Legalism Kills: The Death of the Local Church

You have seen the commercials. Drinking and driving kills. Friends don't let friends drive drunk. So many warnings and so many still die around this time of year because of impaired drivers. There is no excuse for it - there is no defense. No one starts out to be an alcoholic or wants to commit vehicular homicide - just the thoughts of a kid running out into the street in front of me...a non-drinker is terrifying. Imagine the horrors someone has to live with after killing someone because they were drunk or high.

I make this analogy very soberly. Within the body of Christ, there is something that is deadly that sucks the passion right out of an enthusiastic believer. It is something our Lord Jesus hated with a passion. It is what drowns the sparks of fire for God and suffocates the Holy Spirit's movement.

It's not the sin of adultery or pornography. It is not gossip or slander. This horrible sin in the body of Christ is killing churches left and right. It is insidious and subtle and cloaked in righteousness. It is a sin that Jesus spoke to directly and crumbled before the disciples in pain over it - It is the sin of legalism.

Legalism comes in all colors and sizes. It can be as obvious as telling someone what they can and can't do on Sunday. It may be as subtle as following a formula for giving that promises a return on your investment. Either way, when you think you have to try harder to get God to love you more- you are deceived by legalism.

Legalism is a terrible bondage that our churches need deliverance from. Churches are declining - not because of some blatant horrible sin - but because we impose rules on people God never intended and we are not willing to live by ourselves. Jesus said it to the Pharisees over and over. I can almost hear Jesus saying, "How dare you- you make up all these rules that you yourselves aren't willing to live by but you put them on everyone else."

The saddest thing about legalism in the church is that it is the path of least resistance. It is hard to think through things like the Sabbath and why bad things happen to good people. Why some are rich and some are poor. The easiest thing to do is create a system of theology that says, "What I give - I get back" That is not true. In fact, I believe it is a lie from Satan. We put God into OUR SYSTEM of thinking because we are too lazy or too stupid to think beyond our narrow perception of God. Many pastors, bible teachers and armchair theologians are really insecure, egotistically, control-freakin' fools. Strong words....I know. That is the point. These words are neither not half as strong nor nearly as condemning as these "leaders" have imposed on the body of Christ. Legalists have forced the Body into chains of legalism; these are the bonds that Jesus set us free from.

Legalists don't have to think - they just set up rules for everyone. It is the path of least resistance- their theology is like a brick wall. Every brick has to fit. It one crumbles the entire wall falls. Legalists don't even realize they are being fooled and robbed of grace.

Someone who lives in the Law is being robbed of Relationship. Jesus did not have a relationship with the Pharisees. They made him mad - they made him cry out, "Oh Jerusalem ...Oh Jerusalem!" Jesus was burdened for the emptiness of their souls and called them "white washed sepulchers". When I am through being mad at legalistic people for the damage they cause to the church, I am sad for them. They are missing out on the wonderful, spontenous, sometimes messy grace walk.

You may be thinking - that's not me...but let me ask you a few questions to test your heart and see if there is any legalism gripping your walk with God.

· Do you think you have to try harder and harder all the time?

· Do you think there is only ONE way to govern a church or ministry?

· Do you think that you have to tithe and give in order to get the blessing of God?

· Do people make you feel guilty for not doing more in Church?

· Do you feel you have God figured out?

Answer YES to any of the above- You might be a legalistic believer.

Pray and ask God to show you - you just don't know the joy of serving God out of love instead of obligation. God is not interested in what you are DOING for Him. He wants you to BE WITH HIM. The Prodigal Son was not ALLOWED to work in the fields- he was told to come and be with the Father.

Be with the Father...let Him change your heart. Save a church.
Legalism kills.