Some of the meanest people I know are legalistic Christians. They give the outward appearance of having it all together but behind closed doors they are anything but kind. The experiences of my staff and me in counseling have revealed that many legalist Christians have a nice looking veneer on the outside but underneath there is a hardness.
Legalistic people can be very judgemental, controlling, unloving, critical, arrogant, and self-righteous. Their view of God is that He is primarily a judge and a teacher. Their view of people is that most of them are not as good a Christian as they are. Their view of themselves is that they are superior spiritually to others. They live a very ruled based life and are clueless about God's love.
Jesus loves these people, though. How do I know? Sadly, I was one of them and He pursued me until His love broke me of my legalism. I am so very grateful but I am very saddened when I think of all of the people I hurt along the way.
Jesus confronted the legalists of His day trying to shake them out of their religious stupor so they could awaken to a genuine relationship with God. He was also very upset because He knew that legalists keep people away from the true God! Read closely what He said about them in Matthew 23:4-15.
They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called 'Rabbi' by others. But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and He is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
Let go of legalism and fully embrace the unconditional love of the One who is Grace - Jesus Christ.
Live Free In Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding
Legalistic people can be very judgemental, controlling, unloving, critical, arrogant, and self-righteous. Their view of God is that He is primarily a judge and a teacher. Their view of people is that most of them are not as good a Christian as they are. Their view of themselves is that they are superior spiritually to others. They live a very ruled based life and are clueless about God's love.
Jesus loves these people, though. How do I know? Sadly, I was one of them and He pursued me until His love broke me of my legalism. I am so very grateful but I am very saddened when I think of all of the people I hurt along the way.
Jesus confronted the legalists of His day trying to shake them out of their religious stupor so they could awaken to a genuine relationship with God. He was also very upset because He knew that legalists keep people away from the true God! Read closely what He said about them in Matthew 23:4-15.
They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called 'Rabbi' by others. But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and He is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
Let go of legalism and fully embrace the unconditional love of the One who is Grace - Jesus Christ.
Live Free In Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding
