Legalism and Consistent Spiritual Habits: Not the Same
“I
believe many followers of Jesus mistakenly lump a commitment to
consistent spiritual disciplines into the pejorative pool of legalism.”
I believe
many followers of Jesus mistakenly lump a commitment to consistent
spiritual disciplines into the pejorative pool of legalism.
Unfortunately, dismissing these proven
habits as “legalistic” causes these believers to unwittingly miss out on
significant spiritual growth. I believe a right-sized understanding of
legalism, accompanied by a proper motivation to embrace the habits for
spiritual growth, can produce a harvest of spiritual revitalization.
What Comes Around Goes Around
I remember my final month of seminary
like it was yesterday. A professor asked us, “What issues do you think
the American church will be facing in 20 years?”
That was 19 years ago.
Legalism, the belief that salvation and
spiritual growth are obtained primarily from a strict adherence to God’s
rules, had been the prevailing message in much of the evangelical and
conservative churches for years. That message was changing rapidly as a
substantive “grace-awakening” was happening on our seminary campus. I
needed that awakening. I still do!
That said, there was a dark undercurrent
developing in this change of tide. The grace awakening sparked a growing
disdain for legalism, especially for those who were previously trapped
in it. To be clear, I believe a measure of this disdain was righteous.
Jesus dramatically confronted the legalism of the religious leaders of
His day. Legalism is a lifeless counterfeit of the gospel and needs to
be avoided.
The undercurrent was the intense
emotional swing away from anything that smacked of legalism, which
included any consistent effort to develop spiritually. My answer to the
professor was, “I believe the church, 20 years from now, will be so
‘legalism-avoidant’ that the mainstream will pull away from engaging
godly habits that lead to godly growth.”
Unfortunately, I became what I feared
would happen to the church. I read the Bible, but I was not consistent. I
prayed throughout the day but never had a focused time to pray
intentionally about my life, family and ministry. I never journaled, so I
had limited guidance from God’s Spirit on a daily basis. I was in a
spiritual desert. I am pretty sure I wasn’t alone in that desert.
Thankfully, I found a road out of that
desert five years ago. Two books paved that road for me. One helped me
understand legalism in a way that empowered me to avoid its pitfalls
without avoiding consistency in development habits. The other showed me
the power and life that can come from a consistency that is not
legalistic.
It’s All in the “Why”
The first book was Tim Keller’s The Prodigal God, which brilliantly unpacks the heart of legalism through the lens of the older brother in Luke chapter 15. Keller writes, “Elder brothers obey God to get things. They don’t obey God to get God Himself.” Keller also writes,
“If, like the elder brother, you believe that God ought to bless you
and help you because you have worked so hard to obey him and be a good
person, then Jesus may be your helper, your example, even your
inspiration, but he is not your savior. You are serving as your own
savior.”
Keller’s book helped me see that legalism
involves my motive for engaging a behavior much more than the behavior
itself. In other words, he gave me the right-sized understanding I
needed. Once this was clear, I was free to re-engage some consistent
behaviors without fear.
The second book was The Sacred Way
by Tony Jones. Tony helped me see that the ancient disciplines have
consistently provided powerful transformation, strength and spiritual
insight for church leaders throughout the centuries. I wanted to “taste
and see” God’s power the way those people did! Jones’ book gave me the
proper motivation for engaging consistently in those ancient practices.
If you want to abide with Jesus in order
to know Jesus, and you want to know Jesus in order to be led by Jesus,
then you have the proper motive to engage the godly habits that help you
grow in God’s grace.
Consistency = Fully Alive
The most influential verse in my life for
the last five years has been John 10:10. Take note of the extremes
Jesus presents in this verse.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Satan is a thief. I believe Satan has
been the primary influencer in the rise of legalism throughout the
history of God’s people. I believe he will do it again. He will use
legalism to steal, kill and destroy life as often as he can. That said,
please consider this warning; Satan can also use a false definition of legalism to keep us from consistently engaging the habits that lead to life.
You don’t need to let him steal that life
from you. Jesus has a better plan. He wants to give you life to the
full. He has invited you to sit down beside His streams of living water
and drink. He has invited you to do it consistently. He has promised a
life fully alive as you come to Him, FOR HIM, trusting Him with the
outcomes. You can, with Jesus’ help, be consistent without being
legalistic. *
*Need an affordable resource to help you and two others develop this kind of consistency while avoiding legalism? Check out disciplesmade.com and get started today.
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