Promoting
Misunderstandings about Legalism
I have offered an article here: http://proveallthings-terry.blogspot.com/2012/04/when-someone-charges-us-with-legalism.html
In it I called for brethren to examine how they are joining
the misguided denominationalists in calling brethren in Christ “legalists”
without giving a fair and scriptural definition of what exactly this SIN of
legalism actually is. To date I have
seen several brethren continue to make the charge but continue to evade and
avoid giving a proper definition. I’m convinced that some of these brethren are
not being honest, and that they are simply parroting the word for prejudicial
reasons only. It is also a bit self-righteous on their part, as they seem to
pretend that they have reached some greater level of spirituality that allows
them to think that they have escaped this malady of “legalism”.
I would love to get someone to man up and participate in an
orderly discussion of this issue. Perhaps it can be stated in some
propositional form. But, what will these brethren affirm and deny? Here are some possible examples of
propositions:
1.
It is wrong to seek to obey the commandments of
the Lord for this would be the sin of legalism.
2.
It is wrong to insist that people do something
to be saved for this would be the sin of legalism.
3.
It is wrong to teach that we are justified by
works and not by faith only for this would be the sin of legalism.
4.
It is wrong to withdraw from members because of
violations of law because insisting that people not violate God’s moral law
would be the sin of legalism.
5.
It is wrong to insist that people be sure that
they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins because it
is the sin of legalism to question a persons’ understanding in the conversion
process.
I
would think that brethren who charge other brethren with the sin of legalism
would be too careful not to actually engage such propositions because it would
clearly backfire and they would lose the debate. So, what could be the purpose
of using this word against brethren and refusing to give it proper definition
and discussion? It seems to be used in
vagueness because they merely want to prejudice brethren by pontificating and
posing as if they have reached a more meaningful level of spirituality that is
not attached to keeping the Lords commandments. Forget that Jesus said “if you
love Me keep My commandments”, and forget all that John said about this in 1
John. Prejudice and trying to use the
word “legalist” or “legalism” to prejudice minds is a form of carnality and
unreasonableness.
Brethren,
we have every right to know the sin of “legalism” and how exactly it is a
sin. We do not need to throw this
unbiblical term around without sufficient definition. As far as I have been able to determine the
only legitimate definition for this term that meets criteria of scripture as a
sinful thing is “insisting on law without mercy”. Now, I really do not know any brethren
(perhaps there are some I don’t know about, but I doubt it) who teach and
insist on law without mercy. I need all
the mercy I can get, and I try to teach people how mercy is offered and
obtained because we all need it.
Next
time you hear a brother throw that term out there, politely request a
definition that fits the Bible criteria for such a term. If it is insisting on keeping God’s law, then
Jesus and His apostles were legalists.
If it is something other than “insisting on law without mercy”, then get
these brethren to define it and show from the scriptures that it is a sin, or
quit throwing the term around so loosely.
We
do not need any more wedges to divide us. We need clear minds and good, honest
hearts, and willingness to study and test all things. We do not need to promote prejudice with
empty words that mean various things to various people. That does not promote
understanding and unity, and we do not need more misunderstanding. So, let us
communicate and try not to talk past one another. Let us be willing to define
our terms and use them correctly so that misunderstanding can be reduced. Every idle word will be brought into
judgment. Let us not forget that.
Terry W. Benton
