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9:57 pm
March 12, 2010
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Georgia
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Hi Friends,
Here are some thoughts I've had about interacting with legalistic-type of Christians:
When I am around law-based Christians, I have learned not to engage in arguing about who’s "right." I give myself permission not to agree with them. And I try to listen to the Spirit to see if He’s giving me any words of life to speak. I purpose to love that person with God’s love and I picture myself rising above (levitating, if you will), above the conversation. I focus on loving that person, regardless of what they say. And I trust the Holy Spirit to bring revelation to them. "And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you." (Phil 3:15)
I'd be interested to hear if anyone has any thoughts about this.
Georiga
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11:44 pm
March 14, 2010
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Susan
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Cool post, Georgia. Sharing our life lessons is a great way to learn from one another. I love what you said about first listening to see if He has any words for you to speak, and to always just love them (while maintaining the quiet permission to disagree). You sound like a very gracious woman.
I'll add a few insights He's given me along the way! Trusting that God is equally at work in others was pivotal for me. He asked me to remember that I was once a legalist, bound by fear, and yet He loved me as passionately then as He does now. As I look back over my life I see that no matter what I thought of God, He was always at work in me. When I believed my narrow scope was the full picture, He was with me. When my view was completely erroneous (because I thought He was just like "me") He didn't forsake me. He's never left, given up on me, or withheld His fellowship simply because my opinion of Him was wrong.
My view is still partial at best. What I see today is only part of the picture. To remember that my view is limited diffuses the urge to make the snapshot my panoramic view. There are other pieces to the puzzle, other chapters yet to be written, and events yet to unfold.
I try to keep the playing field level by acknowledging that we are all in this together. Seeing myself in others (rather than separate from them) fosters kindness and respect. He repeatedly proves that love never fails. All true meaning (and conversion) comes from being loved. To love unconditionally promotes safety and the glorious atmosphere where change abounds. If conditions are placed on love then I am left with only the struggle to be lovable…a most miserable existence.
God wins my heart by loving me in spite of myself. He leads me to higher understanding without making me feel inferior or defective along the way. If fear arms legalism, love disarms it. When love sets me free, love for others is unrestrained. Trusting Him with "me" has been my key to trusting Him with others. I rest assured, knowing that legalism leaves each heart once it has perfected its work therein…
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1:00 pm
March 15, 2010
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Jaque
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If fear arms legalism, love disarms it.
Greeeaaaat line Susan! I like everything you wrote here, but this line captures it for me. I'll be back to add comment later, but I think you have surely offered the best of answers to Georgia's new forum subject.
BTW Geogia, this ia a great topic for discussion!
I'll be back.
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Living 'loved' by keeping myself in His love… Jude 21 |
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8:09 pm
March 15, 2010
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Georgia
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Thank you, Susan, for your response. When you speak, I sit up on the edge of my chair to listen.
I think it’s harder when the legalistic person is in a position of authority (or perceives himself to be). And it’s especially hard when I feel like I’m having expectations put on me or being judged. But I’ve also realized that when I am judging others, I am more concerned with the fear of being judged. When I forgive and release and choose not to judge, then I am free and the other’s judgments are no longer a concern to me – it’s between that person and God.
This line really struck me:
Seeing myself in others (rather than separate from them) fosters kindness and respect.
This is not always easy to do – especially if that person has violated me somehow. So that’s where once again, love and forgiveness come in.
And then there’s always the consideration of how much time to spend with such people. Again, I would need to be led by the Holy Spirit in that. If fellowship is 2 fellows in a ship, it’s hard to have fellowship if one is overboard, or heading in a different direction on another ship!
Thanks, Jacque, I’m glad you want to talk about this! I’ll look forward to hearing your thoughts! 
Still pondering,
Georgia
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10:07 pm
March 16, 2010
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Susan
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Post edited 10:16 pm – March 16, 2010 by Susan
So true, Georgia! It seems more difficult to deflect legalism when it's coming from a person in a position of authority. And you're right again, staying free from the effects of someone's judgment and expectation is easier when we don't enter it ourselves. Let their judgments be between them and God.
The Lord's holy unction in me is "shhh…be quiet." When I hear it I am reminded that no portion of my true being needs to be right, understood, or agreed with. Nor do I need to do what another thinks I should do or be who they think I should be. "Going silent" when I feel judged or manipulated is the space that keeps me from compromising my own "knowing" before the Lord. Hasty reactions are the cause of most turmoil in relationships. Silence creates this beautiful room for growth and fosters the grace that allows each person space.
