There are a few things I simply can’t stand, the thought of eating them just curls my stomach. (Pun intended). When I say them some of you will say, “Seriously?” I can’t stomach to taste cinnamon, coconut and parmesan cheese (the kind that smells like dirty socks that people like to sprinkle on spaghetti and pizza. **gag**. Talk about ruining pizza!!). It is a joke around here for some to tell me they made chocolate muffins, but added coconut or cinnamon. They ruin chocolate.
But as much as I can’t stand those ingredients (and probably a few more), there is one thing I hate. I despise with a passion. And that is legalism. Legalism by my definition is ordering the Christian life by a list of rules and regulations, of do’s and don’ts. For way too many years I was in that camp. Tithing (you have to). Church attendance (no Christian skips). Bible reading (every day buddy). Baptism (by immersion only for the remission of sins). Communion (every week). Prayer (I let some slack on this one because I was sketchy myself). Alcohol consumption (tee-total it without exception). Tobacco use (seriously you would put cancer in your body?). You name it; I probably had a rule for it. Now, in all honesty, I wasn’t trying to be mean. I was trying to legislate the Christian life. Salvation was based on what I do; not based on what Christ has done.
Paul faced that. We see it was an issue in the early church (Acts 15). Paul squared off against it in Galatians 2. The issue was so encroaching and so powerful it even took down Peter. But Paul was not about to back down from that challenge either! (You can see what he does in Galatians 2: 11-14). The Judaizers were the culprits, men who said you had to abide by the Mosaic law, especially circumcision. But Paul is very clear in Galatians 2:16: “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ…by the works of the Law no one will be justified.”
Case closed. There would be no wavering for Paul. He didn’t care if you were Peter or not. Or Bill. I’m so glad I learned about grace and faith and freedom and God brought me out of that ugly jungle.
“Father, thank you for grace. Thank you for the rescue from legalism. Thank you for the introduction to and embrace of freedom. May I always be a messenger of grace.”
With you every step of the way, Bill! We are only justified by our faith in Jesus.
Blessings!
Thanks Martha. And you are so right by your “faith” statement.
Great post Bill. I was a legalist too, and looking back it made me even more of a hypocrite.
That is what is “funny” about it Andy. It does show us to be a hypocrite.
Having lived the legalistic life I am so thankful for God’s grace.
As am I Linda. I have to wonder “what in the world was I thinking?”
From Betty: I hate legalism also brother. It kills the spirit from working through and in us. It took us going into the mission, getting away from the legalism and learning what the Bible said and not man to be free of it. Good post
That about sums it up Betty. It took me being in a church that was like a mirror for me to wake up.
Bill, I’m with you. No thanks, coconut.
And farewell, legalism. Slowly but surely it has been left behind as I focus on Jesus only.
What a burden all those man-made laws and do’s and don’ts have been.
It makes me sad that is how much of the world defines Christians.
I’m glad to have you on my team Linda! 🙂 Not just the legalism but the coconut. I shiver thinking of that.