This Sunday’s Scripture (Col.2: 16-23) is Part 2 of “Beware of Kidnappers.” Last week I introduced the subtle (and not so subtle) draw of the cults as well Intellectualism and Legalism. I have always told the folks that if they ever have any questions about what I say to feel free to challenge or ask. Ironically, while I was speaking about the Mormon belief of Jesus and Lucifer and their whacked out belief system, one of the guys was Googling to find out if what I was saying was true. I was and he commended me for that. 🙂 I don’t think any pastor/preacher should ever be above being questioned about something he says. This week I plan to touch again (strongly) on legalism but also include Spiritualism/Mysticism and Asceticism in the mix.
It is the first one that concerns me the most right now. Too many hurting people-those who read my blog and those who don’t-are wandering lost in the blur of legalism. Even those who want out or get out, often find themselves wandering in a fog for some time (the length is determined by the entrenchment and the “demons” that need extricated). They have been beaten to a pulp by a bully pulpit or a billy-club wielding “church leader.” My heart breaks for those people. I defined legalism as “a person who measures his/her maturity by the number of rules he/she keeps.” A legalist can almost be seen with a mental calculator adding things up (on themselves or you) and then checking them off his/her list.
I recently finished reading Grace Walk by Steve McVey. Someone had given me this years ago and while I started it, I never finished it. That was until my dear blog friend, Julie, talked about reading it. I picked it back up and with a reason for reading it this time, I did. It was an eye-opener. Let me give you a taste from it:
When one feels like a failure, especially in a culture that places so much importance on success, there is a dull pain that can’t be fully described. In the movie City Slickers, Mitch, the character played by Billy Crystal, is talking to a friend at work on his thirty-ninth birthday. He asks, “Do you ever reach a point in your life when you say, ‘This is the best I’ll ever look, the best I’ll ever feel, the best I’m ever gonna do, and it ain’t that great’?”
American culture demands that we be successful. People often measure our significance by what we have accomplished. From the time our parents applauded our first steps, we have been conditioned to see approval and acceptance from others by what we do. That fact puts unbelievable pressure on us to succeed.
This demand for success doesn’t stop outside the doors of the church. Many Christians are struggling to make their lives count for Christ, only to discover that the Christian life isn’t working out like it’s supposed to. They are sincere about their commitment to Christ and have given it their best effort. Yet, they are frustrated because they can’t live up to what they think a Christian ought to be. They’ve concluded that their spiritual life is about as good as it’s ever gonna get, and it ain’t that great.
Steve is talking about the devastating effects of legalism- a life built around performance and acceptance-from both God and man. A life of legalism will always come up short in the fulfillment department. I will even have a special guest helping me Sunday morning: Julie will be appearing via video to share a brief testimony.
The other two kidnappers will also make an appearance. I can’t leave them out, not when Paul confronts them. Mysticism/Spiritualism seen so often today in self-actualization and self-authentication (translated: I go by my feelings so what I say feels right is right) and the worship of angels, will be talked about. So will Asceticism, which is a fancy way of saying “depriving your body of its normal desires is a means of achieving holiness and approval from God. While these latter two may not seem very relevant, I think a closer belies that thought.
It ought to be a rip-snortin’ Sunday. 🙂 I would certainly appreciate your prayers. Let me close with a couple of questions. Do you struggle in your own life with any of these? Can you tell me how these have infiltrated the church? What are you doing to combat them? (Okay that is three questions). Have a great weekend folks. I will be praying for you and your church community to have a hunger for God’s Word.
Funny- Steve McVey (I think when he first wrote that book) was at our church here in Georgia. I’m not there any more (but was in middle school/high school).
Personally, the whole legalism/judgementalism was something I really struggled with during those years. I feel that God has broken my heart in that area, and really rung true Galatians 2:20 in my life. If I’m not mistaken, that is a key verse he references many times in that book.
he references having been in Alabama and then moving near Atlanta around 1990. He wrote the book in 1995. Would that fit? It was out of that experience that he was led to write the book. He does reference that verse quite a bit Dustin. You have a tremendous memory. Glad you picked up that verse also. Thanks for putting “flesh” to the post.
