What is Legalism?: Part 2

by E.L.

Legalism is not a location. It's not a religion. It's not a denomination.

Legalism is a rotten heart bound by goodness and morality and effort. It's robes and stained glass and long skirts and nice suits without love and joy and human warmth. It's plastic fruit.

Legalism is the religion of self riding the coattails of the Name of Jesus. It's Christian humanism. As Thomas Fudge wrote, it's 'Christianity Without the Cross'.

Legalism exists within religion but not all religion is legalistic.
Religion can be pure. James 1:27

Legalism can be inherent to some church denominations but it would be wrong to assume that everyone within an inherently legalistic church is legalistic, too. I'm fairly certain that God is not bound by any church system and is able to overcome any man-made obstacles in order to reach a hungry heart.

To the self-sufficient and self-righteous church He cries "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in." Revelation 3:20

While some are too busy with the business of religion to hear His voice and open their hearts, others do and invite Him in.

God has people in even the most rigid fundamentalist constructs.

Read Parts One, Three and Four.

This writing is the copyright of E.L. and is reprinted on this site by permission. View all of his available articles here.

Page added February 28, 2015

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