The trappings of Legalism

Hi everyone,

I have not started a thread in a long… time. I have decided to start this one with something on my heart instead of replying to the many other threads that many are struggling with.

The reason I’ve called it “The trappings of Legalism” is because that is what came to my mind as I reflected on why many fall into the bondage of legalism. I believe there are people who honestly want to please God and they fall into bondage trying to please Him. I have seen people and I have also been guilty of trying to find something in the bible that I am not doing that they were doing back then, not realizing that God’s word speaks to all ages and the spiritual truth is the same but methods and customs are not the same.

Let’s take for example the spirit of foot-washing is the same but back in the bible days (and maybe in some parts of the world they still do) they washed their feet when they entered a home after they walked from place to place. I believe Jesus was using foot washing as an example not necessarily as an ordinance to practice every time we do communion.

I believe people have fallen into legalism concerning a certain Sabbath Day instead of understanding the spiritual significance of the Sabbath being our spiritual rest in Jesus Christ.

I also believe even though not all but some have fallen into legalism in the wearing of a head covering because they believe that it is mandatory for all ages, people, and places instead of realizing the spiritual significance of what Paul was saying to the Corinthians. We even have some excellent bible preachers falling prey to these “trappings” making such statements as classifying the sins of the flesh as the same as not doing an outward custom for a particular time and place when so many excellent bible teachers can’t even agree on exactly what Paul was meaning in 1 cor. 11.2-16.

I am not an excellent bible teacher but I believe that if one is in a setting or region where the custom is not in the wearing of a veil or material for an head covering as long as we are not disobedient to the spirit of authority in the order that Paul laid out then we do not have to join into another custom that we are not familiar with because that is the whole thing Paul was trying to say to the Corinthians.
I hope to say more but got to go for now.

Any thoughts…

Blessings to all!

Hi Rbanks,

Do you consider this legalism?

Act 15:20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

The gentiles were told to do things that were customary for Jews...abstain from things polluted by idols, from animals strangled and blood. Those are not necessarily heart issues, but commands regarding things outside the heart.

Were the apostles being legalistic here? Should they have just not given any commands to the gentiles? I'm trying to understand how you define legalism and how you judge what parts of the bible are legalistic.

Thanks...

~Sean

rbanks
You wrote:The reason I’ve called it “The trappings of Legalism” is because that is what came to my mind as I reflected on why many fall into the bondage of legalism. I believe there are people who honestly want to please God and they fall into bondage trying to please Him. I have seen people and I have also been guilty of trying to find something in the bible that I am not doing that they were doing back then, not realizing that God’s word speaks to all ages and the spiritual truth is the same but methods and customs are not the same.
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Thank you for this post. I found it very thoughtful and I really appreciated it. I too have struggled with looking for things I can do to "please" God in some external way. HE is showing me that the desire to please HIM does come from HIM... but its not about doting all the i's and crossing all the t's, its about living daily moment by moment in JESUS! Walking by faith and trusting in HIM, living in submission to HIM as LORD, not because I am "told" to by men but because I long to because of who HE is.

I look forward to reading what more you have to share.

God Bless
mary

Sean,

You do know that you are welcome to create your own account here at SI?

Matthew

Sean,

Thank you for bringing up one of the points I was trying to make. The four necessary commands in acts 15 which seem good to the Holy spirit was for the purpose of keeping them out of a burden of legalism in keeping the law of Moses. The apostle’s said that is was a yoke that none could bear and that no one could be saved except only through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Of the four commands two were primarily for God because they were sins of the flesh that would keep one from inheriting the Kingdom of God and must be dealt with by the blood of His cross and our faith in Christ our redeemer whom we receive our deliverance.

The two commandments that you mentioned was primarily for the Jewish people whom Christ also died for whereby the Holy Spirit would give them(Gentiles) special grace to obey, as in Paul saying that if eating meat offends my brother then I will eat no meat. It is obvious that all around them were Jews that Christ also died for and these two things were very offensive to the Jews and they needed the fellowship of the Jewish people. This is one of my points concerning the head covering in Corinth for the women had been made free in Christ but they were still to honor their husbands as their head under Christ. The material head covering was the custom of the Jewish religion and for a married woman to pray or prophesy in their new freedom without this visible head covering it would appear to others that the women was dishonoring her husband. The woman’s head in the passage of scripture in 1 cor 11 is clearly her husband who she would appear to be dishonoring because of the custom. This is why Paul appeals to nature teaching us how it would be a shame for a man to have long hair or a woman to have short hair.
Now let’s fast forward 1900 years from 1 cor 11 and let’s go west completely away from the eastern customs because remember the Gentiles were not given the law of Moses but Jesus died for them also. The bible teaches whom the Son has set free is free indeed so where does it say in the bible that we are to go to a yoke of bondage of doing something outwardly that is religious.

