When you hear the term legalism you normally think of all things religious, correct? Well, contrary to what you may think, legalism is a mindset that can be found in all kinds of environments, not just religious ones.
Example
Not long ago I had to attend a mandated state re-certification class. I won’t say where, or with whom, because the last thing I want is to make my employer or the state mad at me. Just know that it really happened.
I attended this class with a group of people. Each of us was given a booklet and a pencil. Each of us was getting paid for the hour we were spending. Every one would have rather been somewhere else, but each went in order to keep his job.
You see, in order to keep certain certifications, the state government requires that each person attend so many hours of instruction each year. This instruction is to be industry-related and taught by a state official. The problem is that most who attend these classes never learn anything new. Few actually listen to the instructions. Most only go because they have to.
What is worse, the instructors know that those attending these mandatory classes will learn very little. As a matter of fact, even though each class is given a test at the end, most of the answers are given in advance. Just because one attendee may get 100% of the answers correct, that only means he may have consulted with his neighbor. That’s allowed, of course.
Checking off the list
Do you see the legalism? All the state is requiring is that a bunch of people check off a list of requirements in order to be “certified.” Religious people do this all the time by insisting that various lists be checked off. But what is in the heart, what is really believed, is not as critical, only the deeds done in the name of compliance.
Somewhere in the past a group of politicians and regulator got together and decided what requirements needed to be met in order to keep litigation attorneys happy. A budget was set, materials and curriculum were printed, and the orders were given: “just do what we say and we’ll all be fine.” Amazingly, many people treat faith the same way.
My Fight
Why do I write this blog? Why do I want to fight legalism? Because it not only hurts the Church and the lives of believers, but it is even detrimental to society as a whole. Legalism is all about saying everything is fine, just as long as you do what is expected, nothing more, nothing less. Legalism does not address the heart. Legalism only binds people to costly, burdensome regulations which in many cases do little to change what matters.
Rom 3:28 KJV – Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
The Recovering Legalist 