Periodically, former ATI students will share poems, music and books that have helped them on their journey of healing. The following contains a brief book review by one such student.
“Legalism is a dark world” (Lucado 118). In his book, “He Still Moves Stones,” Max Lucado speaks to circumstances of loss and pain in order to address the question of “Where is God when I hurt?”
I was shocked to find that one of these chapters was about pain caused by legalism. I’m not sure how I even came to read this chapter of this book, but finding it was a pivotal moment in my life. After I came home from the Moscow Training Center, I had no idea where to start in the process of recovery or if I even needed to do anything other than just try to forget about it. Realizing that someone understood the pain I was feeling was so validating. I was amazed that someone knew how to put the pain of legalism into words, and I finally allowed myself to start facing the pain I had tried to shut up inside. Sitting on the floor of my room, I read this chapter over and over and just let the tears flow.
There are many books out there that are very helpful for recovering from spiritual abuse, but I still love the compact message of this chapter because it started my road to healing.
A few quotes that are my favorites:
“Legalism doesn’t need God. Legalism is the search for innocence—not forgiveness. It’s a systematic process of defending self, explaining self, exalting self and justifying self. Legalists are obsessed with self—not God.” (120)
“Legalism is just enough religion to keep you, but not enough to nourish you.” (119)
“Salvation is God’s business. Grace is his idea, his work, and his expense. He offers it to whom he desires, when he desires. Our job in the process is to inform the people, not to screen the people.” (121)
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That first quote is amazingly powerful. It helps explain why sometimes in churches that seem to be very strict some very wicked things are still going on. It's because legalism is focused on self, and sin develops from that.
I also remember hearing my parents scorn Max Lucado and call his writing shallow. Whether they said it in so many words, I picked up on the idea that he wasn't really as BIBLICAL as we were. They didn't like C. S. Lewis either, but it was writers like them who helped me see the beauties of grace and the emptiness of legalism.
Wow!!!
I read the word legalism on this website a lot. What exactly does that word mean in this context? Perhaps I am incorrect in my assumption, but I seem to get the impression that anything that is considered a conservative approach or mindset is labeled legalism.
Hi Grateful,
I understand your concern. The term legalism can have more than one definition, but the definition I think Recovering Grace would ascribe to it most of the time is "Promoting extra-Biblical standards as Biblically mandatory as a test of one's spirituality before God." Chuck Swindoll defines it as "I do this or I don't do that, and therefore, I am pleasing God." Another definition could be "God's love (or blessing) depends on my performance."
Legalism does come, I think, from an ultra-conservative mindset or approach. That is not to say that a conservative mindset or approach is legalistic. I personally ascribe to many traditional Christian beliefs that would be considered "conservative," but I don't think they're legalistic.
I'm not a staff member of RG, and I can't speak for them, but those are my thoughts on your question.
I agree with what Don said. I also ascribe to many values that would probably be labeled 'conservative', out of personal conviction, but I do not believe having/living those beliefs make me acceptable to God, I ascribe to them because I believe that is what God wants me to do, and I want to obey Him. I do not believe that anyone who does not share my beliefs and convictions isn't pleasing or obeying God (with some exceptions perhaps.) I.e. alcohol. I don't think it's a sin to drink, but I do not believe that I should drink any alcohol.
Don, thank you. For the record, I have pretty much rejected BG because of his twisting scriptures, etc. (and thank you RG for bringing to light some rather disturbing stories and testimonies) However, I was saved from a dreadfully sinful background and my life in Christ is radically different that how I once lived. (it's fun to go to reunions and share with my old running buddies) So I get nervous when Christians pine about "things" they missed out on as teens because of "legalism" I want to shout, "no, you were protected!" Isn't it just simple wisdom (or prudence) to put up barriers between oneself and a sin? Is it legalism to advocate stopping behavior pattern x because it leads to bondage y? I don't mean to hijack this article, so forgive my ramblings....
The problems Jesus had while on earth came from all the "religious" folk, i.e. Pharisees, i.e.legalists. They were very critical of Jesus and his disciples when they went into a field to eat some grain on the Sabbath because they were hungry. The Pharisees proclaimed that the Law stated no work should be done on the Sabbath. And their interpretation of the Law about not working on the Sabbath included picking some grain to feed yourself. Of course, Jesus had a wise answer for them.