Colossians 2:14-23 (KJV)
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
God is not calling us to a bondage of religious actively but he is calling us to holiness of heart and lifestyle that reflects our glorious Savior.

Blessings to all!

Hi Rbanks,

You said: "The material head covering was the custom of the Jewish religion and for a married woman to pray or prophesy in their new freedom without this visible head covering it would appear to others that the women was dishonoring her husband. The woman’s head in the passage of scripture in 1 cor 11 is clearly her husband who she would appear to be dishonoring because of the custom. This is why Paul appeals to nature teaching us how it would be a shame for a man to have long hair or a woman to have short hair. "

I don't want to derail your thread, but since you brought this up, can you explain this using the passage out of 1 Cor 11? Maybe go verse by verse?

As far as I can see, there is nothing in those passage where Paul is telling them to not wear a covering. On the contrary he builds his case as to why they are to do so. He ties his argument to Christ submission to God, to the Angles, to the glory of Man, to the common sense teaching of nature, and then says it is the custom of the churches. The scriptures as well as church history verify this.

What I don't get, is why people think that to obey something that God has said, is legalism. The yoke of bondage is not doing something outward, the yoke of bondage is the necessity to keep the entire Levitical law. God tells women to dress modestly (which of course goes for men as well). Now, because we as Christians have to modify our dress, to be modest, are we somehow placed under a yoke of bondage because we must do something "outward"? I don't think so.

Sean,

Brother, you have missed the whole context of everything I have been trying to convey on this thread.

I am sorry that I wasn't able to communicate it better for you so maybe later on when I have more time, Lord willing, I will try from another angle.

Blessings to you!

QUOTE:
"the spirit of foot-washing is the same but back in the bible days (and maybe in some parts of the world they still do) they washed their feet when they entered a home after they walked from place to place. I believe Jesus was using foot washing as an example not necessarily as an ordinance to practice every time we do communion."

You believe? on what basis? Can you share a book, chapter and verse to substantiate it?

On the other hand Jesus says in John 13:15-17:
15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Joh 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

AND:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Just because you refuse to enjoy the blessings of being a servant gives one no authority to rebuke those that do. Jesus' words are the final authority regardless how much you wish to modify them.

Ephah,

Here's a helpful article on why a legal observance of the Sabbath is no longer required:

http://www.triviumpursuit.com/downloads/sabbath_syllogism_2006.pdf

Sean,

If you would like a verse-by-verse treatment of 1st Cornithians try here:

http://www.triviumpursuit.com/downloads/first_cor_11_extract_concerning_headship_and_coverture.pdf

or even here:

http://www.triviumpursuit.com/downloads/first_cor_11_excerpt_women_praying_or_prophesying_under_cover.pdf

These three articles are lengthy, but well-written and very much worth the investement of your time.

Grace and peace,
Matthew

rbanks:

I think I know what you are trying to say, and if I may I would like to say a few things along that line. When we speak of legalism we are often using the same word with very different meanings. In a very literal sense legalism means the attempt to approach God or to attain righteousness by keeping laws. Just as in Buddhism there is a worship of Buddha, in legalism there is a worship if you will of the law. I know that many have tried to apply the term legalist to anyone who believes in holiness, obedience, etc., but to do so is to totally misuse the word and misunderstand its meaning.

I actually think what rbanks is describing here is what Paul talked about in Romans and other places. It is an attempt to please God through acts or works of the flesh. You see, the flesh is enmity against God and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Works of or acts of the flesh are not limited to evil deeds. We often look at deeds or works as either good or evil. But for a man who does good deeds out of his own flesh, his good deeds are counted as evil for they flow from a place of enmity with God. The Pharisees did many good deeds. In fact, they kept the law more perfectly than anyone else in all of Israel. Yet Jesus spoke of them as whitewashed tombs. They looked good on the outside where man could see them but inwardly they were evil. Paul speaks of his own struggle to try to please God through works of the flesh in Romans 7. He describes it a wretchedness that could only be remedied by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

When Jeremiah prophesied that God would write His laws in our hearts he did not mean that we would simply have assistance in keeping the law by an inward change of heart. Often as believers we act as the church at Galatia. We begin in faith saying that no one can be saved by works and rightly so, however we continue in our own flesh trying to be made perfect in works. Paul calls this a bewitching doctrine. Why? Because it causes us to leave the principles of the doctrine of grace, because it causes us to leave dependence on and reliance on the Spirit of God and leads us back into works of the flesh which are by definition in Romans 8 enmity against God.

