Several years ago I was attending a banquet at a
well known Christian university. During dinner
conversation a young man who was pursuing his
doctorate said that one of the problems in the
church today was that there was so much
legalism. So I asked him to clarify what he
understood legalism to be. He said, “You know,
this idea that everything has to be just right.”
I replied, “No, that’s not legalism. Legalism is
trusting in your own performance that you are
right. Insisting on careful obedience to the
Scripture is not legalism. Careful obedience to
the Scripture is what Christians are called to.”
The Bible says, “As obedient
children, do not be conformed to the passions of
your former ignorance, but as he who called you
is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I
am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:14-16) “Holy in all
your conduct” sounds pretty comprehensive to me.
So if a man strives to be holy in all his
conduct, does that make him a legalist? If a
congregation strives to follow the apostles’
pattern (2 Timothy 1:13) does that make it
legalistic congregation? Obviously not according
to the Bible.
All that being said, the Bible does address the
dangers of true legalism. True legalism is best
described by our Lord. In Luke 18:9-14, Luke
records, “He also told this
parable to some who trusted in themselves that
they were righteous, and treated others with
contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to
pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax
collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself,
prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not
like other men, extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I
fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I
get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off,
would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but
beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to
me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to
his house justified, rather than the other. For
everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but
the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’”
(Luke 18:9-14) From this passage we can see
these traits of the true legalist:
-
He trusts in himself that he is
righteous. This is contrasted by the tax
collector who implored God for mercy.
-
He treats others with contempt. Instead
of seeing others as needing the mercy of
God he despises them.
-
He maximizes his “good” as he minimizes
his faults. His self-righteous list of
what is most important and Jesus’ list
of what is most important (Matthew
23:23-24) are not the same.
-
He exalts himself. He prayed, “God,
I thank you that I am not like other
men”. Of course he is just like other
men—he is a sinner (Romans 3:23). The
distinction is that the tax collector is
painfully aware of his sin while the
Pharisee is arrogantly oblivious to his
sin.
Don’t let anyone persuade you that if you
believe a Christian must practice careful
obedience to the Scriptures that such makes you
a legalist. It does not. This charge is brought
again and again by those who believe and teach
the false doctrine of justification by faith
only, which is clearly contradictory to the
Bible (James 2:24).
But as you make it your aim to “be holy in all
your conduct” make sure you avoid true legalism.
Do you think you’re not good enough to go to
heaven? You’re right. You’re not. Nor am I.
Jesus saves. No one else. Make sure you are
merciful in your dealings with other people. If
we do that, God will be merciful to us (James
2:13). Focus on your own sin and address it.
This will keep you gentle as you deal with
others in sin. And be humble. It is God who
saved you. It is God who saves you. It is God
who keeps you saved.
God bless you,
Brad Fry
