Quotes regarding Evangelical Legalism

[OldEnt]

Boy OH boy! What a shock when the old forum went down! :( Glad we're back up but this newfangled progrgam will take getting use to... :confused:

Here are some extended quotes I recently came across. I highly recommend the book "Transforming Grace" by Jerry Bridges...

“We’ve gotten beyond the Galatian brand of legalism today. We haven’t resurrected circumcision as a requirement for salvation, and we’re clear that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ apart from the keeping of the law. Instead, we have developed another brand of legalism, a brand that is concerned, not with salvation, but with how we live the Christian life. I call this “evangelical legalism”…

...Despite God’s call to be free and His earnest admonition to resist all efforts to curtail it, there is little emphasis in Christian circles today on the importance of Christian freedom. Just the opposite seems to be true. Instead of promoting freedom, we stress our rules of conformity. Instead of preaching living by grace, we preach living by performance. Instead of encouraging new believers to be conformed to Christ, we subtly insist that they be conformed to our particular style of Christian culture. We do not intend to do this and would earnestly deny we are. Yet that’s the “bottom line” effect of most of our emphases in Christian circles today…

…We are much more concerned about someone abusing his freedom then we are about his guarding it. We are more afraid of indulging the sinful nature then we are of falling into legalism. Yet legalism does indulge the sinful nature because it fosters self-righteousness and religious pride. It also diverts us from the real issues of the Christian life by focusing on externals and sometimes trivial rules…

…We build fences to keep ourselves from committing certain sins. Soon these fences – instead of the sins they were designed to guard against- become the issue. We elevate our rules to the level of God’s commandments. “

From "Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God’s Unfailing Love" by Jerry Bridges

[Zacchaeus]

Thanks sooo much Old Ent

Have just ordered this book. The quotes certainly scratch where I itch!

Peace,

Zac :)

[Oopsie Daisey]

:cool: That was good. Thanks for sharing.

[MCM (Mary)]

Hi, everyone

Like this topic, Old Ent. The bible says God puts us in a broad place. There are about a thousand ways my kids can please me, and I'm sure God feels the same way about His children.

The narrow path Jesus talked about is true also... I think there's no substitute for faith, kindness, a charitable attitude, etc.

Mary

[MCM (Mary)]

Hi, Old Ent

I just came back and I've been re-reading your post. The words you quoted are not just vague (something's wrong here....duh.....). They are very specific to our condition. In particular:

"we stress our rules of conformity" Yes. Friendship within the church is set far above friendship with God.

"we preach living by performance" I've given up listening to sermons in which pastors try to stir up volunteerism. I'm already doing a great deal, and to do more just to do more would be a burden.

"Instead of encouraging new believers to be conformed to Christ, we subtly insist that they be conformed to our particular style of Christian culture." This is especially true. I haven't just studied under one denomination, but have gleaned truth from many -- which puts me outside of the possibility of ministry in most. This trick not only shuts people out of ministry, it keeps them away from God.

It is like Jesus said to the Pharisees, that they do not enter in themselves, and they prevent others from finding God.

To step out of the christian culture is dangerous emotionally, but to not step out of it is a danger to the soul.

Old Ent, thanks for an excellent, meaningful post. mary

[Jerry]

Here's a good "Litmus test for Pastors",,,,,,,,,,,,,Does he/she encourage you to follow Christ???????? or do they encourage you to follow them following Christ???????? :D
Jerry

[Hope 98]

I really don't know if I could add anything to this thread, everything that's been said fits so well already.

This coming Sunday, the pastor where I work is preaching about the Spirit of the Law vs. the letter of the Law. From comments he made about what he was trying to say, this thread seemed to fit, so I printed it out and gave it to him. I think it's going to end up in the sermon ;)

Jerry's contribution was one of my favorites. It's really great when you can find a Christian "leader" willing to point you in God's direction and let you go. This guy is very good at it.

