Are you a Legalist?
The word “ legalist ” is not a Bible word but is widely used in the religious world. It is not used in a complimentary way. The most common use of it is in a Bible discussion where someone is urging another person to obey God. When confronted with a Bible passage which precisely shows the will of God, some try to dismiss the force of God’s commandments by calling obedience “ legalism, ” and calling those who teach obedience “ legalists. ” In the mind of many, a “ legalist ” cannot be spiritual because “legalism” keeps one from being godly before God.
Perhaps the best way to show that urging others to listen to the Lord and then obey Him does not destroy spirituality is to look at the only man in the Bible whom God described as “a man after My own heart.” What was it that made David such a spiritual man? What was his attitude toward “ legalism? ”
The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119. It has 176 verses in it. Those who minimize obedience should take time to look carefully at this psalm. David extols the importance of the Bible nearly 200 times in this one psalm. He did not look at the Bible as a book of godly suggestions from God. He speaks of the word of God (38 times), the law of God (25 times), statutes (22 times), testimonies (22), precepts (21), commandments (23), and judgments (22). Those who use the term “ legalist ” never view the Bible this way. Now if a man “after God’s own heart” looked at the Bible as commands, precepts and statues, what does this say about the heart of those who call this attitude “ legalism? ”
Look deeper into this psalm and the attitude toward the commandments of God. He respected all of God’s commands (verse 6). He prayed that he would not wander from them (10) and that God would not hide His commandments from him (19). He saw God as One who rebuked proud men who erred from His commands (32). God’s commandments were to be diligently followed, for this enlarged David’s heart (32).
He also delighted in the commandments for he loved them (35, 47). He meditated on them as he lifted up holy hands (48), and he made haste and did not delay to keep the commandments of God (60). He believed in the commandments and saw them as the way God taught Him good judgment and knowledge (66). He sought to learn them (73). These commands were trustworthy and faithful and made him wiser than the wicked (86, 98). He sought to keep them (115), for he longed for them (131). They were truth (151) and righteousness (176), and the keeping of them brought the hope of salvation (166).
God help us all to be “ legalists ” like David!