Studies in Grace, Part 2 Pharisaical Legalism

In contrast to the thoughts on liberty which appeared in a separate work, it seems logical to now discuss differing approaches that severely limits the liberty believers have in Christ, which also has the effect of limiting the power of Christ’s resurrection in our day to day living out what the Holy Spirit guides us into. So we come to the question: “What does it mean to say that legalism puts people under bondage?” Spiritually, legalism is portrayed as an attitude, a mentality, ultimately based on pride which is necessarily supported by a works salvation. Legalism always plays out as an obsessive conformity to an artificial standard for the purpose of exalting oneself. A legalist assumes the place of authority and pushes it to unwarranted extremes. The Pharisees in the days of Christ’s incarnate ministry were challenged time and time again by Jesus because their mentality distorts the way God acts toward His people. Such an attitude is referred to by theologians as ‘Pharisaical Legalism.’

In so many words, a legalistic mentality says, "I do this or I don't do that, and therefore, I am pleasing God." Or it says, "If only I could do this or not do that, then and only then, I would be pleasing to God." Or perhaps the full intent of legalism rises from the subconscious and says, "These things that I'm doing or not doing are the things I perform to win God's favor." The favorite words of the legalist are ‘work’ and ‘impress.’ The believer must first understand the standard of dos and don’ts aren't spelled out in the Scriptures – either in the Old or New Testaments. By some means or method, they've been passed down from generation to generation. This attitude has have been dictated to the legalist and has become an obsession to him or her. Legalism is rigid, grim, exacting, and law like in nature. Pride, which is at the heart of legalism, works in sync with other motivating factors which include guilt, fear, and shame, but are not limited to these motivating factors. Pharisaical legalism leads to an emphasis on what one should not be and what one should not do. It flourishes in a drab context of negativism.

Let's move past all the smoke screens and mirrors and get specific. The one place on earth where we would most expect to be set free is, in fact, the very place we are most likely to be placed into slavery: the church. What happened in the first century can surely happen in the twenty-first. Paul writes to the Galatians of his surprise: "You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?" [5:7].

If you will allow me to amplify Paul’s thought by sharing with you a paraphrase translation of Galatians 5:7 written by Charles Swindoll. It begins, "When I was with you, some of you were into the 100-meter dash, others were doing the 440 with ease. Still others were into much longer distances . . . you were marathoners. The truth freed you, and I distinctly recall how well you were running as well as how much joy you demonstrated. Who cut in on your stride? Who took away your track shoes? Who told you that you shouldn't be running or enjoying the race? Some of you have stopped running altogether." How many Christians do you know who exercise the joy and freedom to be a person full of life, not living on tiptoe, but enjoying spontaneous living---as opposed to the numberless hundreds of thousands who take their cues from the legalists and live life accordingly? Isn't it surprising to anyone who has been set free that anybody would ever want to return to bondage? Surely, that must grieve our God. It is the duty of every believer to resist the legalistic mind set whenever it confronts us. Legalists will rob, steal, or corrupt the believers’ joy, peace, and rest. Worse yet, they rob Christ’s position of preeminence in our lives as Lord and insert themselves into that role of the authority over the Christian with the results that believers become their slaves. Jesus said you cannot serve two masters. Eventually you will obey one over the other. Choose! Follow as a disciple of Christ or decide to enter the agonizing lifestyle of pharisaical legalism. The choice is yours. Both lifestyles have consequences which will affect your day to day living where faith meets a hostile world.