Hope

[MCM (Mary)]

Hope, what a nice note! We are all glad when our little jumblings mean something to others. Mary

[Alice]

Hi, ENT! So nice to see you! I feel as you do; this new forum takes some getting used to! I meet this coming Monday with the church's insurance company---adjuster---this should be fun! LOL---Took me 2 years to confront the pharisees, but it was worth it (I don't know if you read where I said I had sent a letter to EVERY person who attended that legalistic/abusive church; I spent 10 hours putting it together. i addressed legalism, spiritual abuse, verbal abuse (of which i consider myself an expert; lived it for a lifetime, then researched it---been helping other women for a long time), and the church's twisted stance on divorce.......The pastor (of disaster) couldn't ignore me this time, LOL,LOL---he had a special meeting, but only 15 people showed up---such a farce---then 2 weeks later I sent another letter to the "pastor" requesting the Biblical restitution for what I had to spend in therapy, and told him that I intended to share the $ (if and when they pay me), with the 2 women, who....because of his "counseling" wanted to commit suicide...then I said; THAT would be restorative justice (best words i ever learned---from my [expert in spiritual abuse] therapist)......Both my therapist and attorney (the attorney was another miracle---a believer who helps abused women for---free!).....didn't think the pastor would take my letter seriously----I DID---right from the beginning---the letter was a masterpiece/powerful.....He DID take it seriously, and the church's insurance company contacted me....in case you knew all of this ---woops! Grins, and great to "see" you again....Alice

[aslan903]

I pastored in North Texas for 15 years. I had a church of several hundred, a $5 million + facility and seven figure annual budget. Graduated seminary with an M.A. I'm brand new to this forum but had to comment here.

In this evangelical, Bible-belt religious culture, I experienced evangelical legalism at some level, daily. I found that what I knew, what I had experienced and what I believed about Jesus and my life with him, was far different from most evangelical's perspective on being a 'Christian'.

I came to Jesus in the mid-70s after having lived the 70s lifestyle and all that it entailed. Like C.S. Lewis said, 'Christianity was repulsive to me because I didn't like so-called 'Christians'. I further identified with Lewis who said, 'I came crying, kicking and screaming into the Kingdom of God'. Christians and their actions hindered Lewis from finding truth in Jesus for many years.

I preached, practiced and endeavored to live the life that I saw in Jesus, from the scriptures and not from what some idealogy, church or what some doctrine taught. I wasn't against 'them'; I just chose to be for what I objectively saw in the life of Jesus and the Bible.

I recall visiting with those who had a very legalisitic, mean-spirited, accusing, fault-finding mentality and spirit about them and thinking to myself, I have nothing in common with these people (or this person, as the case may be).

I resigned the church that I served at the first of May, 2005. I find myself not having any desire to pastor even though I am writing a couple of books and maintain a full schedule. I'm not fighting 'against' anything but 'for' what I see honest Christian faith according to what I find in the words and spirit of the Bible.

Evangelical Christianity appears to be all about 'right and wrong' as interpretted in numerous ways by various groups and mindsets of people. It is a place where people should be able to run to for spiritual healing, freedom and life maturation, yet it is often a place that becomes quite devastating for them. Few make it long term without somehow being corrupted in mind and spirit by this prevailing and pervading problem which has existed since the garden of Eden.

I certainly don't feel that I have all the answers to this problem. I do see it as a deceptive plague that keeps people from Jesus rather than drawing them to him. I'm glad to join into this discussion and maybe minister love, healing and compassion to anyone whose path I cross and needs such ministry.

[SpinningHead]

Hi, ENT! So nice to see you! I feel as you do; this new forum takes some getting used to! I meet this coming Monday with the church's insurance company---adjuster---this should be fun! LOL---Took me 2 years to confront the pharisees, but it was worth it (I don't know if you read where I said I had sent a letter to EVERY person who attended that legalistic/abusive church; I spent 10 hours putting it together. i addressed legalism, spiritual abuse, verbal abuse (of which i consider myself an expert; lived it for a lifetime, then researched it---been helping other women for a long time), and the church's twisted stance on divorce.......The pastor (of disaster) couldn't ignore me this time, LOL,LOL---he had a special meeting, but only 15 people showed up---such a farce---then 2 weeks later I sent another letter to the "pastor" requesting the Biblical restitution for what I had to spend in therapy, and told him that I intended to share the $ (if and when they pay me), with the 2 women, who....because of his "counseling" wanted to commit suicide...then I said; THAT would be restorative justice (best words i ever learned---from my [expert in spiritual abuse] therapist)......Both my therapist and attorney (the attorney was another miracle---a believer who helps abused women for---free!).....didn't think the pastor would take my letter seriously----I DID---right from the beginning---the letter was a masterpiece/powerful.....He DID take it seriously, and the church's insurance company contacted me....in case you knew all of this ---woops! Grins, and great to "see" you again....Alice

Alice, my name is SpinningHead...nice to "meet" you!

I just read this and :eek: ! "Biblical Restitution"? Never heard that phrase before! I don't know your story but it sounds fascinating and would love to hear it!