Wow Bill. This is deep and good. I always applaud those who stand for the truth.
One thing that brings spine-chilling fear to my soul is the attitude of a Pharisee. Those are folks who speak nice, say nice things, but are full of “religion” and laws that they themselves can’t abide by. No wonder they were the ones who gave Christ the biggest headache.
I always try to remember to carry myself with the foundation of love. Being the greatest gift, all things should be done in love with the Grace that we have received.
I’ll be praying for you that God’s spirit moves in His truth and that there may be ears to hear what the Spirit is saying.
God bless you brother!
Moe: Good to have you visit. I too have that same “fear” you have about the Pharisee. I go to Jesus’ words about them in Matthew 23. Thanks for your prayers. They are much appreciated. Again, thanks for visiting.
Great post! Praying for you and your sermon.
Thank you Shelley. That means a lot.
Hi Bill,
you said
“I defined legalism as “a person who measures his/her maturity by the number of rules he/she keeps.”
I think that you have simplified legalism here in your post to only one part of what it is.
Legalism charismatic leadership that highly influences people. It is unpoken rules that are never said outright or directly. It is control, not by the Spirit of God, but by an ‘entity’ that wants to steal from God and receive God’s glory unlawfully. Eg. (those who try to go over the fence and not through the gate) Is this story found in the gospels?
Legalism involves rules keeping but it is a way of life and not a conscious counting of our ‘good deeds’ for the day. It is so subtle that people can often be part of it in some way and have no idea that they are.
Legalism comes as an angel of light. It looks good, sounds good, develops saints up to a point and then kills them. Because it is false. It is death not life.
I want to qualify here that no rules, no development, no growth of the saints is just as deadly. just as deceptive, just as destructive, just as false.
We’re not looking for the opposite of legalism in order to avoid this trouble. We are looking for the path of Christ. Sometimes this path of Christ may look quite similar to legalism but it is not legalism. There are distinct and very important differences to the path of Christ.
We’re in a no rules, no holds barred culture and dynamic in the USA and Canada. We need to exercise a little bit of caution before we embrace something that ‘sounds too good to be true’. This is why the scriptures are critically important. And people of God using the gifts they have been given by God to rightly divide the word of truth for other believers.
We have an obligation and a responsibility to find and seek truth. We need to be careful of what the world is ‘touting’ and make sure we have difinitive scripture to substantiate for example ‘a no rules Jesus Christ, who requires nothing from you’.
Really? Lets look at some OT and NT scripture teaching from the apostle Paul and others in the epistles.
Linda: I am not saying there are not guidelines we should follow that are found in the NT. The legalism I am speaking of and most familiar with does involve a lot of “do’s and dont’s” to measure spirituality. They are imposed by “Bible police” who attempt to put people under their thumb and as long as we are doing what they say is right or wrong then we are ok. I am NOT advocating a no rules lifestyle by any means. Seems that is what you have taken me to mean. Thanks for your comment.
Sorry Bill,
I think thst we are on 2 different steams here in your blog on this topic of legalism.
I’m thinking that I’m not really undertanding what some others are saying in their comments on legalism.
You are probably right in that. I am looking at legalism from Paul’s viewpoint in Col.2 this week. Not only a legalism that is found in rituals (circumcision & baptism) but also passing judgment on freedom in Christ (what to wear, eat, etc).
I think most people don’t struggle with legalism in judging themselves nearly as much as they do with holding others to that standards. I do that, I have opinions on ever single little thing that I’ve made into rules, and I seem to constantly compare the person with the rule.
You are right Charlie and sadly we hardly ever get around to judging ourselves to those same rules OR we feel good about ourselves with that rule and focus on it. Thanks for your honest thought.
Success is desired. It’s an appropriate goal to work toward. I have found that success must first be defined well. And as you point out, Jesus is who to see about that.
Great post. Have a great weekend!
Thanks Scott. Have a great weekend also.
I find in me – and wrongly so – that I have to meet standards of behavior for God to love me and then if I do not then in my mind God will not love me. I really believe that it is a result of the legalism that was drilled into me when I was young. I know the truth and battle this wrong belief constantly.
