Legalism is a dangerous problem. As an IFB, I always thought of legalism as strictly a works-based-justification approach to salvation. The only legalists I knew were Roman Catholics, eastern religionists, and some cultists.
But since I came away from IFB/IFBx circles, I have come to understand legalism as applying to sanctification not merely justification. I was a legalist, in many respects. Why? Because I felt my standing with God, on a day to day (sanctification) basis, depended upon my performance. I could be definitely not right with God, and more right with Him, than at other times. Often, the solution to struggling against sin was provided as merely gritting one’s teeth, and working harder. Character was the means to accomplishing my moralistic goals. How could I not see this as so contradictory to the gospel of salvation by grace?
IFB/IFBx churches stressed the importance of duty. But they did not address the question of human inability and depravity, so much. We all could do it, and if we didn’t we weren’t filled with the Spirit enough. Blame and guilt was applied as a means to motivate us to do right. Worship was wonderful when I was performing well, and horrible when I was not. Sometimes going through the motions was all I felt I could do.
Now, granted, this kind of thinking is not singular to IFB churches–any church is susceptible to it. And it has a grain of truth. We are called to live holy lives. Absolutely! But we are not to depend on ourselves or glory in our accomplishments. We are to boast only in the cross! (See this post along these lines.) Since knowledge affects our experiential walk so much (as the NT epistles constantly stress), misunderstanding the relation of our spiritual and Christian duties and the accomplishment of Christ on the cross can severely impact our personal enjoyment of Christ and His love and consequently hinder our walk with Christ. Without clear teaching that Christ is our only means of righteousness (ultimate and practical/daily), duty and resolve become first in our life, and delight and dependence are minimized. This is a danger still for me, and I think it is for all of us. But we must remind ourselves that our favor with God is solely due to Christ’s glorious work being accepted by God as sufficient for us and Christ’s constant and successful intercession for us. Anything good we do is only on account of God’s grace working in us (1 Cor. 15:10, Phil. 2:13).
Well, I was spurred on to thinking about these things again when I heard the following song on the radio this morning. It has blessed me and challenged me time and again. I put forth the lyrics here with the hope they will challenge you to see the glorious and awe-inspiring truth of God’s grace for us in Christ.
What If
By Jadon Lavik
What if I climbed that mountain? What if I swam to that shore?
What if every battle was victorious, then would You love me more?
Would You love me more?
What if I were everyone’s first choice? What if I went farther than before?
What if I stood high above the rest, then would You love me more?
Would You love me more?
You say I belong to You apart from the things I do.
You say I belong to You, I’m in awe of why You do,
Why You do, why You do. I’m in awe of You, ooh.
What if I ignored the hand that fed me? What if I forgot to confess?
What if I stumbled down that mountain, then would You love me less?
Lord, would You love me less?
What if I were everyone’s last choice? What if I mixed in with the rest?
What if I failed what I passed before, then would You love me less?
Lord, would You, would You love me less? Oh no, oh no, oh no.
You say I belong to You apart from the things I do.
You say I belong to You I’m in awe of why You do,
You do, You do, You do.
What have I done to deserve your Son sent to die for me?
What can I give? I want to live, give me eyes to see.
In a world that keeps changin’ there’s one thing that I know is true.
Your love is stayin’ there’s nothing else I’ll hold onto.
You say I belong to You apart from the things I do.
You say I belong to You I’m in awe of why You do,
Why You do.
You say I belong to You apart from the things I do.
You say I belong to You I’m in awe of why You do.
I’m in awe of You, I’m in awe of You.
The way You love me, the way You do.
The way You do, the way You love me, You love me, You love me.
The way You do, the way You do, the way You love me.
The way You love, You love, You love.
Lavikmusic ASCAP
You can listen to a song sample here, from the author Jadon Lavik’s website.
Excellent message! Thanks for sharing it!
I once heard this definition of legalism. “following the letter of the law without regard to the spirit of the law.” The whole point of the law is to show us our need for Christ, not to give us something to boast on. For in our flesh, dwells no good thing. But our spirits have been made alive in Christ. When we abide in Christ and He abides in us, His law is written on our hearts and we want to obey Him, but we also know that everything we do, we do in Him and with His strength.
Bob,
Please address this subject more often. It is refreshing to me, and I must admit, it is new to me. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around what you’re saying about sanctification.
I must admit to not having actually read the whole article yet, but your first few sentences ring all too true.
Too often I hear fundamentalists saying “I’m not a legalist because that means that you think works are required for salvation, and I don’t think that.”
And yet they require them for sanctification. My pastor mentioned yesterday how we will never understand grace until we realize that there is nothing we can do to separate ourselves from the love of God!
And the Apostle Paul has already dealt with the objections to this, namely that this leads to lawless living. On the contrary, this leads us to think all the more highly of grace, and be all the more horrified at how completely corrupt we truly are.
Praise God! When we begin to understand these things we will be free to truly worship and be truly holy.
Excellant Points and very well said.
Great post,
That’s one of my favorite song on Christian radio right now. Such a great message.
Doug
Bob,
Thanks for stating the liberating truth so clearly! I’ve just shared your post with a friend who is currently a reforming fundamentalist. I look forward to reading the rest of your posts, having discovered your blog in the list of new links (among my own)featured on the Texas Baptist Underground.
All,
Thanks for the positive comments. I have been under the weather lately and have not been devoting as much time to the blog. It is comments like these which motivate me to press on!
“Capt. Headknowledge”, I am looking forward to checking out your blog too!
God Bless.
zeatoI think another answer to this problem (which I still struggle with) is to purposefully seek experiences of grace, which inevitably transform us a little more. True transformation is a good antidote against the temptation to self-righteousness.
I say experience, because I believe it is dangerous to thoughtlessly apply everything said of the saints to ourselves, trying hard to believe it, if the experience of our hearts contradicts that we actually possess such things. So deceitful are our hearts to such shallow and cringing plumbers of them as ourselves.
By seeking experiences of grace, I mean putting on that self bestowed upon us at regeneration (or trying to and finding out it’s not there and seeking God truly for the first time) and employing that divine bent God-wards so mercifully impanted. To seek God himself – to enjoy him, to see him. There are many things to learn about this, such as the humility required – and the boldness required – and the time and persistance required.
But we are given much hope in the scriptures that he is this kind of God: the kind who is mercifuly grants favors to the humble, the penitent, and the persistent. Especially when the favor being sought is that one most honoring to God – that favor of being allowed to taste of the pleasure of Himself for who he is.
Success is sweet; first for the favor itself, and also because every fresh apprehension of God with our spirits inevitably brings with it a fresh holiness of the heart that is so liberating – not only from sin, but from legalism as well, which is after all, sin of another kind. How sad are those resolute slaves who think that this bondage is the yoke of Christ – that which he called easy. Perhaps it seems easy to them; perhaps that is why they stumble. If that is so, I thank God for my weakness and beg his mercy to seek him another day.
[…] Before closing, let me direct you to two previous posts on a performance based “legalism” and Christ centered (vs. moralistic) preaching. […]
[…] closing, let me direct you to two previous posts on a performance based “legalism” and Christ centered (vs. moralistic) preaching. Share this:EmailPrintShareStumbleUponRedditDigg […]
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