Thankfully, I found a road out of that desert five years ago. Two books paved that road for me. One helped me understand a spirit of legalism in a way that empowered me to avoid its pitfalls without avoiding consistency in development habits. The other showed me the power and life that can come from a consistency that is not legalistic.
A Spirit of Legalism – It’s All in the “Why”
The first book was Tim Keller’s The Prodigal God, which brilliantly unpacks the heart of legalism through the lens of the older brother in Luke chapter 15. Keller writes, “Elder brothers obey God to get things. They don’t obey God to get God Himself.” Keller also writes, “If, like the elder brother, you believe that God ought to bless you and help you because you have worked so hard to obey him and be a good person, then Jesus may be your helper, your example, even your inspiration, but he is not your savior. You are serving as your own savior.”
Keller’s book helped me see that legalism involves my motive for engaging a behavior much more than the behavior itself. In other words, he gave me the right-sized understanding I needed. Once this was clear, I was free to re-engage some consistent behaviors without fear.
The second book was The Sacred Way by Tony Jones. Tony helped me see that the ancient disciplines have consistently provided powerful transformation, strength and spiritual insight for church leaders throughout the centuries. I wanted to “taste and see” God’s power the way those people did! Jones’ book gave me the proper motivation for engaging consistently in those ancient practices.
If you want to abide with Jesus in order to know Jesus, and you want to know Jesus in order to be led by Jesus, then you have the proper motive to engage the godly habits that help you grow in God’s grace.
Consistency = Fully Alive
The most influential verse in my life for the last five years has been John 10:10. Take note of the extremes Jesus presents in this verse:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Satan is a thief. I believe Satan has been the primary influencer in the rise of legalism throughout the history of God’s people. I believe he will do it again. He will use legalism to steal, kill and destroy life as often as he can. That said, please consider this warning: Satan can also use a false definition of legalism to keep us from consistently engaging the habits that lead to life.
You don’t need to let him steal that life from you. Jesus has a better plan. He wants to give you life to the full. He has invited you to sit down beside His streams of living water and drink. He has invited you to do it consistently. He has promised a life fully alive as you come to Him, FOR HIM, trusting Him with the outcomes. You can, with Jesus’ help, be consistent without engaging in a spirit of legalism. *
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