Legalism--Frustrating The Grace Of GodRock of Offence CommentaryOne of the unfortunate by-products of religion and the clergy/laity error is legalism. By far, it is the most destructive force in the church. It is common, widespread and cleverly hidden. Most churchgoers don't practice discernment. They believe that their obedience is evidenced by believing and practicing (without question) everything a church leader says. They think--if a sermon contains Scripture verses--then the whole thing has to be from God! Legalism hides in Scriptures used out of context. The Bible is divided into two parts: The Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament centered on obedience to the Law of Moses. If you kept the commandments God accepted you. If you disobeyed--God rejected you. It was based on Israel's blood oath to obey all that God commanded. It was known as a "covenant of death" because it was impossible to maintain perfect obedience. The priesthood in Israel was established along with animal sacrifices to atone (cover) for the people when they failed to keep God's commandments as they had sworn. The penalty for breaking a covenant was death. Instead of the people suffering the death sentence for their disobedience, animals bore the punishment. The Old Testament temple was a bloody place! The underlying motivation in this system was fear. The Old Testament was legalistic; meaning that God's acceptance was based on obedience to His law. The New Testament calls it a covenant of bondage. Jesus arrived on the scene as "the Lamb of God" and became the final sacrifice for sin under the Old Testament. John the Baptist referred to Jesus as, "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29-36) Jesus put away sin "once for all" (Hebrews 10:9-12). God's acceptance was no longer based on your obedience to the law. God's acceptance (righteousness) was given as a "free gift" (read Romans chapter 5) to anyone who would simply place faith in Jesus Christ as their "sacrifice lamb"--the one who died in their place for their sin. After the cross, salvation is by grace (God's unmerited favor). God's favor may be free to us--but it cost Jesus his life. God's grace is free under the New Testament (Romans 6:23), but it didn't come cheap. Anyone who attempts to gain salvation the old way--obedience to law--God rejects their effort. Why? Because Jesus is now the doorway into God's Kingdom (John 10:7-9). No other way--including obedience to law (also known as the works of the law and morality)--qualifies with God (Galatians 3:1-5). Jesus is THE WAY, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Legalism is a trap. By using God's Word, unscrupulous leaders mix Old Testament legalistic principles into New Testament teaching. It all sounds Biblical because the Scriptures are from God's Word--but used out of context. God's grace is subtly replaced by obedience, duty and religious performance. Legalism is commonly the foundation religious organizations are built on. Most can't exist without it! The counterfeit teaching of legalism takes hold of a person's life over a period of time. Some church organizations teach or suggest, in addition to believing on Christ, keeping the Ten Commandments and obeying Old Testament law is necessary for salvation. Other requirements like keeping the Sabbath (coming to church every Sunday), being at every church service and mandatory tithing are stressed. These are some of the more blatant forms of legalism. Millions of "Christians" are ensnared in it. Yet, I'm more concerned about an even more subtle and insidious form of legalism. Today, performance-based Christianity is the new legalism. Prayer, Bible reading, witnessing, attending church meetings, tithing, serving, feeding the poor are not bad things in themselves. Yet, when they are stressed to the point that God is displeased when you don't do them--you've got a form of legalism. Like we said earlier, legalism is based in fear. We subtly find ourselves "performing" out of the fear that God won't accept us--or worse--that we are a failure or an inferior "class" of Christian. Leaders skilled in persuasive speech can easily project this kind of guilt and shame in order to manipulate church members. Legalism destroys Biblical faith and replaces it with a performance-based faith (a counterfeit faith). A legalistic person will appear as a model Christian and a pillar of the church. What you can't see many times is the motivation underneath. God is pleased with you through the simple act of faith (trusting and resting) in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only doorway into God's pleasure (acceptance). The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)! No level of performance will get you there. Our heavenly Father expects you to bear fruit. But, the kind of fruit He's looking for comes out of that place of rest in Christ (Heb. 3:7 through Heb. 4:11). Legalism does not produce God's rest. Would you feel comfortable taking a few weeks off from attending church? Some people might say... "Oh, I could never do that--it just wouldn't be right. God expects me to be in church every Sunday!" Before someone accuses me of being "anti-church"--there's nothing wrong with attending church services. But, when guilt and fear results in not doing it--you'd better take a close look at your spiritual foundation. It's a sign that you're being controlled by legalism--and not by God's Holy Spirit. Would your heavenly Father ever ask you not to attend a church service? Absolutely! Why would He do such a thing? It could be a test of obedience--to see if you'll obey His voice rather than following a religious habit pattern. He may want you doing something different that day--or He may want to give you a special blessing. As with other saints in the Bible, God may want you to be alone with Him and nobody else. He may want to share something that you can't get in a meeting. If you aren't free to obey His voice then someone or something else has taken Jesus' place as Lord in your life. Fear and guilt are the two warning signs. This is a spiritually dangerous place to be. Why is legalism so dangerous? It violates the New Covenant, subtly replaces the direct rule of God in your life and removes you from His grace...and that's serious stuff! The Apostle Paul warns us about this danger... "You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." (Galatians 5:4 NKJV)And again..."Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16 KJV)And again..."I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:21 KJV)Paul called it "frustrating the grace of God". Yet, a majority in "the church" live in some form of legalism and considers it normal Christian life. It's a trap--stay out of it!To hear more about this subject click on the link below. |