Side note: taught on Wednesday nights for 3 month on Mormonism beliefs and now on JW’s beliefs. It is funny because I have people (and gladly so) following up on what I am saying to see if it is really true.
Good post Bill.
I think it is harder for those who have been raised in legalism to shake those bonds off than it is realized. You know God loves you unconditionally but still you have times when you question that. I applaud you for working through it. Have a great weekend.
Side: bet it was eye-opening for your people to hear of their beliefs.
The shoulds, oughts, and demands that are put on us and we put on others may be the hardest things to overcome on the quest for freedom in Christ. I have dealt and continue to deal with the effects of these in my life and the lives of others. This is improving, though soemtimes rather slowly.
Matt: it is those shoulds, oughts and demands that I am referring to this week. Some have a harder time I think than others because of their background. Keep allowing the Spirit to mold and change your thinking. Thanks.
Great Post… I know I struggle with wanting people to adhere to a certain “standard” whether it be in the workplace, at home, and with other Christians… What is interesting is when I do the comparison, it is against what I consider important. You ask someone else and they may have a different set of do’s/dont’s. I don’t think that is a license to give up on having high expectations, rather, to live out those expectations in our own lives. Bottom line, we all sin, none of us measure up, we all NEED Christ. If reading, praying, doing comes from a feeling of obligation rather than from a desire to be closer to our Father, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t measure up any way.
–side note–I wasn’t checking up on you Bill, I usually use the first service to dig deeper. I had never heard the specifics of what you were talking about…and yes… whacked out would be a good description. Thanks for challenging me!
I agree with you Ryan about the high expectations. It is assuming that your expectations should be everyone else’s that we end up in trouble. You recognize that and try to be careful with it. I certainly agree with your last statement as well.
Side: checking up may not have been the right words to us but I have no problem with people doing that. 🙂 I was glad what I was saying was verified by your research.
Praying for you and your flock this weekend now. May your message hit God’s mark. Legalism is most often mean spirited. If it was shared in love and the truth of personal experience in the Spirit it would be more easily received. Bless you!
Legalism is often mean-spirited. What a great way to say it. It is more palatable if said in love and kindness. Not any more digestible but better heard. 🙂 Thanks for your prayers Tom.
So glad you are talking and preaching about the dangers of legalism Bill. Grace Walk is a book I suggest to anyone who has been bound by the heavy chains of performance oriented Christianity. Praying this weekend many see truth and grace!
I look forward to it Julie and to sharing your thoughts as well. I too recommend the book (as you can see). Thanks for your comment and prayers.
Hi Bill,
you quoted from Steve McVey’s book,
“Many Christians are struggling to make their lives count for Christ, only to discover that the Christian life isn’t working out like it’s supposed to”.
This is distubing. Something is not right. These Christians have to have a distorted idea or false teaching about what it is to be a Christian. I’m not sure how we can fail to be a Christian.
What is it that these Christians think is not working out? They’re not walking on water daily? They can’t turn stones into bread? They’re not doing amazing tricks and miracles for their friends and neighbors? Are they expecting Batman or Superman abilities? I’m being indignant here. Sorry.
What’s wrong with living our lives as honest, integral, caring, loyal, dependable, compassionate, loving, tuthful disciples of Jesus Christ? If Christians are failing in this department then they need to ask God for what they need.
I believe these qualities come with bible reading and prayer. The Bible is a living word. It’s powerful.
I agree with Scott Couchenour that as Christians we need a good and proper definition of ‘success’.
To me success is living and ending my days in faith and trust in God. Loving my Christ with all of my heart. Conducting my life in a way that is glorifying to Him. That seem pretty A B C to me.
Linda: not sure what disturbs you-the comment by McVey or people feeling that way-but since I agree with McVey, I will comment on the other. If you are speaking about that then you have hit on the same cylinder as me when it comes to the trouble with legalism. They are struggling because they were told one thing but found out that living according to all the rules imposed upon them was not the answer. Only Jesus is and no amount of adherence to rules will make that happen. That is why what Scott says is so true. If we measure success by someone else’s standards we will miss the mark every time. Only when we live lives pleasing to the Father will we find what we are looking for. Thanks for the comment.
