Legalism?
December 7, 2003
Dear Friends,
How many times have you heard the term “legalism”, “legalistic” or “legalist” bantered about in the past six months? If you are like me, you have heard it a lot. In fact, it is becoming an ever increasing part of our vocabulary. The good news is that we are becoming more self-aware of the legalism and its awful effects upon people of faith. The bad news is that the term is being used in situations where it has no application.
When I was a child, one of the terms still part of the American vocabulary was “commie.” Commie was a demeaning term used to denote someone as a Communist. Of course with the very real Communist threat, being a commie was a serious accusation. In the 1950′s, Senator Joseph McCarthy nearly paralyzed the US government by simply labeling people as commies to assert his control and influence. However, by the 1970s, the term had lost much of its power because people had used it in such broad ways. Anyone who was a liberal Democrat was a commie. Anyone who was against the war in Vietnam was a commie. Anyone who rooted for Joe Namath and the New York Jets against Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts was a commie. In other words, the once meaningful word simply lost its power because of overuse and improper use.
Legalism is a very real threat. It harms people in dramatic ways including, but not limited to, keeping people from being in the Kingdom of God. Because legalism is so sinister, it behooves us not to neuter the term to the point that it does not convey the truth. People use it because it is effective. If we overuse it and use it in inappropriate ways, it loses its value and effectiveness.
So what exactly is legalism? One of my favorite definitions is from the The Jewish New Testament Commentary where it states “Legalism I define as the false principle that God grants acceptance to people, considers them righteous and worthy of being in his presence, on the ground of their obedience to a set of rules, apart from putting their trust in God, relying on him, loving him, and accepting his love for them.” David Levin in his book Legalism vs. Faith (a “must read” for anyone who has not read it) gives us the helpful observation to remember what legalism is when he states “Legalism relies on the ‘three R’s:’ Rules, Rituals, and Rewards. Remember these, and you’ll remember what legalism is all about.”
So what exactly is NOT legalism? 1) It is inappropriate to label someone a legalist for desiring organization. If you strongly urge people to be on time for Sunday School, you are not a legalist. If you say that righteousness is established by being on time for Sunday School you are a legalist. Legalism is not organized Bible study, committees, protocol or the Daily Bible Reading plan. 2) It is inappropriate to label someone a legalist for desiring to follow God’s law or asking others to do the same. God has given us laws to follow – “thou shalt not kill” and so forth. Following those laws is good. Thinking that following those laws somehow entitles you so that God “owes you” is bad and legalistic. Just because someone evokes the laws of God does not make them a legalist. It makes them a believer. 3) Just because someone disagrees with you does not make them a legalist. I cringe every time I hear someone use legalist as an epithet. I see very little difference between using legalist as an epithet and any other slur. It is wrong and shouldn’t be accepted by any who would serve God.
The ultimate irony in all of this is that the casual use of the term legalism is becoming somewhat legalistic itself. People throw the term out to cast dispersion on their brethren while holding themselves up as righteous. How legalistic is that?
Have a great week!
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