Grace Talk But Not The Walk

I have read a few blogs lately that have been discussing legalism.  They were actually good posts  for a change!  Legalism is one of those topics that I hate to even mention because it tends to bring out the nastiness in people.

I have found that it is often a word used to try and discredit another and their views or actions if one does not agree with them.

One may see the actions of another and deem them as being legalistic without taking the time to understand why one is doing what they are doing or truly knowing the individual’s heart in the matter.  That is the difference between us earthly, sinful creatures and the Holy Lord.

1 Samuel 16:7b “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

It is so easy for us to look at others and think that if so and so does this or that they are sinning based on our own sinful past and struggles. Here is an excerpt from Your Sacred Calling on the subject.

Entire blogs are set up “warning” other Christians how they may spot legalistic churches or groups, or even how to judge whether or not a friend is a legalist. Most of their warnings aren’t based on Scripture or reason; most of their complaints are based upon their personal testimonies or experiences from when they, themselves, were legalists.

To me, that’s the most disturbing part. Since when are we called to superimpose our own past sins or judgmental attitudes on others? If you were a legalist at some point in your life, and thought that anyone who (insert extra-biblical teaching here) was sinning, then own your own sin; but, don’t get it in your head that all your brothers and sisters in Christ who seem to “look like you did” on the outside have the same sinful mindset on the inside!

Here are just a few examples I have personally experienced.

• One should never use a prayer book because it is rote and not personal communication.
• One should not read, quote, or adhere to confessions because they are works of men.

It can seem as if those who are continually calling for the life of grace in opposition to the life of what they perceive to be legalism is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.  For one to automatically reject anything that they think might even hint at looking legalistic as being without any merit or good without consideration, is a legalism of its own.

Zealously holding to and sharing one’s convictions also can lead to opposition.  Here are comments I have heard when asked to share a conviction in which someone else may disagree.

• One can only be zealous about their convictions if they do not offend me or they will at least acknowledge that my point of view is just as true.
• If one is too zealous about something I do not agree with then they are just pushing their views upon me.

My response is:

I am called to be zealous for the Lord and the things he has taught me through his Word and Spirit.  I am not called to validate what another believes on the matter.  Just because I do not validate and deem as just as true as my beliefs does not mean that I am pushing my beliefs upon another.  I can validate that one does believe differently and I can come to understand their beliefs and still see them as inconsistent with scripture.

I am willing to listen to differing opinions on things, to hear one out, and to seek the Lord on a matter. But if I do not come to the same conviction as you does not mean that I am hard-headed, legalistic, self-righteous, or prideful.  It simply means that your words have not come in agreement with what the Spirit and the Word have taught me thus far in my journey with the Lord.

Here is an excerpt from Like a Warm Cup of Coffee:

You are *not* a legalist if by faith and love for the Lord you obey His law – people will tell you you are, but you are not.
You are a legalist if you keep God’s law in order to gain or keep your salvation.

You are *not* a legalist if you believe professing Christians should obey the Lord, with love & humilty.
You are a legalist if you believe that your obedience makes you more acceptable to God than others who are not on your level.

You are *not* a legalist if you have high standards, or if you are more precise in your understanding of obedience.
You are a legalist if you think your higher standards make you more righteous.

You are *not* a legalist ifyou exhort others to obey God’s word.
You are a legalist if you bind men’s consciences to man’s tradition.

Another problem in this area is where people draw the line on what is called “personal conviction”.  Today in the church is the thinking that what is right for one may not be right for another and we should just let each live as God calls accordingly.  I agree to a point.  However, there are some things that scripture does clearly teach.  Many disagree on to what degree or how explicit things need to be taught before they are deemed important enough to really take a stand on.  What one person sees as a non-essential another may see as being something that is very clearly taught in scripture.

We must always keep in mind that spiritual maturity or lack there of plays a large role in these matters.   Not to hold ourselves up or to diminish another but we need to be cognizant of that fact.  If we are aware and considerate of this truth then we can be evaluating our own hearts and move forward in an understanding and gracious manner(not necessitating an all encompassing acceptance).  As Christians we are all traveling that narrow road which leads to Christlikeness.  There is freedom along this path but the path is still the narrow way.  We are all in different places and at different maturity levels along this journey.  This is something to keep in mind.

Most often in discussions of legalism there are two sides.  Those sides are the one who is perceived to be bound by legalism and the grace talker.  The sad thing is that the grace talker is usually so busy trying to point out the other’s legalistic bondage that they do not realize they are bound as well and they forget to exercise the grace that they are proclaiming.  They want grace extended to them in the manner of validating their beliefs (which are possibly less restrictive) and coming to agreement with them without extending that same grace to that one who does not, cannot and/or will not validate.