The Subtle Danger

“A person is not justified by the works of the law” (Galatians 2:16)

There once was a Jewish man who was carrying a burden of guilt, so he went to see his Rabbi.  “Rabbi,” he said, “I have to admit that I ate without saying a blessing.”  “Certainly, God will forgive,” said the Rabbi.  “Why didn’t you say the blessing?”  “I couldn’t” said the man, “I was eating with unwashed hands.”  “That’s not good,” said the Rabbi, “but I’m sure God will forgive.  Why didn’t you wash?”  “Because I was in a gentile home,” the man explained.  “Why weren’t you eating in an orthodox home?” asked the Rabbi.  “I was eating pork chops because no Jewish person would give me food,” explained the man.  “What?” said the Rabbi, “Pork isn’t kosher!  That’s nonsense.  I know a Jewish person would have given you food.”  “Well, they couldn’t,” said the man, “It was Yom Kippur and they were all fasting.”

Obviously both this Jewish man and this Rabbi felt bound and attached to the Jewish law.  You say, “Of course they would.  They were both Jewish!”  But to me the sad part of this story is that neither of these men knew what grace was all about.  Their lives consisted of having to say a blessing, of needing to wash their hands, of fear of eating the wrong food in the wrong place, and God forbid committing all these transgressions on a holy day. 

Now we may get a little snicker of humor out of this story, but I think it should help us take a closer look at our own lives.  Are we perhaps a bit legalistic and don’t have a full understanding of what grace is all about?  Legalism is an excessive adherence to a law or formula.  So, to help us understand legalism a little better, allow me to give some examples.  Legalism is believing God loves you more when you behave or do something good.  Legalism is feeling the need to pray a repetitious prayer each day.  Legalism is writing a check to the church down to the exact penny.  Legalism is judging the appearance of another Christian.  Legalism is having the attitude that there is only one style of worship music God accepts.  Legalism is being convinced there is only one translation of the bible that is acceptable.  Legalism is having several conversion experiences, but still doubting your salvation.  The list could go on, but by now you should have the point.

Legalism can and does bind us up with rules, regulations, dos and don’ts.  It is a subtle danger that dictates our schedule, our relationships, our life, and worse of all our intimacy with Christ.  The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 2:16 that the only thing that justifies us and places us in a right relationship with God is our faith in Jesus Christ.  That’s grace!  Not what we do, we say, or we think.  So, here’s my advice.  Free yourself from the legalism that may be in your life.  Say a blessing before you eat because you’re grateful to God for what he provides.  Wash your hands before you eat for the sake of cleanliness.  Go eat dinner with anyone you want to – in your home or theirs.  And enjoy all the pork chops you can eat. 

                                                                                   Darlene