What is "legalism"?

[malcolm]

What do you mean when you use the term "legalism"? What is "legalism"?

Any brief and clear, and preferably scriptural, definitions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Spokoina]

What do you mean when you use the term "legalism"? What is "legalism"?

Any brief and clear, and preferably scriptural, definitions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Rom 7:6 But now we having been set free from the Law, having died to that in which we were held, so that we serve in newness of spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

Rom 8:4 so that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

Rom 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart; in spirit and not in letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

2Co 3:6 who also has made us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive.

Mat 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and you have left undone the weightier matters of the Law, judgment, mercy, and faith. You ought to have done these and not to leave the other undone.

Legalism defined, imo, as following the law..in this case, the laws of God, by externally obeying out of your own power, your own self righteousness and not by the spirit of God.

Legalism is not just about the Mosaic law, but about any external requirement we hold over God's people in a manner not guided by his Spirit.

I think God enforces his laws by the spirit, and wants us to rely on his Spirit to establish order and not by the law itself, hence you can find exceptions to almost every law God established. IE, the law against women leaders is not to be established by legalism, by lording the law over women and making sure that they are quashed if they speak. Rather, we see thru the exceptions, that we are to judge all things by his Spirit, and we see a few exceptions to keep us on our toes and hear the Spirit and not the letter of the law.

[nomad]

legalism is love of law rather than people. Jesus gives the best example of a legalistic attitude:

Mark 7:11-13 But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban' (that is, given to God)[d]-- 12then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down.

note that it's not about traditions vs. anything else here; let's avoid the red herrings.

We are to love our neighbor; yet this person used a loophole in the law to avoid loving their neighbor while still 'meeting' the law.

The law was designed to tell us how to love our neighbor, and everything in the law should support that. When the law is used as a weapon to allow us to not love our neighbor in any way, then that person is being legalistic.

[Meh_Gerbil]

I can share with you many signs of legalism:

1: Switching Places With G_d:
I know people who owed $50.00 on an electric bill but threw the money into a collection plate instead as an act of faith that G_d would pay the electric bill for them. They were too busy financing the kingdom to pay their own bills -- they switched places with G_d. Hey G_d, you pay the light bill and I'll keep the church funded...

2: The Illusion You Are Needed Elsewhere:
I know a guy who was a radical pro-life activist who had 13 kids at home but spent all of his time out on the street holding signs. Hey stupid, how about helping your wife with the laundry or spending time with your kids? Oh, that's right -- you are much to spiritual and important to do the JOB G_D HAS REALLY GIVEN YOU TO DO.

I also knew a guy who had memorized the entire book of Revelations but also liked to beat up his wife -- again, too busy with G_d to cut the family a break.

I also knew a guy who divorced his wife so he could go on the road as a song leader for revival meetings. The college I attended named a building after him -- they consider him a hero. Me? I'd hit him with a stick for being a dumb arse if he wasn't already dead.

3: People Aren't People, They Are Targets:
If you cannot sit down and talk with a person without constantly looking for a way to check their salvation -- you are a legalist and a very sick puppy. Get help and stop being stupid. The view that every soul is lost and every conversation is an opportunity to sell Jesus is wrong. People can read that -- and you'll get the same reception a vacuum cleaner saleman would.

[Secretary of Funk Jnthn]

Can I attempt to answer the OP by coming at it from the opposite direction? Show the antithesis of legalism?

Recall the story of the woman caught in adultery in the Gospels. To my mind it would have been legalistic for Jesus to have the woman punished, but in the absence of the male protagonist in the tryst and Jesus' divine insight into the hearts of the accusers, Jesus demonstrated an esquisite balance of justice, shaming the accusers but yet not letting the adultress off the hook.

Hope this makes sense...:blush:

J

[malcolm]

Legalism defined, imo, as following the law..in this case, the laws of God, by externally obeying out of your own power, your own self righteousness and not by the spirit of God.

That's an excellent definition, and one I would agree with 100%.

Legalism is not just about the Mosaic law, but about any external requirement we hold over God's people in a manner not guided by his Spirit.
Agreed again. With the emphasis on "not guided by His Spirit."

I think God enforces his laws by the spirit, and wants us to rely on his Spirit to establish order and not by the law itself, hence you can find exceptions to almost every law God established. IE, the law against women leaders is not to be established by legalism, by lording the law over women and making sure that they are quashed if they speak. Rather, we see thru the exceptions, that we are to judge all things by his Spirit, and we see a few exceptions to keep us on our toes and hear the Spirit and not the letter of the law.
Generally in agreement again. I'm not sure I've actually seen any valid exceptions to the women leaders thing - but I'm willing to accept that there may be some out there.

[zweiteskommen]

You are all incorrect. Go to hell. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

:lol:

[Unpastorized]

Why dont they get the 2 hundred? There reward! Its only fair to play by the rules. Well zweiteskommen? Why cant they have it? 2 hundred, 2 million. Dont much matter. Both are just a squat in the wind.

[David O]

Generally in agreement again. I'm not sure I've actually seen any valid exceptions to the women leaders thing - but I'm willing to accept that there may be some out there.

(cue); Gay Bishops enter here...