Not only has Christ made us free from the power of sin but also from the bondage of legalism. Examples of legalism: You can’t wear jeans to church; can’t do this on that day; can’t eat meat; can’t marry outside your race, etc. Some Christians today make these religious rules of men sacred in their life.
We have some longtime friends who live in Central Florida. They are older than we are. They attend an extremely traditional church. Since we have a time share in that area, we visit there yearly. Sometimes, we attend Sunday worship service with our friends. When we do, my wife feels compelled to critique what she will wear. She does not want to bring too much attention to herself by her church attire.
I don’t mean to imply that my wife would even consider dressing inappropriately for church. Being a minister’s wife, she is always dressed decently and in order. But she does not dress in all white each Sunday with a big white hat as many of the old saints do at the church our friends attend.
Two Bible Verses Addressing Legalism
Regarding this matter, a couple of verses when read together stand out. They so clearly speak to what I have said heretofore in this post.
First, ‘If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”’ (Col. 2:20-21, NASB).
We say we are dead with Christ. But in deeds, we live as if we are still subject to the legalistic mandates of men.
As for the second verse: “If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1, KJV). Consider this verse along with the previous verse above. Together, they call on us to become less focused on pleasing men and more focused on pleasing God. This is the freedom Christ came to give us. Christians who fail to walk this way are by practice in bondage, though Christ has made them free from bondage.
I know some Christians who I regard as being in denominational bondage. Here is a typical scenario: They have fallen in love with this local church in the city they just moved to. They love the Word ministry. They love what the church has to offer. They love the worship experience. But there is just one BIG problem. “My parents and their parents and all my family members are Baptists” (or Pentecostals, or nondenominational, or whatever), and this church is not.”
Of course, we must be discerning when looking for a local church to unite with. But no Christian denomination can save us. The main point is that Christ has made us free from the bondage of legalism. Time to loose ourselves from the shackles of men. And set our affection on things above.
Copyright © 2022 by Frank King. All rights reserved.