Enslaving the Flock

James R Owen, Sr.

Legalism is the attempt to control a Christian by placing him under the Mosaic Law, especially the Ten Commandments. This is especially true in some churches. The church leaders imagine that that is the only way to get the people to live godly lives.

In speaking to some of the former members of such a church the other day, I found that there was a real reaction to the legalism that seems to be so predominant at that church now. According to them it is not anything new but it seems to have gotten worse in the past few years. These families have each settled into different churches since leaving that church. They each express a sense of relief from the stifling atmosphere that had become so oppressive there. It seems that the emphasis at the church has been more on external things such as dress and types of Christian music, instead of life lived in freedom under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

I can certainly appreciate the desire a pastor has for all the members to look godly and to sing only what you consider good Christian music. Being from an earlier generation I may have an even more conservative view in these areas. And if we were to go back a 100 years or more we would find an even stricter standard in these areas. In those years it was a shame for a woman to even show her ankle in public. But the Lord showed me many years ago that as long as one was not in sin I could and must leave each child of God to the Lord. The same Holy Spirit Who resides in me and wants to direct my life resides in them and knows how to direct there lives.

I’m afraid that in their well-meaning desire to keep their people from taking advantage of their freedom in Christ they have intruded into the Holy Spirit’s ministry. I have no doubt that I was guilty of doing the same at times. This is why we must always allow the Spirit to direct us by the Word of God.

Galatians 5:1 tells us to “Stand fast (not in a binding legalism whether it is the Mosaic Law or any other set of do’s and don’ts but) in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free”. The Lord Jesus said that He had come to set people free by means of the truth. And the truth that would make them free would also “make you free indeed”(John 8:32,36). Jesus said this to the Pharisees, the real legalists of the Jewish nation. They were always so careful with how they appeared outwardly. Jesus said that they were like whitewashed graves; they looked good on the outside but inside were dead men’s bones and “all uncleanness”. (Matt.23:27; 15:19)

It is from the heart that all manner of sins spring. Our old nature has a form of godliness so that even the unsaved can look awfully good in public, but they still do not have the life of Christ in them. So it is with a believer, he can look good outwardly but be very carnal or fleshly inwardly. But the answer is not by putting them under the law, but to point them to God’s way of living a righteous life: “Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (Gal.5:16)

Christ, the One Who freed them in the first place, is the One Who wants to give them freedom now. And He does so through His Spirit as they look not to methods or principles or certain rules and regulations but to Jesus Christ, “the Author and Finisher of our faith”. (Phil.1:6)

"I’m afraid that in their well-meaning desire to keep their people from taking advantage of their freedom in Christ they have intruded into the Holy Spirit’s ministry."

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