Legalism
by Terry Wane Benton
What is it? Why do people fear it? It seems that the only opposite is “illegalism.” However, a better definition would probably be an attitude of self-deception, which is thinking we stand right with God with no need for mercy and forgiveness. We can stand on the legal side of justice through pardon and thus stand legally with God, which is good. I want to stand on the legal side of His law and justice rather than stay on the illegal side. Now, do you want to be legal or illegal?
Were Nadab and Abihu punished for legalism or illegalism? Is it legal to do the will of God? Or is it illegal? Were Ananias and Sapphira killed for doing something legal or illegal? I don’t know what definition people attach to the word “legalist.” It seems to mean different things to different people. What Bible passage uses this term? Did Jesus ever criticize the Pharisees for being “legalists”? Was not the whole issue their misuse of scripture and neglect of weightier matters of the Law (a legal demand)? Was not Jesus trying to get them to be more legal, not less legal?
Did Jesus or God ever approve of people doing illegal things? Hypocrisy is not legal. This is what Jesus addressed most often regarding the Pharisees. Jesus said that the doctrines of men that make the commandments of God void are not legal. (Matthew 15:1-9). Hypocrisy and lack of love are not legal.
Was Uzzah killed because of legalism or illegalism? Was David legal or illegal when he put the ark on the ox-cart? Was it legal or illegal to add circumcision to the gospel? (Galatians 1:6-10). Was Paul a legalist when he forbade the brethren to add circumcision to the gospel? When he said that people would be “accursed” if they perverted the gospel in so small a matter as adding circumcision, was he being a “legalist”? He was protecting the law of Christ from illegal additions and alterations. Adding circumcision was an illegal thing to do to the gospel. We must worry about illegalism.
If I understand what legal means, then I encourage everyone to try their best to be legal. I would never encourage people to keep on being proud of being an “illegalist”. Doing the will of God and teaching men so is legal. Teaching people not to worry about doing the will of God is illegal. Jesus came to do the will of God. If He was legal, then He was a legalist, was He not? If He was illegal, then He was not doing the will of God. My dictionary says “strict adherence to laws or rules.” When it comes to the laws of men, this can be bad. When it comes to the law of God, this is good. If we love God, we should show it by keeping His commandments (John 15:14). Is that bad or good? Did Jesus condemn the Pharisees for strict adherence to the laws of God? Can anyone show an example of where Jesus rebuked them for this? It was their hypocrisy that Jesus condemned. I challenge anyone to show where legalism is condemned in the Bible. The Pharisee did not see anything wrong with his life, but this was a case of pride and blindness, not legalism. The feeling of no need for mercy was blindness, but the Law of God was mishandled, or he would see the flaws in himself. So, blindness and mishandling the law was his greatest flaw. The publican could see himself as a sinner in need of mercy. Thus, he was approaching God and His law correctly.
Now, some think legalism seeks to be justified before God based on doing everything right without violating the law (perfect “works”). I don’t know anyone who seeks “forgiveness” (a legal term) and believes that they have done nothing that simultaneously needs forgiveness. So, I don’t know anyone who thinks they are justified by their own perfect performance of law-keeping. I know only brethren who know they need mercy and forgiveness; therefore, I don’t know any brethren who think their relationship with God is established based on their own perfect legal standing. All that I know is to seek forgiveness through the blood of Christ. Isn’t that and obedience an effort to stay on the legal side of God’s law? (Acts 2:37-41).
When John teaches Christians to confess their sins so that we can be forgiven of sins (violation of the law), is it not so that by forgiveness, we can stand on the legal side of God’s law? (1 John 1:7-9). If we remain on the illegal side, won’t we go to hell? So, it seems to me that we must be legalistic by obedience and appeal for mercy through the blood of Christ, or else we will go to hell. It seems clear that our appeal for the blood of Christ is also for legal reasons. It is essential to keep God’s judgments in our favor.
If our choice is to be legal in what we do and teach or be illegal, sign me up for legalism. What if we formed some new terms? For example, “he is a will-of-God-ist.” Would you mind being called a “Will-of-God-ist”? What does it mean? It means someone who insists on doing the will of God. Is that good or bad? In the Bible, it appears to be good (Matthew 7:21ff).
What about an “obedientist”? What is that? It is someone who seeks to obey the will of God. Would you want to be called an “obedientist” or a “disobedientist”? Well, if the choice is between those two terms, I want to be an obedientist. Yet, it has the same connotation as legalist. It can be used to prejudice people against being obedient. Yet, nothing in scripture condemns obedience. And nothing condemns being legal in what you do and teach. When people throw around the term “legalist”, and frame it in a bad light, always throw a question-mark up beside that term and ask for their definition.
Satan made the good law of God in the garden sound bad. Prejudice has the power to blind and destroy. I’m more afraid of illegalism than of legalism. I don’t know if I have seen enough legalism (if legalism seeks to be on the legal side of God’s law). I know I have seen too much illegalism. Brethren, let us be careful about throwing around terms without being clear about what we mean. Don’t let any man shame you for trying to get on the legal side of God’s book.
