(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see how)
Focus Question:
What’s the irony of legalism?
Intro:
Once upon a time I got a job, and the boss had a rule — whatever you’re feeling, you leave it outside the store. And in a way, showing up to work does mean we step onto a stage.
I’m hurting today, friends. I don’t have many days where my heart hurts, but today it does. I feel pretty inadequate and need your prayers.
That said, I’m going to call an audible today — we’re just going to read a little extra in the book of John, and this’ll include a good chunk of red words, including a story that’s the basis for the topic of legalism. And today’s focus question, “What’s the irony of legalism?”
New Testament segment:
Passage: John 4:43-5:45
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 58
Words: ~1245
Legalism is the improper excessive or improper use of the law. Remember, God’s call on us is to be holy like He is, so legalism is not simply the keeping of the law. We’re supposed to.
So in a way, while some might define it as strict adherence to the law or the excessive adherence thereof, that’s not exactly on target.
For the Christian, it’s an issue of the heart. Striving to earn salvation by keeping the law? False. Striving to keep salvation by keeping the law? False.
But here’s one irony of legalism — when we keep some part of the law and look down on others who don’t keep it or don’t do it as well. That’s what we read about today in John…people who were keeping the letter of the law and failing at the spirit of the law.
Wisdom segment:
Passage: Proverbs 17:6-15
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 10
Words: ~159
The bottom line:
There is one other irony of legalism in the Christian world — when we’re legalistic about some non-Bible thing, elevating it to the level of moral law.
You don’t recycle exactly the right way? You killer.
You don’t use exactly the right pronouns? You hater.
Or one of my favorites, by way of illustration. I was having lunch once with a friend and her kids and the subject of tolerance came up. I asked, “Should you tolerate intolerant people?”
The irony of legalism is that saying “We should accept all people” while rejecting someone else who doesn’t, is that you’re just as guilty. Calling someone a legalist is holding them to a moral standard that you define is itself legalism.
We’ve talked here many times about the tension between truth and grace. I’m not saying it’s easy, and I can’t tell you how many times I personally have failed at it.
May God grant us all grace as we ask Him, and each other, for forgiveness and a chance to do better tomorrow.
Love you!
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
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