Compiled By S. E. Ray

“If I try harder to avoid those thoughts, overcome that sin with greater determination and make myself go to church more often, maybe I will get closer to God.” Does that sound familiar? It is not uncommon self-talk that a person might have seeking a path to God. It sounds correct and feels right because it is how the world thinks and how many of us have been taught. Our Father or Mother may have said “If you want to get anywhere in life, you have to work hard” or as one adage goes “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” What’s wrong with trying to get right with God through your own efforts? Why not help other Christians and point out their obvious sins; after all, we honestly want to help them get right like we are trying to do? “As long as I go to Liturgy and partake in the Mass, I will not be guilty of sin.”

Legalism is any system, rules, expectations or regulations that promise God's love in return for human effort and obedience. Doctrinally, it is a position essentially opposed to grace. It knows no boundaries. Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, all faiths struggle with the bondage. Sadly, there are those who feel so strongly about their theological position that they will drive you out of their fellowship verses allowing you to grow together with them. That, too, is legalism. One type of legalist believes that a person can use their free will to earn the favor of God. Another type believes that religious deeds or good works performed in the sight of God is what enables them to sustain their salvation. Both methods know the redemptive work of Christ is necessary, but is not enough to justify self without some personal effort. In both cases, a type of “works” must be added as a security measure to assure their guaranteed salvation. Rather than viewing the essence of the faith and good works as something that springs from our new nature in Christ, we might see them as something to add to our list of religious accomplishments, which we grow proud of just as the Pharisees did.

Legalism is a spiritual heresy that is as old as the faith. When God persuades a writer to devote a book of the Bible to addressing a particular subject you can be sure that it is important. The entire book of Galatians is dedicated to the problem of legalism. Paul called legalism "a different gospel." Keep in mind that the book of Galatians was not written to those outside the faith; it was written to people who had already received Christ as Lord. “After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” (Galatians 3:3). The victorious Christian life is a gift attainable by allowing the Holy Spirit to live through us by faith spurred on by genuine love!

To prevent falling into the bondage of legalism you can start by meditating on the words of the apostle John, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17), and remember to be gracious, especially to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Walk in the truth of these words: "Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand" (Romans 14:4). "But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God" (Romans 14:10).

Respected theologian F. F. Bruce wrote saying that “Doing the will of God is not a matter of conformity to outward rules but of giving expression to inward love, such as the Spirit gives us." The Christian life was never meant to be a life of willful struggle against self, although some of us have tried living it in such a way. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The Christian life was never meant to be a burden. Jesus said, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). The Christian life was meant to be a life of divine freedom filled with love, joy and peace all that is NOT realized when we attempt to live under legalism.

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). What is this truth? If you have been in the faith anytime at all, you’ve heard it said many times "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6) Nothing we do is good enough to justify ourselves before a Holy and perfect God. Let’s make it simple. Christ paid it all—the work is done. What is most important for the believer to grasp is the unmeritable favor found in His grace. As we become consumed by the love the Father he has for his people, the pruning process is natural. The works of the faith is a result of our expression of genuine love for God. Not the sadistic effort to avoid divine retribution by straining to reach God’s holy perfection. When we are filled with Holy Spirit love first, all other aspects of the faith fall into place properly and in balance.

As an example, if you have fallen deeply in love with someone, there is nothing you would not do for them, give up for them, sacrifice for them, nothing is too much. Think upon this carefully. Ask yourself; do you feel this way toward the Father through the Son? Much like falling in love with a person, you learn to fall in love with the heavenly Father through fellowship in study of his word, intimate prayer and time with other Christians. As you read the scriptures, the supernatural work of truth combined with God’s Spirit, will set your soul free from the shackles of bondage. Going to church will not be a burden, let someone try to keep you away when your heart is full of rejoicing and love for God. Don’t be confused here, some people love going to church for the social aspects, the pride of belonging or out of obligation, none that are of proper motivation. We are talking about being filled with a divine love so great that the outward functions of religion fall away and the heart beats to a different drummer who is now fully resident. No one is above examining himself or herself against this cruel taskmaster of self-justification. If the faith is a burden or you are busy trying to change others or you feel like God is always disappointed with your stumbling, just remember, Christ paid it all—all to him we owe.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19