Even today, devout Jews will not do work on the Sabbath, even to the point of not turning on a light switch when entering a room. My brother was with a person of devout Jewish belief who asked him to turn on the light for him. My brother asked why and was told it was a sin to work on the Sabbath. My brother said, "but you do not mind making me commit a sin."
Unfortunately my brother became very legalistic in his religion, Seventh Day Adventists. Talk about legalism. They have their own recovering website from having grown up in a very legalistic religion and breaking away from such.
BTW, love this article and the quotes.
Great article! I found Max Lucado's stuff to be so refreshing even while on staff at ITC (I used to check them out from the Indianapolis Library back when ITC was allowed to go there).
The line about legalism being the search for innocence - not forgiveness really resonated with me.
To answer grateful's question is difficult. I think legalism is a common word, but for many the application differs. I do believe what matters most when considering legalism is motive. WHY am I doing this.
I think two people can approach the same discipline and for one it's just that (a discipline) and for another it is legalism. In ATI, so much emphasis was put on things that had to be done to be acceptable to God, rather than teaching that we were acceptable because of what Christ already did. So for me, clearing my conscience took on an incredibly perverse spirit as I searched to make myself right with God by trying to track down every single person I'd ever wronged whether they knew it or not. Ultimately where God led me was to rest in what He'd already done. From time to time, I'll cross paths with someone and there's an opportunity to clear the air so to speak, but it's not longer a compulsive thing with a fear that God is angry with me until I do.
For a new believer that had previously made a living by trickery and deceit, perhaps this would be a vital discipline. For me, because it had been cast as God is displeased with you until you do this, I'd classify it as legalism (for me).
For people commenting on RG bemoaning something they unnecessarily abstained from (i.e., kissing before marriage) perhaps they really are bemoaning the WHY rather than the WHAT.
I hope that makes sense.
Thank you Ryan. Excellent insight and discernment about motives, that makes a lot of sense. I cannot help but be fascinated by reading how these teachings (BG's) truly affected those of you brought up in "the system." You will not fully understand the service you are providing this side of eternity - I, for one, have been blessed and have had my eyes opened.
I totally get where you're coming from, grateful . . . both my parents and my wife's parents were first generation believers and were saved out of filth. They wanted so badly to spare us from the filth they experience (which is why I think ATI was appealing to them in the first place).
We've had conversations over the years that go something along the lines of, "We don't want to 'play in the gutter' just for the sake of doing so, but if you keep running spiritual interference trying to protect us from making the mistakes you made, we'll never know what it's like to be redeemed/delivered from those mistakes. And we'll never appreciate redemption the way you do."
Ironically, I did sow enough wild oats that I too experienced God's redemption/deliverance (maybe not to quite the same extreme as my folks and inlaws) but when you experience it, you know it.
It's a scary road to trust that God will keep your child through all of that. Now that I'm a parent myself though, I see WHY they tried so hard to try to limit the opportunities for us to get tripped up.
I would also add, regarding the definition of Legalism, is that it *always* goes with judging others for failure to live up to man-made standards. It also focuses on externalities: that way it is easy to see if others (or yourself) are measuring up. No need to look at the heart - you can just see how they dress, what music they listen to, their political affiliation, etc.
That is why, to me, the first Lucado quote is spot on. There is no need for a relationship with God, because legalism seeks innocence, not forgiveness.
I've also heard it put that legalism is the way that we try to make God like us more than other people...
My husband and I both had regrets about our lives before meeting Cnrist, and the appeal of ATI was the idea of helping our children avoid the pits we wallowed in. Going into ATI when it was brand new and propelled by BG's enthusiasm, our thinking just wasn't very clear. It seemed like the greatest thing on earth,and the monthly newsletters were always full of exciting testimonies and developments for the future of our children. I tryed to use the wisdom booklets, but had a hard time with them. I thought it was just me. Now I see it was all wrong.
Our best memories of family life have nothing to do with the wisdom books.