lifeasmission

A Subtle Legalism

July 20, 2005

Like any religious group, conservative evangelicals wish to distinguish themselves by standing firmly against certain ideologies, attitudes, and practices. For most conservative evangelicals, the issue of legalism takes precedent. Legalism is seen as the great enemy of grace and faith and therefore is to be avoided at all costs, avoided legalistically if I may be ironical. Why then do conservative evangelicals tend to be the primary embracers of a more subtle form of legalism?

A good friend was telling me recently how firmly their church stands against things like mentoring across genders and married men and women being alone anywhere for any length of time with members of the opposite sex. These situations, in their view, tend to be fertile ground for miscommunication, mixed emotions, hurt feelings, and infedelity. Of course, people are taught to avoid these sort of behaviors and situations in order that they may remain “above reproach” (1 Tim. 3) and so that they may “avoid every kind of evil” (1 Th. 5). The reasoning goes, these situations can lead to sin and therefore ought to be avoided. Therefore, we should simply play it safe and not take any chances or risks. While I understand this reasoning and agree to a point, I am saddened that it is not seen for what it is – legalism, and ultimately curtails the fullness of life Jesus died for.

I think immediately of Paul’s words to the Colossians (2:20-23)…

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

The kind of practice being esposed by this church seems to be more and more common in popular theology. Most of the Christian books being written in regard to ethics and sin seem to advocate primarily for a “don’t do such and such” mentality.

I ask myself questions like these…

Why are we so concerned about how the world perceives us when they will not be our ultimate judges? (1 Cor. 6:2)

What is the point of being transformed into the likeness of Christ if we can simply resort to patterns of living which simply remove temptation? (above)

If this the best we can do, do we really need thr Triune God of the Universe any more than Dr. Phil? 1 Cor. 1:20)

I answer them by remembering things like this…

Jesus risked his reputation, mission, and life so that he could be found faithful in God’s sight (Jn. 8:49)

Jesus challenged all the major traditions and supposed taboos of the religious leaders and Pharisees (Lk. 13:15)

And then there is this line of thought…

What’s so bad about taking relational risks? Relationships by their very nature are risky, but through them (whether we consider them successful or not) we learn forgiveness, understanding, love, compassion, grace, insight, and healing. We may avoid risky situations and relationships and learn ABOUT these things, but we will never learn these things unless we are willing to take chances.

Some may argue that I am taking too lax an attutude toward sin. Is sin not to be avoided at all costs? Am I advocating the kind of thinking that Paul railed against in Romans 6 – “Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase?” I say with Paul, “By no means!” I am merely hoping that we don’t mock the cross of Christ by seeking to alter or behavior rather than our very hearts, passions, and spirits.

But there’s more. I can hear someone saying, “Fine. Fine. Yes, our hearts should be changed, but that doesn’t give us license to put ourselves in situations where we are unnecessarily tempted.”

I respond, “What then would we have to say of our Savior who hung out with prostitutes, tax collecters, insurrectionists, drunkards, gluttons, and other notorious sinners? Did he not do this despite temptation and with a view toward helping these people see an alternative way of life?

In summary, it seems to me that advocates of the kind of thinking this church is supporting may just as well say…

Let us never drink – for we may get drunk
Let us never open our eyes – for we may covet
Let us never open our mouths – for we may speak in haste

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Cor. 5:17)

Can you imagine telling a toddler who has just learned to walk, “Now don’t do that, you might fall and hurt yourself.” Or when they learn to speak, “Hush now, you just never know what might come out of that mouth of yours.”

In the Kingdom of God (which is not only a future expectation, but also a present reality for those in Christ) the only rule we follow is the one of loving obedience to the Father. Let us take up this practice and enjoy the life which Christ has redeemed us for.

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