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Legalism: What It Is & What It Isn't Pt.2

There is an opposite problem with legalism in the body of Christ as well. Saying something is legalism when it is not. If something is commanded in the word of God whether only once or more, no matter how minor it may "seem" in comparison to other commandments, it is not legalism for the Christian to desire to obey God's word. And it is not legalism for a Pastor, Elder or other Christian to reprove a person disobeying these "type" of commandments.

As I attempt to put together what I have mentioned so far in parts one and two, let me site some examples. I have a personal standard to not be alone with a woman other than my wife or daughters in a private place. Again that is a standard. There is nothing wrong with Christians having standards, and it's usually wise. But if something happened where it just didn't work out, it would legalism for me to say I sinned or for someone else to say I sinned. It is legalism to say that music itself, television itself, movies itself, clothing itself, is sin. Now a person can sin of there are listening to or watching sin. They can sin if they are wearing clothing that is immodest, because these things are addressed in the word of God (Rom. 1:32; Ps. 101.3; 1Tim. 2:9-10).

There is also the principal of not causing someone to stumble with something that in of itself is not sin (1Cor. 8; 10:23-32; Rom. 14). As I have learned over the years, thises passages are not referring to not doing a non-sinful thing because someone somewhere at sometime may see you and stumble. But it is referring to a particular person that we know has a problem with something because they are a weaker-in-the-faith Christian, and we go ahead and do it anyway. Then, as Paul says in 1Cor. 8, we are sinning. Not because of the act itself, but because we caused or brother/sister to stumble. Our attitude as Christians should be the welfare of our brothers and sisters in Christ before our own enjoyment. Twice Paul said to the Corinthians (Chapters 6 & 10 in 1Cor.) that all things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. Sin is sin! But just because we have the freedom in Christ to do anything that is not sinful in of itself, that doesn't mean that it is always profitable....to us, others, and especially the Lord. May the Lord give us wisdom to understand what legalism is, and what legalism is not! Bret

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