Each time I refuse to react to some one's mental blow with a blow of my own, that person gets the opportunity to see for themselves that the antagonist they deal with is in their own flesh. When I refuse to enter the boxing ring I make a way for them to do the same. By taking myself out of the mix the cycle of antagonism is broken and each of us gets to face ourselves…alone and naked before the Lord.
Being "led by the Lord" in each situation is "code" for what union with Him is all about. We are learning what Jesus meant when He said that He did only those things He saw His Father doing in Him. Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith; He’s at work causing us to both will and to work for His good pleasure. He does it all and we do nothing…until we are prepared for action…then it will seem as though we do it all. Choice, action, and change are irresistible to the new creation. They are natural responses to His inner work; each surfaces as the obvious next step to that which He’s been perfecting in us. In the end, we take the step…but His internal engineering makes the step so unavoidable that it is hard to call it our own or to take credit for it!
Legalism won't allow this kind of freedom! Oh well, enough rambling for tonight! By the way, thanks Jaque for the kudos! And I agree, it is an interesting subject!
Susan
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10:11 pm
March 17, 2010
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Georgia
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Thank you again, Susan. Once again I benefit from your insights. This part really grabbed me:
… No portion of my true being needs to be right, understood, or agreed with. Nor do I need to do what another thinks I should do or be who they think I should be. "Going silent" when I feel judged or manipulated is the space that keeps me from compromising my own "knowing" before the Lord.
I love the idea of being true to my true self – that would be who God made me to be, united with Christ: Casme. So if a legalistic person tries to control or dominate, I can quietly turn to Casme without the need to defend or validate myself or demand respect for my position. Wow! It's strength through meekness! This would apply to any kind of disagreement or conflict.
Thanks for processing this with me!
Georgia
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8:04 am
March 18, 2010
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Jaque
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Hi gals,
I'm listening and enjoying your conversations. I'm getting ready to leave for a morning appt; I have a long drive ahead of me and not much time to post today. I just wanted to insert that I have a couple new friends from God that want a mentor and coach. The thorn that troubles them most? Legalism. I see legalism as the biggest thorn in the church today, don't you? It's all around us. Who among us hasn't been stuck on both sides of the problem?
I'm thinking about the way legalism affects private thoughts…when we're alone. I think the greatest problem with "the devil in our heads" is in getting bogged down with the guilt and condemnation that feels like cement ceilings and walls closing in around us.
I'll be back to continue the discussion later.
Musing,
Jaque
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Living 'loved' by keeping myself in His love… Jude 21 |
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12:25 pm
March 18, 2010
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Georgia
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I think that religious legalism is the most insidious evil on the face of the earth! People who have true hearts for God are taught that they have to do this and that, and serve here and there, and end up serving a man-made system, often to the point of burnout! They think they are serving God by doing these things, so they don’t understand why it seems so stressful. Over and over God is misrepresented by religious systems. People on the outside see the church as being full of hypocrites. They have no desire to go there and be judged. People on the inside go there and put on their smiley faces and try to appear to be doing well and having everything together, when in their inner man they are screaming for help and thinking there must be something wrong with them, and they just need to try harder and do better. Maybe they can trust their fellow partners in legalism enough to ask for prayer, but it’s risky because they might be made the objects of gossip. Throughout the ages, many horrific things have been done in the name of religion, and people even thought God wanted them to do those things. Surely Satan does appear as an angel of light.
A good example of a religious legalist was the older brother in the parable of the prodigal. He had no love for his own brother when the brother returned, but was angry at his father’s celebration. The father loved him just as much and went out to him and appealed to him, but his heart was cold and dark, and he could not enter in to the joy of his father.
Legalism is the other side of the coin of open rebellion. The younger brother’s sins were there for all to see, but when he came home he found forgiveness. The elder worked and slaved for his father, and appeared to be the good, obedient son, but his heart was just as far from the father as the younger brother’s when he went to a far country. That’s the insidious part – he appeared to be doing well, yet his heart was dark.
I have been both: the younger, and then the elder brother. Thank God He did not leave me there in either place, but sought me and found me and has continued to set me free with His truth!
Thankful that He loves us just as we are, and too much to leave us that way,
Georgia
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