Bible that truly understands legalism, it’s Saul. No, not king Saul - Saul of Tarsus. The same guy who authored most of the New Testament. Yeah, that guy was a legalist through and through.
In his letter to the Philippians, he makes his claims of being among the elites of the Hebrew people, a Pharisee, zealous for the law, and even blameless under the law. It was his legalism that made him persecute the church. And yet after his life-altering encounter with Jesus, he counts all his fleshly “accolades” as loss for the sake of Christ.
Saul knew the Law, but Paul knew Christ.
Saul knew the Torah, but Paul knew the Messiah.
Saul knew legalism, but Paul knew freedom.
Saul was a legalist, but Paul was an evangelist.
So how does one know or find out if they are too legalistic? Well, first, you ask the Holy Spirit. Second, here’s a little quiz. If you put your personal convictions onto other people and hold them to your personal standard, then there’s a good chance you’ve got some legalistic tendencies.
The Bible certainly covers many topics directly, but it doesn’t cover all of them directly. With some wisdom I think that people can come to a God-honoring conclusion about ambiguous topics that aren’t directly covered. But I also think that some personal convictions are exactly that - personal.
Both legalism and liberalism operate from a position of love but from very different places. Legalism operates from love of rules and works. Liberalism operates from a love of self. Neither operates from an agape God-like love. Neither please God.
A religion that exalts works, deeds, and actions is exactly that: a religion. And it was a religion that sacrificed the only sinless Lamb for mankind. A religion exalts doing over being. But a relationship will humble self and exalt others over self. That’s what Jesus did. And He never pushed His perfection onto anyone else. Even when He could. Sure, He challenged many to change and to go and sin no more, but He never pushed.
All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. All like sheep have gone astray. Rules and laws won’t get you to relationship. Abusing grace won’t either. In the middle is where the healthy mix is found. That’s where Jesus is found.
The Law exposes our need for a Savior and even points to Him. And Jesus always gave a healthy dose of grace to those who need it.
The legalist needs freedom. And the liberalist needs discipline. Both need Jesus. Both push people away from Him in their own respects. Don’t be one or the other but be in the middle giving a healthy mix of both. For Jesus is still standing in the middle. With His arms stretched out for all.
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