Freedom From Legalism

Legalism.

Do you cringe at the thought of that word? Does your mind automatically remind you of the rules and regulations you have not kept? Or do you think of others who have not “kept the rules?”

Legalism is a touchy subject.

In my Bible study this week, it talks about legalism. I was anxious yet dreading this chapter only because I am one of them. Someone who can get caught up in legalism. Just ask my husband. I would like to say I am a recovering legalistic, but at the same time, I know I all too often fall back into the trap.

Think of it this way. As a young child, you grow up learning the do’s and don’ts of life. Then all of a sudden, when you “grow up,” you are to not view life as all about the do’s and don’ts. In fact, if you are a Christian, you realize that the Christian life is not about the do’s and don’ts.

What? It’s not? Christianity isn’t about what I can and can’t do? It’s not about behavior modification?

Yet how many of us believe that it is and live out our faith, thinking that it is.
I sometimes do.

I am saved by grace, through faith. Not by my good works (thank goodness!). So then, why do I add certain “rules” to my list of “how to be a Christian”? If salvation is purely by faith through grace, then what went wrong?

In James it talks about how faith without deeds is dead. But why do we take those verses and then say that our relationship with God is dependent on our outward appearance rather than our heart? Because we take that verse one step further and make the Bible say something it does not.

This is where personal standards and man-made rules vs. Biblical principles can become foggy and we tend to mesh them all into one. This my friend, is dangerous.

How often as Christians, do we set stipulations on what it means to be a Christian, when really, those stipulations are not mentioned ANYWHERE in the Bible?

Here are some examples:
– not reading 3 chapters of the Bible everyday
– not attending church twice on Sunday
– taking a walk on Sunday
– listening to music that may be a bit more upbeat
– listening to music at a loud volume
– not spending an hour in prayer every morning
– eating a cookie
– watching a certain show
– wearing a two-piece bathing suit

I know some of these may sound ridiculous, but these are “rules” that we create in our own minds, that are not set forth in the Bible. What the Bible DOES do, is give us guiding principles, for example, around modesty. I know I am opening up a can of worms in this one, but the Bible does not say how many shirts to wear to be modest, what tightness they should be, how far up the thigh a bathing suit should go, how thick a tank-top strap should be. It doesn’t. What the Bible does say is that women are to dress modestly.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 says: 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God

So…
What is considered expensive? $10 for a shirt? $50? $100?
What is considered an elaborate hairstyle? How many curls? How many bobby pins used?
What is considered elaborate jewelry? How many beads strung?

By all means, I am not poking fun at what the Bible is saying – I take this verse VERY seriously because verse 10 is crucial – it brings it back to a HEART MATTER.

It is all about THE HEART.
What is the motive? What is the reasoning behind an action?
And that leads to the question – WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE?

Women are to dress modestly and adorn themselves with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

Think about reading the Bible – the Bible doesn’t say how many chapters to read each day, but it does say in the Psalms to meditate on His Word, day and night. What does that mean? Does that mean reading or can it also mean reflecting on a verse and sitting and thinking about it? How about church on Sunday? We are to gather as brothers and sisters in Christ, in worship – but the Bible doesn’t say how often. What we are to do, is worship Him – and in fact, it SHOULDN’T only be on Sunday – we should be worshipping Him everyday!

Traditions can be dangerous because we start to hold them as high as the Bible. Traditions, if not handled correctly, can also be a form of legalism.

Salvation because of Christ, means freedom IN Christ. There is NOTHING I can do to add to my salvation and there is NOTHING I can do to make God more pleased with me. He sees me as pure. He washed me whiter than snow. That does not mean that I am free to live however I want. What it does mean, is that I am free from the old laws set forth in the Old Testament and I am free to live for Him – within the guiding principles set forth in the Bible. I believe there are “gray” areas in the Bible, but what there are, are guiding principles and that is where freedom in Christ comes in. Alongside of that, is our desire as Christians to give God glory in everything and to live for HIM

What I wear does not determine my salvation. What I watch does not determine my salvation. What does matter is whether I am doing all things for the honor and glory of God and not for myself. What does matter is if I am representing someone who professes to worship God (as it says in 1 Timothy). What does matter is where my heart is. There are certain things I have chosen not to watch on tv because of my personal convictions. Now because someone else may watch that show, does not mean they are any less of a Christian, and that is where I need to constantly check myself. There are certain things I will not do on Sunday because of my personal convictions. But there are certain things that I do on Sundays that may not be okay with someone else. For example, I enjoy taking a walk or run on Sundays because it gives me time to focus and think about God. For someone else, that may not be okay with their personal convictions. It is not work for me, but pure relaxation in God’s creation.

We are not to judge someone if they do something based on their personal convictions or cultural standards, if it does not go against God’s Word. GOD is the ultimate judge. If someone is wearing a shirt that maybe too tight, our minds are not to right away judge – if we let our minds judge, we are setting up personal standards and thinking we are more “godly” than they are.

How often do we think “well, at least I am not like HER or HIM!”
Over the past few years, as I watch the news unfold each day, I more and more humbly thank God for His grace. Do you realize that it is solely by God’s grace, that we are ALL not in jail? When we continue to seek God’s face and seek Him in His Word, we more closely reflect Who He is. It is a life-long process, but that is why a relationship with God is of utmost importance. It is through communion and conversation with Him, that we learn the desires of His will for our lives.

Take time this week to take every thought captive – to think about the ways in which you may find yourself falling into legalism. The ways in which you judge others for how they look, how they act, and how they live. I have to constantly remind myself that I too, need God’s grace just as much as anyone else.

Freedom in Christ is a beautiful thing when we all look at the heart – not solely at the outward appearance.

What are YOUR thoughts on legalism and the Christian life? What are some areas that you feel Christianity has made “rules” where rules were not made?