A
legalist tries to control other people’s behavior through browbeating and
threats. He or she is like the circus person who trains a bear to ride a
bicycle. The bear feels awkward doing it, and is only doing it because of
the trainer’s threats. Garrison Keillor once said, “A bear riding a bicycle
can be trained to do it, but he would rather be in the woods, doing what bears
do.”
God
calls us to freedom (Gal. 5:13) but legalism calls people to bondage. The Holy
Spirit inspires joyful service (John 15:11) but legalism produces dreaded
duties. The Pharisees were the legalists of Jesus’ day. In Matthew 23:4-33, Jesus
rebukes them for adding heavy burdens on people.
#1 Legalists are
typically perfectionists who have unrealistic expectations of others.
Imagine
being a pole-vaulter and the highest you’ve been able to clear is 13 feet. Your
coach sets the bar at 17 feet. When you keep going 4 feet under the bar, he goes
berserk and screams at you for not meeting the goal he set for you. A perfectionist
is like that coach who sees everyone as a pole-vaulter who fails to make it
over the bar. No one will ever be able to meet his expectations because he sets
the bar way too high.
#2 Legalists are highly
critical of others.
A legalist has no room in his or her heart for God’s grace and compassion. They
will often blast others in public and belittle them behind their backs. Those
who are highly critical have very little love in their hearts, which causes them
to only see others’ faults.
#3 Legalists force
people to obey through threats, intimidation, and guilt trips. They will make
condemning statements to make others feel guilty so they will conform to their
wishes. The people being controlled are more concerned with pleasing the authoritarian
figure than they are with pleasing God. They will attend church to make sure
the legalist sees them in attendance rather than going to worship the Lord. People
were afraid of the Pharisees and followed their rules “for they loved the
approval of men rather than the approval of God” (John 12:42-43).
Lest
we be misunderstood, God wants you to submit to those in authority in your church
and be joyful in serving Him. Hopefully your church is filled with grace and
the Holy Spirit, and led by those who love the Lord. Remember, though, that you
get to choose your place of worship. If your church makes you feel like a bear
riding a bicycle, it might be time to find a new circus trainer. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com
************************************Several people wrote us the link didn’t work to “Can Christian lose his salvation?” The link is working now, so please click on the link and print it for future reference.
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