Legalism or Obedience

Updated 10/15/14

For some time now, I have been curious and even struggling occasionally with the difference between "legalism" and "obedience". I took a free study last fall on the book of Galatians. It was a tremendous help to me in this area. While in the process of completing that study, I also thought of a picture from my own life that has really helped me put it in perspective. 

Then I saw a comment from a reader on a blog and it reminded me of my own struggle. I thought about replying but what on earth would I say? Who am I to just jump in so boldly with someone that I do not even know? But a month went by and it was still begging me to answer. It wasn't until I sat down to reply that I realized my own heart still wanted to make sense of the very same questions. 

And so here it goes.... 

The Picture (from an old me)

I work in a help desk position for an I.T. department. Occasionally, I change offices and get to work near my Supervisor at a desk just outside of his office. Let's just say that I have an issue or task that I am working on. I've been at the desk for hours. I've gone through my known resolutions or steps. I've even tried a few new things. I can't seem to complete the task.

Being just outside of my Supervisors office, he hears and sees everything. He is incredible gracious and always has the right answer. He asks if I would like help. I shrug him off, adamant that I will figure this out on my own. There is something about me wanting to have the right answer all by myself.  (I think they call it pride. haha)

Anyway, I may continue trying my own way. Doing all of the things that I know to do or believe are right. -Making sure to get every step correct. [ahem, Works] But my frustration grows and my focus magnifies but maybe for all of the wrong reasons. 

My Supervisor really wants to help me. He might ask again or stay close just in case I change my mind. I may refuse his help again. I might try all of the stuff that I've already tried. I might call a friend, a co-worker or a different version of support...

Sometimes I complete the task and resolve the issue. Sometimes I eventually run out of my own resources and I will finally give in and ask him. 

Still using this example but back to the post-

1. With legalism we are more focused on getting the right answer, or practicing the ritual or following the rules, than in being in harmony with him.

2. Ironically being in harmony with him does not mean that we have found some state of perfection by any means. You will see a word "Righteousness" in a minute that has confused me a number of times. It does not mean perfection. While I am still trying to understand the full meaning of "Righteousness", I think that it's accurate to say that "to live righteously" represents a willingness, attentiveness and activeness to God and not about the number of tasks checked off or done particularly well.

(Meaning that we might do our very best and still get some things wrong or left undone but God sees our heart. If our intentions are about following him, then he is able to do something with us.)

3. Check out Romans 4:13-15. "It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression."

That's a lot. Take a moment to let that process...

Now here's the comment that I saw. It had a few questions within it-

"I don't know if you respond to comments and questions here? I have a question that has nothing to do with your post today. In my own brokenness from life I have been encouraged and enlightened by the message of grace you have been teaching. On my journey in understanding that I don't need to please God by doing xy and z I am not sure what to do with scriptures like "Draw near to God and He will Draw near to you" Or when Paul says in His letters that when you do "these things it is pleasing to God". Or "present your life as a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God". Appreciate some further understanding on this?"

My attempt to answer that-

Question 1. Draw near to God and He will Draw near to you - Just like in the picture that I used. God is always there and he is always willing/able. He kept offering but it wasn't until I was able to bring myself to turn to him that he could actually become part of my process or until I could become truly usable by him. 

Brace yourself, this next part might sound offensive but please hear me out and weigh it. (I think it offended me too the first time that I heard it so I'll attach links to what I've learned because of it.) 

If we can't bring ourselves to turn to God, then we have a love problem.

That is not a personal criticism. That does not mean that we can't love or that we're even unloveable or anything like that at all. It just means that we have a glitch in our process. 

But I'll admit in hindsight, I didn't know how to love God. I didn't know that at the time. I thought I was showing God that I loved him by following all of the rules. I "tried" and "tried" [works & works] but just couldn't get it. (I had to ask him to help me love him. I also had to ask him to help me love the bible and learn to pray, because none of that made any sense or came easily to me.)

I know that asking for such simple things sounds really trivial but the glitch was at the beginning of my process and that's why the rest of it wasn't working. Showing love and loving are two different things...  This leads me into the second question and yes, another picture.

Question 2. When Paul says in His letters that when you do "these things it is pleasing to God"

(Another picture) In this example, I am going to use marriage. When I first met my husband, I swooned over him. I jumped through hoops and aimed for every hoop. Not because he gave me a list of hoops to jump through but because my heart wanted nothing more than to love/serve/work for him.

Stop there. I have five points. 

Point 1 - Look at the difference in the motive behind my actions. Nothing brought my own heart greater joy than to do those things. I never once felt forced to. It was simply my strongest desire.

My commentary in my Bible on Romans 2:7 says: We are not saved by good deeds, but when we commit our lives fully to God, we want to please him and do his will. As such, our good deeds are a grateful response to what God has done, not a perquisite to earning his grace. 

Point 2 - When I see "it is pleasing to God" My mind wants to take that word "pleasing" and make it some sort of law about love instead; As if I am too vile ordinarily to please (be loved by) God. 

