Legalism and Stumblingblock David Field May 24, 2010
Legalism in Christianity is defined as when the following of the letter of the law becomes the weightier focus, as opposed to love, grace, and tolerance. The Apostle Paul had much to say about this, and some of it is misunderstood. Some Christians love to push the law without compassion. Legalists pull out certain scriptures, ignoring others, and use the bible to pound others over the head. Romans 14 2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
13Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 14I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Legalists use the “stumblingblock” scripture to denounce the drinking of wine, because wine is mentioned in the same verse. Meat is also mentioned in the same verse, but never questioned. Of course the rebuttal is, meat is not a stumbling block to gentiles. The argument given is that if a younger Christian sees you drinking wine, then they will believe you are not a good Christian example. This act will cause them to loose faith in Jesus Christ.
In Paul’s day, there where those who held the Jewish belief system which included not eating unclean meat, and those who didn’t. The Gentiles did not, and the Jews did. Paul is stating in the above scripture, to not make those differences an issue. Do not let yourself get caught up in worthless, trivial, growth stunting debate. This is the “stumbling block”. But legalists read it the exact opposite as Paul meant it. Legalism is read from scripture that was meant to teach tolerance.
Paul is teaching that it would be wrong for a person to eat meat if he thinks it is wrong. It would be an act of disobedience to him, until such time as that person realizes it is not wrong. Paul goes on (Romans 14:22) to tell you not to eat meat in front of that person. He says you can eat it in private, or somewhere else where your act will not offend others.
What the finger-wagging legalists don’t realize is that they are the ones causing the trouble for the unbelievers. This condemning, and judgmental image of Christianity is not becoming. God is firstly love. I am not saying to accept sin. I am saying, as Paul said, don’t bully people because of their lack of understanding. Do you want people healed of sin, or do you want to beat them up?
Romans 15 1We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
We go on to read the next chapter where Paul tells us to “bear the infirmities of the weak”, meaning to put up with their sin for the greater good, until such time as they have understanding. You don’t have to pounce on someone every time you find something wrong in them. What they need is a loving guiding hand. And sometimes it is better to say nothing at all, rather than to offend. If you have patience, the proper place and time may present itself.
But if you haven’t firstly gained a person’s trust, they are not going to listen to you anyway. It is only natural self-protection that people put up a barrier between themselves and those they feel are out to harm or condemn them. Is it correct for Christians to be in this self-protection mode? No, but a baby Christian is still in this mode, and the more spiritually mature person needs to accept it. As a person matures in the faith of God, they will drop their defenses knowing that they are protected not of themselves, but of God. And as they mature, they will realize that nothing other men say, or think of them really matters. Then they will stop taking offense at correction, even if the correction is unwarranted.
Here is an example: Someone accepts Christ, and the next day a supposed mature Christian insists that person must immediately stop smoking, sighting he is now the body of Christ, and his body is the temple of the Lord. This is correct according to the law of legality, but not correct according to the law of love and grace. That person may smoke for the rest of their life and still be with Christ. Let the Holy Spirit convict. This is a trivial matter. There are weightier issues that could be addressed sooner.