Good stuff, Bill. Blessings on your weekend–wisdom, clarity, and life as you bring a message of hope and grace!
Thanks Jason. Praying the same for you as well my friend.
I’d hate to burden your blog and your poor readers with all the ways that legalism confounds me. If I had time, I could write books about it.
The only problem is that I haven’t solved it. Grace doesn’t always make sense. I’ve not “found victory” over the demon of legalism. I don’t understand how to reconcile supposed believers in the Doctrines of Grace (hullo, Johnny Mac) with the fact that they have some of the most demanding proofs of all for one’s very salvation (hullo, Skip Heitzig…). I don’t know how to avoid legalistic living, I don’t know how to avoid legalistic “self-questioning”, and I don’t know how to live righteously without being legalistic about it. I mean, if a Christian is supposed to live like a Christian but isn’t supposed to believe that he has to live like a Christian in order to truly be a Christian, isn’t that being legalist, too???
All too often, teachers condemn legalism without realizing that their listeners basically don’t know what they mean. Doesn’t “not being legalistic” mean that Christians can live however they want? And if they CAN’T live however they want, isn’t that being legalistic? I mean, either there are rules or there aren’t.
We can’t preach grace and then promptly insist that there ARE RULES!!! I mean, how’s it supposed to feel to be the kid who knows that he can get by with EVERYTHING? His parents have already paid the price for all his transgressions. He can steal. He can kill. He can do whatever, and they’ve already done whatever it takes so that he can be forgiven.
Yet, we impose that if he does those things, he’s not really their son, so, since they paid for their SON, the things that he does aren’t really paid for.
I can’t escape that. I don’t see an “life vision” or a “way to live” that somehow understands that no matter what I do, God loves me and regards me highly, all the while combined with the terrifying knowledge that God only loves those who do it right.
If living by the rules without grace won’t save me, how is it that living by the rules after grace saves me, since the very definition of grace is that I don’t have to live by the rules?
Yes, I’m probably insane, but I’m just sharing the real struggle that I deal with here. I’m not arguing – but you’ve got to admit that there’s powerful confusion amongst all this.
I’m a terrible Christian by every definition, especially my own. I can’t control my tongue or my temper sometimes. I cuss and wish I hadn’t. I listen to music that sure doesn’t praise God in any way. I sometimes wish I could have a beer in the same moment that I’m glad I’m not enslaved to alcohol. I yell at my kids when I shouldn’t, and I don’t always build them up when they need it. I try to impress our church with my spirituality all the while I’m crying out for God to even make himself real to me. I get angry at my wife thirty minutes after I’m determining to romance her more genuinely. Believe me – I am not pleased with my list of do’s and don’ts, and my spiritual connection with God doesn’t feel very strong.
It’s not always easy to believe that He’s holding on to me more determinedly than I’m even able to hold on to Him. Believe me, I have to FIGHT to find that realization. And even when I do, I often don’t trust it. Resting easy in him is referred to by many as letting down our guard, and that it leads to sin because we’re not alert. Another rule.
Always fighting. Still trying to find it. Haven’t found it yet. Can’t get settled. Steve Brown vs. Johnny Mac. Paul Washer and John Calvin insisting that we continually examine ourselves to see if we’re in the faith, if we’re “truly converted.” Trying to keep the rules by avoiding the rules, all the while fighting to realize that keeping the rules is nothing without the grace of God, because nobody is able to keep the rules.
Yeah.
>>”I mean, if a Christian is supposed to live like a Christian but isn’t supposed to believe that he has to live like a Christian in order to truly be a Christian, isn’t that being legalist, too???”
Bernard…you could write 100 books about that, and still come up empty-handed.
Jesus sets the standard and defines us as being either Christians or just empty-headed lip-service payers. Jesus. Not us. Not our actions. If this were the real crux, the real core of being a Christian, then even satanists could win their way into Heaven by their good works.
You mention “to truly be a Christian”. Not a one person this side of Heaven can discern how truly a person is or is not a “Christian”. Not one. Like I said, only Jesus can make that determination.
Hi Bernard,
I think you have some good points in your comment. I think some of the difficulty is with the current understanding and interpretation of what ‘grace’ is in our christian theology in North America.
