MamaArcher's Blog

Does Disciplined Living Equal Legalism?

This past Lord’s Day I was speaking with a friend about the struggles we have with those who seem to have great difficulty accepting our family standards. We agreed this is such a difficult position for anyone to be in. As a person grows in Christ their standards begin to change to be more and more in line with scripture. As we grow (the process of sanctification – becoming more Christlike) in godliness, holiness, and obedience our standards become more developed and identified with disciplined living (1 Timothy 4:7b-16); higher moral and spiritual goals to strive toward. To some this may seems to be legalistic but really it is simply that more and more of the world is being cut out of our lives. Typically, those individuals do not yet have as deep of an understanding and conviction or see the need for change because they see this as being contrary to having freedom in Christ. But the more of the world that is cut out of our lives, the more defined we become. Some see this defining process as legalism, but it is not, unless personal piety and self righteousness replaces God’s grace for salvation and becomes an outward standard of judgment rather than a pruning of the heart. Some will see this change and be challenged to growth; others however, will be threatened or offended and fight against it. I strive to be one who is challenged and growing. Self evaluation is vital. As Christians, we are all at different stages of development in our walk with Christ, but it is the same walk because He is the same Savior and we are all to grow up in Him (Romans 8:29). Let me encourage you with the words found in 1 Peter 2:9-12, so that we may all strive to look less and less like the world and more and more like Christ.

1 Peter 2:9-12
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.