“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”
–Galatians 1:6-9
Do any of the descriptions on the following list describe a church you’ve attended, either in the past or currently?
- The people in your church have an “Us vs. Them” mentality: Those who believe in Jesus are good. Those who don’t believe in Him are bad.
- There’s talk about the church extending “too much grace” when it comes to a less-than-desirable person in the pew.
- You notice there seem to be many people who never believe they’re doing enough for God. They say things like, “I should pray more often” rather than “I love to pray.”
- Outsiders don’t visit often (perhaps because the church is known for its legalism). People who are deeply hurting due to their sins or poor choices feel humiliated and embarrassed around you or people in your congregation.
- Congregants actively avoid people who have a different worldview from them or who struggle with an outwardly visible sin.
- There’s a general attitude among church members that being right is more important than being kind.
- People are smug about their Bible knowledge and feel superior to those less educated about Scripture.
- People who are deeply hurting due to their sins/poor choices feel humiliated and embarrassed around you.
- This list has made you very uncomfortable, angry or indignant and you want to start defending yourself or your congregation—with Bible verses. [1]
The items on this list (taken from research.lifeway.com) are all signs of a church which is breeding legalism rather than love.
I grew up in a conservative, predominantly Christian homeschooling community. I had a happy childhood and youth and I’m thankful for how I was raised. Unfortunately, many of my peers do not share my sentiments.
I had a tight-knit group of friends, but as we entered adulthood many of them decided not to follow Christ. I noticed something I found interesting: when my friends speak out against Christianity on social media, they are almost always actually speaking out against legalism and religious abuse. I’ve realized that they never knew the gospel; they only knew a legalistic church culture.
I see those who fear hell and punishment, even when as children they adhered to Christian beliefs and would have said they were saved. It was a deeply saddening revelation for me that a troubling amount of so-called Christian families don’t understand the gospel or the doctrine of grace.
God gave the Hebrews in the Old Testament many rules to follow in order to show them what perfection looks like. They failed to live up to the standard God gave them. That’s why He sent His son, Jesus, to take the punishment mankind deserved.
And Jesus was hurt by religious leaders.
When Jesus came, he was accused of being a drunkard and a glutton; even of being demon possessed. In the end, religious people murdered Him.
The way religious leaders of Jesus’ day treated Him contrasted starkly with the way Jesus treated sinners and societal outcasts.
“Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?’ This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.'”
–John 8:1-11
The old law, the one God gave to the Hebrews, said that adulterers should be stoned. When Jesus came, died, and rose again the righteousness of God was manifested apart from the law, “although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 3:21-26)
No longer does mankind need to attempt futilely to enter heaven by their own goodness. Now we can rest in a real, loving relationship with God.
[1] https://research.lifeway.com/2019/05/28/9-signs-your-church-is-a-breeding-ground-for-legalism/
Anna Sojourning 