I was conversing with someone from India a few months ago. He had been to the USA and Canada to see how things were here. He mentioned to me that ‘grace’ is greatly misinterpreted in our countries.
I’m not sure how he would have expounded or explained grace but I think it is more to do with God providing his people grace in order that we ‘can do his word and his will’ and not so much to allow us freedom? from obedience to his commands.
I think maybe as Christians in the USA and Canada we experience our salvation from God, and then we want to say that because we were saved ‘without works’ we don’t really have a definitive part to play in our future with God.
And yet, at our salvation we did have a definitive part to play. We had to believe, we had to receive the gift of salvation through faith in the death (and resurrection) of Jesus Christ.
There is no doubt that God is love and that he loves his creation. However, God requires holiness. He gave his Son for that very purpose. He gave grace for that very purpose, so that we can move into ever increasing holiness in our lives, and in our innermost being.
I believe that obedience to God is a part of what we determine as Christians that we will do, because we love God. We learn how to obey Him through the Scriptures and through the work of the Holy Spirit.
I believe that obedience is huge. The Bible says that Jesus learned obedience. This counters the kind of interpretation of grace that our modern Christian theology presently teaches.
Linda,
You said:
I’m not sure how he would have expounded or explained grace but I think it is more to do with God providing his people grace in order that we ‘can do his word and his will’ and not so much to allow us freedom? from obedience to his commands.
———————-
This is a good observation, in my opinion. My Salvation is not simply so I can be with our Father through eternity. It simply cannot be just that. There is a deeper and more focused purpose for any of us being saved by Christ, and that is, definitely, to do the Will of He who has saved us, this side of Heaven.
That will preach, right there, if someone would be brave enough to grab it and make it theirs.
Linda: there will always be those who pervert grace and say/act like it gives them a license for freedom, i.e. to do whatever they want to do. Grace offers freedom but not license. God’s Word sets up certain “boundaries” so to speak as to how we are to act/speak/think but for someone to impose their rules on someone else and say, “Unless you dress like this or act like this, or don’t do this you aren’t a true follower of God” is not only wrong, I would put it in the corner of heresy. Even those things that may have some basis in Scripture can be made into a “rule.” For example, I know you and Donald believe in the gift of tongues. I respect that. But say I don’t. If you go around and tell me that because I don’t I am not a true Christian, I believe that is pushing the limits of what I believe God’s Word says. You have made it a “rule” then to speak in tongues. It has then become a point of judgment. I do agree with what you say here in that obedience is huge. I say it again: grace is not a license for freedom to do whatever you want. It is challenge to be obedient because you want to.
>>I say it again: grace is not a license for freedom to do whatever you want. It is challenge to be obedient because you want to.
—————-
Oh, and the heart of sonship shines through! What son wouldn’t want to please their dad? Obedience is made into an ugly word by the legalist, but for the son it is a strength and a badge of honor.
Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and Bill…if you don’t believe in tongues you are probably not a true Christian. So sorry.
🙂 Jokes, just jokes…
Bernard,
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it is possible that you will be stronger than any of the rest of us ‘secure’ and ‘get it’ Christians in certain areas of the Christian life.
I was reading in Matthew today about the betrayal of Judas Iscariot and the disowning of Jesus 3x by Peter after Jesus was arrested.
The Bible does say that if we disown Jesus, he will disown us. 2nd Timothy 2:12. The Bible says that this is a trustworthy saying. I take that as meaning that we can fully expect this to happen.
And yet, Peter did this 3x during one night. What brought Peter back it seems was his soul wrenching mourning and repentance for what he had done, and his love for Jesus. Jesus says to Peter 3x ‘do you love me Peter?’
I don’t think that I have been where you are right now. That doesn’t make me a better Christian. After Peter was received by Christ, he never made that same error again. He eventually died for Jesus the way that he had always thought that he would.
I think that you guys and girls out there that have some stuggles going on may do far more for Christ than you ever thought. Because of your ‘experiences’ you may stand strong and encourage the rest of us at a time when we are weak kneed.
