Charles Swindoll wrote this about legalists:
“The problem with legalists is that not enough people have confronted them and told them to get lost. Those are strong words, but I don’t mess with legalism anymore. I’m 72 years old; what have I got to lose? Seriously, I used to kowtow to legalists, but they’re dangerous. They are grace-killers. They’ll drive off every new Christian you bring to church. They are enemies of the faith. Other than that, I don’t have any opinion! So, if I am trying to force my personal list of no-no’s on you and make you feel guilty if you don’t join me, then I’m out of line and I need to be told that.”
The older I get the more I see the damage of insisting on personal preferences and binding people to men’s traditions and restrictions. Young people and young believers are often hurt this way and discouraged in their faith. I meet them almost every day.
Legalists want to have a reputation for advanced spirituality, but the mark of maturity is not the number of extra-biblical rules you have. Biblical evidence of genuine spirituality is the fruit of the Spirit…
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-Control
So measure your spirituality by the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit not by the length of your extra-Biblical restrictions or requirements.Insisting on personal presences is a violation of love not a measure of spirituality.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
July 4, 2016
It is a dangerous thing. It is what you have to do. It takes away from God’s Grace, Mercy etc and what He will do. It’s all about you and the preacher and leaves God out of it. I lost so many years in legalism. My pastor told me I was going to hell because I missed ONE service out of Four in one day. I was 16 years old. Almost had a nerous break down. Jesus saved me not the church or the preacher.
It is so difficult to distinguish between “legalism”, and just preaching against sin and its consequences in so many instances. But, the discerning Christian, or Pastor, will simply point out what God specifically says is right or wrong, and when it is not clear, just point out the the need for the leading of the Spirit, pray for understanding, and seek God’s wisdom in questionable, or ambivalent situations or beliefs. I don’t need someone to “be” the Holy Spirit for me, I already have him, and the Word!
Evelyn. I’m glad that Jesus is so beautiful and compelling that He outshines many of his self-appointed handlers, amen. God help us represent Him rightly.
Tom, you make a good point. I think you are spot-on in just preaching what the Scriptures say because they are sufficient. Thanks for your comment