Regardless of how you and I or even God "feels" about our sin; it doesn't change his desire to have a relationship with us. In fact, Romans 5:8 says that it is while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rephrased: He didn't wait for us to get perfect before he thought we were worth it.) But that's a whole other rant, so I will switch back to the current point. 

And you get to switch places with God for a moment- When someone does something for us, don't we want them to do it because they so desperately want to do it and not because they feel so much pressure to perform. -That is the sense of pleasing that I think we should be focused on. Pleasing as in the joy of voluntary reunion, like with the Prodigal Son. 

Point 3 - We now have two examples of relationships; one with my supervisor and one with my spouse. 

What we don't immediately recognize is the way that Trust, Courage and Commitment all play a part in the success of those relationships. Each needs to be cultivated, which all happens by the practice of trusting and committing and pushing past fear and doubt.

Point 4 - We please God by having faith in him.  Faith does not mean believing that there is a God or even believing that he is God. Faith means believing God. -What he says, who he is and what he will do.  This is why Point 3 is so important. If we don't work through Point 3, we often don't make it here. And oddly enough Point 1 doesn't always happen until after this point. (Again, that glitch that I was referring to... We're still waiting for the first point [that overwhelming feeling] to take shape and propel me into obedience.)

Point 5. Just like we are hired for a job, we are also designed with a purpose. You and I were made to be you and I because we can do something that no one else can do. Just stop for a second and imagine being God and watching us, his creations, live and develop just as HE designed. 

We aren't stalling with worry or hiding away in a remote location full of fear and doubt because we trust that he is with us. We're not running around checking in with all of our friends to see what they thought about our 'it' first. We go directly to him instead. We're not backtracking and retracing a past that has already moved on without us. We're just letting everything else go and living in this one moment, every moment, as if we're all fearfully and wonderfully made. I mean gosh, I can almost hear it now "YES!! GOOD JOB My faithful servant!" 

I know that sounds hippyish but consider the truth in it.

Question 3. "Present your life as a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God"

Immediately what comes to mind here in "presenting your life" is to be open about your life and how God is working in it. -NOT "lock down every bolt and make sure that you represent the cookie cutter Christian". It's okay that you don't have all of the answers. He will perfect them in time. He wants to do something with each of us right now, if we just ask him. 

By you and I discussing what we ask for, what we struggle with and how he answers, we are presenting God in real time. A God that is still living and dwelling here among us. For most of us that's going to cause us to sacrifice a little something. Maybe it's fear, maybe it's pride, maybe it's time and a little effort to get to know him. But in doing so, each day, we are then presenting our lives toward God and in return he comes to life in us. ...and then everywhere around us. 

I just can't stop thinking of the verse in  1 Peter 1:16 "I'm holy, so you be holy." To me that translates to: Love me enough to want to be with me and learn about me. Be willing to leave your plans and your agenda, (even if you've got this big task you're working on for me. -Be willing to leave it) so that you can follow me in the right now of every day.

When we live "righteously", "obediently" and "faithfully" there is an element of holiness that happens because of that, without our having to try so hard to be that way. When we are "righteous" he is able to "right us".

Recap (And a note to the journaler) 

I see now we've made to the end of this. I seriously can't say just how much journaling helps me. These questions stayed on my heart long after I read them, just like the picture. I kept meaning to write it down but then life would happen... Writing not only helps me remember, but writing it out helps me calculate the thoughts. It's often not until I am already writing that I get the real "ahas". It's like all of these seeds are floating around in the depths of my soul and being willing to pull them out and line them up, organizes them into neat little rows where they can take root. Then I know where they are when I need them later. 

I don't know what it's like being on the other side of this screen but I hope the heart behind this message has been received. I am still a woman that struggles with legalism and condemnation my own self. If you've made it here and you still have questions; trust me when I tell you that you can ask him. Ask God what he wants you to know about this post, this life or even your relationship with him. Trust and expect that he will give you an answer that will satisfy your heart like nothing else will. Take a moment to write it down because you might forget part of the answer later. If you feel like you can't hear God speak, I've got notes about that too.

Let us pray together

Dear Heavenly Father, Your word says that if we ask, you will provide the answer. If we seek you, you will be revealed. If we knock, you will open the door. Thank YOU for honoring our hearts. The ones that you so thoughtfully made. Even when we resist the urges to draw closer, thank you for waiting just outside. Call us in God, into your grace and mercy. Into the abundance of your overflowing love. Let it wash the rules and stains from our hearts and eyes so that we can see you in every way that you want to be revealed. When your Word and the sermons and lectures of this earth don't make sense, give us a picture from our personal lives that speaks to us directly and personally and carefully like you always do. Ignite our hearts God and let it fuel those among us. 

Picture credit - Sadly I found this picture on Pinterest and emailed myself the link, thinking that I could go back and get more details later. It did not work out that way... I can't even find it on a board in order to get the correct info but I don't have a Pinterest account either. If you do, perhaps you could check for me (by clicking the link) and see what comes up. Thank you.