Nice comment Linda. I highly respect Bernard for his questions and his unwillingness to settle for the easy i.e. party way. The fact that he questions and probes and has doubts but always comes back to Jesus says a ton in my book. I think those who take the easy way out will find their faith weak when it counts. I don’t see Bernard as one of them. One of these days his questions will be answered and he will come out stronger than he had every been.
I agree Bill. Martin Luther questioned the doctrines of the ‘party line’ in his day. He discovered that the ‘just shall live by faith’. We know the result of that discovery for believers in Christ. Not only his discovery but his tenacity in nailing his objections? (forgot the word) to the church doors.
Men like Bernard who dare to ask these troubling questions are needed in the body of Christ. These questions need to be taken seriously and sorted out by church councils, theologians, etc. The wrong interpretation makes a huge difference in our walk with Christ. Truth matters.
Linda,
You said:
The Bible does say that if we disown Jesus, he will disown us. 2nd Timothy 2:12. The Bible says that this is a trustworthy saying. I take that as meaning that we can fully expect this to happen.
————–
2 Timothy 2:13 says:
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
Now read Matthew 10:33-
“But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”
Jesus is referring to the lost who would deny Jesus is The Christ in Matthew.
Just a passing observation. I personally refuse to believe that Jesus, once covenant is struck with us, will ever disown or reject or abandon us. Ever. If He does, then He is a liar and a fraud and a false god. And we both know that just ain’t true, now it it?
I never had to experience the craziness of Biblical legalism. I did experience the legalism of my Mother. She had rules and we(me and my siblings) followed them. She never pretended that she knew what God thought. She never pretended that she knew WWJD. But she never left any doubt about what was right and what was wrong. And she was right.
Mothers are usually right. Correct? You ought to be glad you never experienced the craziness of biblical legalism (although I hesitate to call it biblical). Religious maybe but not biblical. Thanks.
Bill,
Wasn’t it the “religious leaders” of His day that called for the death of Jesus?
Interesting.
And even now we see the same spirit among Christians who need to make sure Jesus stays crucified so they can implement their plans and schemes of obedience to The Scriptures without the grace Jesus could provide. The Sanhedrin hated Jesus because He represented The Word made flesh. They were much more content keeping The Word as a collection of writings to be memorized and used to condemn and belittle the “less spiritual”.
Again, interesting.
yes it was the religious leaders whom Jesus had the most to say about and who also gave Him the most trouble. He would not knuckle under to their incessant rule-keeping and condescending attitude toward others. Thanks Donald for sticking with this discussion.
Actually Bill Jesus instructed his hearers to continue with the requirements of the law.
Matthew 23:3
‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do……’
We are told over and over in the OT an NT Scriptures to obey God.
Linda: I have no trouble with obeying God. (See above comment). But there is also a difference between the age of law and the age of grace. The distinction is seen in Acts 15. It is obey “because I have to” or “obey because I want to.” I choose the latter which involves freedom.
Funny that I am reading this right now… Discovered a new song (for me) from Caedmon’s Call today called Expectations – I know it’s not really your kind of music, but the words are great anyway, so here’s the youtube video – in case you’ll feel like listening to some “quieter” music 🙂
Legalism sucks. Plain and simple… It never saved anyone before and ain’t gonna save anyone now. Legalism is worshipping the laws instead of the Lawgiver – basically, same as paganism, only more subtle (ergo more dangerous).
The success… heh… yes. It is always nice to be successful and it’s all too easy to forget that the main success should be in God’s eyes, not in the eyes of men… WAY too easy to forget 🙁
Soooo Zee. My choice in music is that well-known? 😛 You are right in that legalism never saved anyone before and it ain’t going to save anyone now. As for the success: I think you hit on what Scott was saying. Who determines our view of success? Hmmm sounds like a future post. Have a great weekend my friend.
Haha, wayell, you made your music choices known in the previous posts :)))) so yeah 🙂
*hug* praying for you and your Church today.
Zee
Guilty as charged. Although I did go listen to your YouTube suggestion. 🙂 Thanks for your prayers.
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Romans 2:1 (NIV). This is a great post, it sums up all of my reasoning in recent times.
Good Scripture Kennis. Thanks for coming by.