“What is legalism in the Church? What’s wrong with it?”

QUESTION: What is legalism in the Church? What is wrong with it? How can I combat it?

ANSWER:The Lord Jesus gave us a good description of legalism in Israel in Matthew 23. While Israel and the Church are completely distinct, His description of the legalism of the scribes and Pharisees fits the legalism of many Christians today. Let’s look at what the Lord told His disciples about these self-appointed spiritual guides.

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (Mt. 23:2-3 NKJV). The Lord referred back to Exodus 18:13-16, where Moses “sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening ... to inquire of God.” Moses explained, “When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

The New American Standard Bible renders it this way: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses.” God had not given them this place. They had taken upon themselves the place of standing between the people and God, and of communicating the will of God to the people. The Lord pointed out that while much that they said was right and should be followed, their example was bad and should not be followed.

The present-day legalist too is usually self-appointed and, while he may be correct, his life and attitude are not consistent with his words. The Lord gave several examples: “They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Mt. 23:4). By their rules they make life difficult for others to live, but they are not ready to help others do what they tell them. Their attitude is one of commanding, unlike the Lord Jesus who was ever ready to help others.

“But all their works they do to be seen by men” (Mt. 23:5). The Lord gave the examples of making their phylacteries broad and of enlarging the borders of their garments to show that their keeping of God’s commandments was done in such an exaggerated way not to please God, but to impress the people around them.

“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi.” Their lives were centered on their own importance and honor. Loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind and their neighbor as themselves (Mt. 22:37-40) did not enter into their considerations. Humility was foreign to them.

The Lord instructed His disciples not to seek honor from men, and then pronounced seven woes upon the scribes and Pharisees. In these woes He exposed their hypocritical characteristics: “You also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Mt. 23:28).

Legalism in the church is characterized by an overly great concern about outward things and about drawing up rules by which others should live. It is usually accompanied by a critical spirit rather than an attitude of true concern and helpfulness. Where the legalist lives by the rules he imposes on others, he usually does so in an ostentatious manner, giving the impression of boastfulness and pride.

Legalism adds human interpretation and opinion to God’s Word and puts more emphasis on these than on the Word itself. The legalist assumes an authority that God has not delegated to him. Essentially he takes a place between the individual and God. In the context of the Church he takes a place between Christ the Head, and the individual member of the body.

Our great example and supreme teacher is Jesus Christ, the One whose words and ways were perfectly consistent. He said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Mt. 11:29). We are told to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2), not to heap burdens upon others. Legalism is in no way a part of His makeup, nor should it have any place in our lives. We should be hard on ourselves, and kind, gentle and helpful when it comes to others. God’s Word tells us to “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5).

As to combating legalism, liberalism is no cure for legality. We can never successfully fight flesh with flesh – and legalism and liberalism are two of the many expressions of the flesh. Galatians 5:1 tells us, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Referring to a strong attempt to bring Gentile believers under the Law, Paul wrote: “We did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Gal. 2:5). He would not surrender God’s truth for expediency.

We must stand firm on doctrinal issues. We see in Acts 15 and Galatians 2 how patiently and carefully, yet clearly and firmly Paul acted in combating legalism. In Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 he took up the matter of the weak brother, one who in all honesty of conviction took what seemed to be a legal position on a secondary matter. Don’t treat him as a legalist, Scripture says, but lovingly bear with him in his evident weakness.

Seek wisdom and grace from God for each circumstance of legalism you face.

Answered by Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.