Often with good intentions we see a requirement or a law in the Bible and we, out of a true desire to please God, set out in our flesh to keep that law. This is a step back into legalism by its proper definition. God desires that we live out of our born again spirit. This is what Jeremiah was talking about. If we do so we will not fall into sin and our works will be those of purity and holiness because they emanate from a spirit of purity.

Here we go again. The most popular word on this site is LEGALISM.

Since I am one of the noisy culprits around here who fervently rails against “legalism”, I probably should make some contribution on this thread. And since Jesus and biblical writers railed against it too, I believe I have plenty of support. For starts, there’s this verse.

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.” 1Cor 10:23-33

Did you note the superior law here? It’s in essence the Great Commandment of love. That’s the law that overrules all laws. It’s the spirit of law.

Everyone that dares to obey the instructions of our Savior and our hevenly father who is Yahweh is either a legalist or belongs to some spooky movement.

TheEphah, Can you actually prove this with a quote from someone’s post? It seems to be more your own reaction. But it doesn’t help clarify the matter when such a generalized assumption gets tossed into the mix. It’s a bit of a door-closer.

What I don't get, is why people think that to obey something that God has said, is legalism.

Oh… before proceeding, I must confess that legalism has been a powerful force in my own life. It wasn’t so much the laws in themselves (I didn’t LOOK legalistic), as a way my conscience was programmed to understand the faith. It kept my life in order for a season, but then I got stuck in it - until a God-sent crisis that exposed and unraveled it, and brought me deeper into Christ.

How’s this: A legalistic way of thinking turns every biblical instruction into universal laws – divorced from the superior law, the context, or the driving principle behind the instruction. (That’s my beef about Poonen’s exegesis on coverings) A legalist finds an instruction, and follows it with the hope of pleasing God. But he might not actually be pleasing God because he fails to observe 1 Cor10:23-33. His aim might be to earn divine approval, with no thought for the effect of his choices on others.

A legalistic operational mode of conscience inhibits one from understanding others and his effect on them. It’s the “Older Brother” syndrome. Remember, he was the one obeying all the laws. But he had no concept of the higher law of God: relationship with father, and brother. He didn’t even know himself. Imagine if he had met the younger brother returning home. He would have driven him away. That is the final outworking of legalism: It is self-focused: It’s all about ME being right with God as I understand that to be ….. and others….. well…… am I my brother’s keeper?

I’ll try to apply the higher law of love to a modern practice which no doubt would have been in the scriptures had it been written in our day: Watching TV.

Now there is no law about watching TV, so you must actually use your God-given brains (or rely on your pastor’s brains). If your conscience is legalistically wired, you might decide that TV spews out evil and so you turn off the TV to keep yourself pure. You play Solitaire instead. That can’t possibly corrupt you!

If you are wired to the spirit of God’s law, you may turn off the TV even from good programming so that you can free your time to benefit yourself - so that you can be used of God to benefit others.

Legalism hinders one from grasping the spiritual essence of scripture, and instead resorts to the black and white command sentences in themselves - as isolated entities floating around on their own. The spirit of the law integrates them in line with the higher law.

The spirit of the law drives you to care about the Body of Christ and your place in the wider picture of God’s kingdom. Why! You may choose to make yourself more adept at interpreting scripture by reading this excellent, thought provoking book:

Gordon Fee’s book, “How to Read the Bible for all its Worth”. (~250 pages)

No law requires such a choice…. but maybe it does for YOU. Because you love God, your neighbor and yourself, you might see such a project as worthwhile time spent, and God opens the door.

By the way, I raise Gordon Fee’s name because his exegesis, in part, is the impetus that got this whole flurry of post and threads going – on coverings/legalism and such. (See the spiritual covering thread opening article.)

Have I convinced any concerned skeptics yet?

Diane

Oh, I should add:

An antinomian is a legalist: What laws can I justly get AWAY from?

Right?

