During my decades of Christian ministry, the terms “legalism” and “legalist” have progressively been bandied-about within modern churches and their preachers/pastors. These terms have, primarily, been used to describe and condemn those Christians and churches that believe that there is more to being a follower of Christ than simple belief in Jesus and having an emotional attachment toward the Savior. The modern churches assert that God's grace negates the necessity of observing all of the commands and statutes delivered by Christ Jesus and His Apostles. For such churches, legalism is acknowledging that the Lord has given to His Church a body of legislation that He expects to be taught and obeyed.
From my study of the Scriptures, such a definition of legalism is without Biblical support. Biblical legalism is when a person or church places demands and restrictions on a Christian that are not found in the Scriptures. Also, Biblical legalism is when a person or church emphasizes the minutiae of the New Testament's law above the foundational virtues such as faith, hope, and love.
Jesus condemned the legalism that was promoted by the Pharisees, Saducees, scribes and lawyers of His day. He told His disciples not to follow in their foot-steps, saying, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:6).”
The Jews' spiritual leaders were guilty of both facets of genuine legalism. First, they added numerous rules and regulations to the already oppressive 613 commandments and statutes of the Mosaic Law. Jesus said to His followers that, by their adding rules and regulations, the Jewish religious authorities “tie up heavy burdens and lay them on mens' shoulders (Matthew 23:4).” These “heavy burdens” were man-made rather than being Divinely inspired; which lead Jesus to say, in Mark 7:7, “But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” Secondly, in their obsession to teach and enforce both the minutiae of the Mosaic Law and their precepts and traditions of men, Jesus said that the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes and lawyers neglected “the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23).”
Today's Christians – individually and collectively- must stay on the alert and examine their religion and be diligent in avoiding the legalism that Christ condemned :
Christian churches must not add rules and restrictions not taught by Christ and His Apostles. The words of the Apostle Paul are relevant as he wrote: “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 'Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!'... in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.” Christian preachers and teachers are authorized to explain the ways we can apply moral and spiritual principles to our daily lives; but, they must be careful not to make their specific applications as authoratative as Scripture. Each Christian must be careful to not push upon others rules and regulations that they have adopted for their own spiritual walk but are not enjoined in the Scriptures. Where the Bible is silent, we must be silent.
Likewise, today's Christians and churches must not get caught-up emphasizing the finer points of the New Testament's law – the commandments and statutes – and neglect the foundational virtues of our religion.. Paul reminded the young preacher Timothy about the things that he and all other preachers need to concentrate on in their messages, in 1 Timothy 1:5, “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” In addition, Paul asserted that God's people should heavily focus on “faith, hope, love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). When a person genuinely possesses a heart full of these virtues, everything else will fall in line.
As I survey modern Christendom, I see much less legalism than that spiritual philosophy found on the other end of the spectrum – license. Leaders of most of today's churches emphasize their own concept of grace, which basically means that through the redemption and justification found in Christ, Christians are no longer subject to any form of law. They are freed from all commandments and statutes relating to such matters like obtaining salvation, Christian living, proper worship, and the structure and activities of the Church. Concepts such as individual and congregational consecration and sanctification and sacrifice are seldom taught and cultivated. In pulpit sermons and written 'devotionals', the emphasis is placed on increasing self-esteem, personal satisfaction, and excelling in the pursuit of worldly riches, popularity and honors. The idea that we have any obligation to obey the Lord is set aside so that they can concentrate on getting fleshly desires met by reminding God that He is 'obligated' to do whatsoever they ask in faith.
Modern Christians place great emphasis on grace, faith and love. However, by their fruits, it is obvious that they do not understand the true nature of Biblical grace, faith, and love. When an individual possesses Biblical grace, faith and love they will strive to obey the commandments and statutes belonging to the New Testament.
They do not understand that Biblical grace does not give us license to live as we please but rather, as stated in Titus 2:11-12, “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.”
They do not understand that Biblical faith is not merely believing the facts presented in the Scriptures but, rather, Biblical faith always includes active obedience to the will of God. James 2:14, 17-24, “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?... faith, if it has no works, is dead. But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith [belief] alone.” The Apostle Paul also spoke of genuine faith being the combination of belief and obedience. He said that his preaching was meant to lead to the “obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5; 16:26). Lastly, even Jesus taught that genuine faith includes obedience, in John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
They do not understand that true love does not free us from doing the full will of the Lord but, rather, it leads us to do all within our power to please Him in the ways He has commanded. Jesus spoke clearly about this: John 14:15, 21, 23, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments...Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me...Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.” John 15:10, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love.”
Modern Christians claim that the greatest need is to ask Jesus into their heart and have a personal relationship with Jesus. They do not understand that pursuing a genuine relationship with Christ Jesus always involves obedience to His commandments and statutes. 1 John 2:3-6, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, 'I have come to know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” Having a personal relationship with the Lord is contingent upon our striving to serve Him with singleness of heart and obedience to His written will (purifying one' self of sin): James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
In summation, what many modern Christians, preachers/pastors, and churches call 'legalism' is actually the demonstration of a proper understanding of Biblical grace, faith, and love. The Lord has delivered to us a “perfect law” (James 1:25) which we are to obey. To claim to be a Christian and yet ignore the commandments given to us by Christ Jesus and His Apostles is beyond comprehension. As Jesus said, in Luke 6:46, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?”
A concluding point to consider. Jesus did not condemn the Pharisees and scribes for obeying the minutiae or finer points of the Mosaic Law. On the contrary, Jesus condemned them for emphasizing the observance of the finer points of the Law and ignoring the “weightier” virtues of Divine Religion. Matthew 23:23, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” Luke 11:42, “"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.”
