My New Response To Legalists
Posted By Aaron Marcelli on June 3, 2011
I come from a very conservative past and from among people who have some very “unique” views and beliefs. With my broad range of influences and my activity online I often run across sound bites, articles, and rants from very legalistic religious-types (I really need to quit google-ing mega-church pastors’ names and reading the hate blogs written about them).
These kinds of things use to make me really mad. For real, I would get upset all day over something I read or heard from someone I don’t know. It could be unbiblical criticism of a contemporary “heretic” preacher or a bold stance wrongly calling something sin and condemning all who partake. Reading/hearing that would ruin my day.
My reaction used to be anger.
I would get upset. I would get mad. I sometimes would even leave comments on the websites or write letters to “correct” them. My online comments were rarely allowed by the authors. This made me even more upset.
Then, I realized how pathetic my reaction was.
Now let me say that I believe condemning something God has not condemned is wrong and I personally believe legalists will be judged for their Pharisee like statements and the heavy religion they have tried to use to control others. But setting them straight is not my job.
So what’s my reaction to these things now?
I feel sorry for them. Honestly. I used to get angry, and I still deal with some of that. But for the most part I just feel sorry for them. They usually portray themselves as unhappy, bitter people who think just because they have self-imposed strict religious ways that suck the fun out of their lives that everyone around them should do the same.
Besides, how did these people become legalists?
From sitting under and learning from other legalist!
So though it is sad that they have been brain-washed with an uptight religion that blocks a true view of God, it’s not their fault they were made that way by the false teaching of legalistic influences.
They are simply misguided. Unfortunately, they are also stubborn (because they can’t handle conflict over their weak logic) so it is hard to show them the truth without becoming frustrated or mad, like I used to get.
So now, I simply feel sorry for those pastors, bloggers, and misguided followers when I hear/read such legalistic, unbiblical banter. I want to be mad, but they are still a human created and loved by God. Just as our hearts should go out to those misguided and manipulated into a cult, so our attitude should be toward those who have been lead astray down the path of legalism.
God deliver them!
Decent thinking. My recommended response is in 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
I think it is really important to distinguish between fundamentalism and legalism. They work hand in hand on many occasions. However, you and I know many people that would have some of these same rules, but strictly view them as matters of holiness and not a means to earn God’s favor (if you are defining legalism historically as a pharisaic, earning of God’s justification). Every individual has to live their conscience, Paul makes that pretty clear in the meat passages. Decisions need to be made on practical matters that individuals believe the Bible doesn’t face head on. For that, no one should be pitied. Comparing a strict observance of obedience to a cult is probably a bit strong.
Fundamentalism should be challenged at times, but I don’t think that it needs to be pitied. Legalism should ALWAYS be challenged. It defies the gospel.
I am not sure I agree with your words. I take my worship very seriously and my playtime. However I do not mix them together out of respect for my God. I tend to have to focus to listen and often tstrain over all the distractions that is thrown my way on a daily basis. It is easier to be the distraction and obviously that is more fun. When I attend church, I want to drown in God’s words be surrounded for that brief hour that is offered to me with a group of my peers. So I am not amused when I hear political jokes, denomination jokes, family comments, what kind of car you bought, just teach, time is short, teach me about Jesus, teach me so I can survive another 6 days of the world. Legalism is just another word for another word, sneered, rolling of the eyes, if one is to accuse another one of legalism are they not just judging that person’s relationship with God? Do we not all have to find our OWN personal relationship with God and do we not all face different timelines different seasons in our own walk with God? I think it is dangerous to point the finger at others who believe they are walking the path God wants them to walk. Just much to consider- I have been called legalistic because I believe in both Testaments and I believe in valuing the Sabbath. You won’t see me wearing daisy dukes to church because I live the life that God wants me to live, but there was a time before God I would have and thought nothing off it. For you to publically post that pity legalists makes me want to pray for you. Pray that God heals your angry heart, because after reading some of your posts I realize you seem angry and frustrated. Let it Go and Let God. And if you are still reading this and your eyes haven’t glazed over from the length of this comment, remember we can only comprehend from a human reasoning.
I appreciate the comments on this post. I make a habit of not responding to comments because I have no problem with others disagreeing with my posts and I allow others to voice their opposing positions. However, I did want to clarify that the person who left the third comment did not leave their name – they simply put, “mom.”
I have checked and confirmed that the comment was not posted by my mom. So rest easy, knowing it was not my very mother who called me “angry and frustrated.”
Thanks for the clarification, son.
Dad (not really.. Tony)