Diane

A legalistic operational mode of conscience inhibits one from understanding others and his effect on them. It’s the “Older Brother” syndrome. Remember, he was the one obeying all the laws. But he had no concept of the higher law of God: relationship with father, and brother. He didn’t even know himself. Imagine if he had met the younger brother returning home. He would have driven him away. That is the final outworking of legalism: It is self-focused: It’s all about ME being right with God as I understand that to be ….. and others….. well…… am I my brother’s keeper?

Imagine a sister that has come to your house to meet with the Saints in fellowship. During the meeting she has something to share straight from the heart of God but is prevented from talking because she forgot her handkerchief or doily that she is supposed to have on top of her head.

Basically, the the kind of legalism rbanks is talking about is the legalism that prevents (Shut Up) the Life of God from operating. This type of legalism is always antagonistic to LIFE (mercy, forgiveness, love), because IT's requirements have not been met yet and IT's requirements are all that is important. Otherwise, God might have a fit. Funny how God is always used by men to control other men.

Matthew 23:13:
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye SHUT UP the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Acts 26:10: Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I SHUT UP in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

Galatians 3:23:
But before faith came, we were kept UNDER THE LAW, SHUT UP unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

The Enemy thinks he can SHUT UP the Life of Christ. He has been losing that battle for 2,000 years.

I wonder if the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her hair, managed to keep her head covering on while she was doing it. Jesus did not have a fit so she must have succeeded in keeping it on.

Pilgrim

Pilgrim you wrote:Imagine a sister that has come to your house to meet with the Saints in fellowship. During the meeting she has something to share straight from the heart of God but is prevented from talking because she forgot her handkerchief or doily that she is supposed to have on top of her head.
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Otherwise, God might have a fit.
____

I wonder if the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her hair, managed to keep her head covering on while she was doing it. Jesus did not have a fit so she must have succeeded in keeping it on.

Pilgrim
__________________

I don't know your heart or the attitude in which the above portions of your post was written but it does come across as a bit mocking and sarcastic to me and so could be seen by those who do follow the convictions of their heart to cover their head as being unloving and unkind??? Just asking that perhaps you reread what you wrote and look at it from the point of a sister who might be reading it and is wearing the cloth out of love and submission toward her husband and the LORD...

God Bless
mary

MaryJane, you missed the point of the whole post.

The focus is on those who prevent (Shut Up) the Life of God from operating.

Pilgrim

Pilgrim you wrote:MaryJane, you missed the point of the whole post.

The focus is on those who prevent (Shut Up) the Life of God from operating.

Pilgrim

________

No I got your point, I really do understand what you meant...Just thought perhaps there might have been a less sarcastic, mocking tone in the way you shared it is all?? I just wonder if you considered the way your post might sound to those sisters who do submit to wearing a head covering???

I have read several of your posts and you speak about loving those in the body of Christ do you feel that the way you addressed those sisters who do submit to the wearing of the head covering was in love and with a Christ like heart?? I realize they may not have been exactly who you were speaking to or of in your post and yet there are some here who do wear the covering and might not understand the sarcasm and mocking as not being directed toward them personally...

If I have misunderstood you then please forgive me.

As always God Bless you
mary

Edited: to be more clear in conveying my thoughts with you.

Annie, we know it was the custom of people who upon entering the house would have his feet washed by a servant before any socialization was done.

In Jesus' case - as recorded in John 13 - at the last supper, this was done AFTER supper had been eaten. Since this is the case, one must assume it was a ritual instituted that symbolized a servants heart.

Before anyone would criticize its observance by others I would suggest you do it - literally and see what it does to your spirit. Jesus did not tell us why to do it other then that we should do it. To do so is an act of faith.

In recent months there has been an outcry against anyone who would speak out against the literal obedience of the WORD. It is a mindset that really alarms me. It used to not be this way. There seems to be a coordinated effort by a select few who will use any post to downplay the application of 1Corinthians 11. You can start out on one topic and then bring in the head covering as an example of legalism. If its observance is legalistic to you, then I must conclude on the basis of 1Corinthians 11 that you have no authority because you are denying the headship order and this includes men. Men, if you want authority to speak the WORD of God, you must be under authority. Failure to do so will render you useless and worst.

One does not manipulate the WORD of God and win. Imagine Noah doing so when God told him to build the ark. Or, Abraham, when God told him to offer Isaac. These people are listed in the hall of fame for their faith. Hebrews 11. What earns them a position is their act of obedience to God's command/wishes.

It is love for God that motivates obedience. Our obedience will not earn one salvation - it simply demonstrates our love for Him. Love for God is the first and great commandment. How is this commandment operative in your life?