Robots or Rebels: The Dangers of Growing Up a Legalist, and Biblical Motivations for True Holiness

By Robert P. Pruitt

Legalism! Almost no one is neutral on the subject. Some see a legalist behind every attempt to encourage holiness in the lives of God’s people, while others fail to see that they have fallen into the clutches of legalistic thinking.  In the name of calling people to righteousness, many add to the Word of God and form a system destined to end in an unbiblical approach to godly living. The results of legalism are devastating. Many fail to learn to think, or at least think biblically, but continue to conform to the rules that have been laid before them. Robotic in their obedience, they never experience the joy of the freedom available in Christ. Others rebel, not only against the system, but against even those teachings that are true to the Scriptures. These rebels often leave their families and the church in pursuit of personal pleasure. In so doing they find themselves becoming slaves to sin. This book is designed to expose legalism and its tragic results, and then point the way to a true holiness that is based in biblical motivations. Christ is glorified only through truly holy lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ambassador International
• Release date: Nov 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781620203583

Book preview

Robots or Rebels

The Dangers of Growing Up a Legalist, and

Biblical Motivations for True Holiness

© 2014 by Robert P. Pruitt

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN: 978-1-62020-258-6

eISBN: 978-1-62020-358-3

SCRIPTURE TAKEN FROM THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. PUBLIC DOMAIN.

Cover design and typesetting: Matthew Mulder

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I AM TRULY GRATEFUL TO Eric Rucker whose encouragement and work at initial editing of the manuscript has been invaluable. My thanks also goes out to Michele, my wife, who helped in the initial editing, and to both her and my youngest daughter Rebekah for their understanding when writing required extra time. The church family of Coloma Bible Church has shown wonderful support for this work. It is a joy to serve as their pastor. Finally, thanks to J. P., and the entire staff of Ambassador International for being so helpful.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction

Section 1 - What is Legalism: Legalism's Formation and Forms

Chapter 1 - How Legalistic Systems Often Form

Chapter 2 - Another Reason Legalistic Systems Form

Chapter 3 - Forms of Legalism

Section II - The Robots: Accepting the Standard Without Holding Truly Biblical Convictions

Chapter 4 - Establishing Character Without Biblical Content

Chapter 5 - Regulating Conduct Without Context

Section III - The Rebels: Rejecting Both False and True Standards of Conduct

Chapter 6 - Exposing the Obvious Rebel

Chapter 7 - Exposing the Subtle Rebel

Section IV - The Rarity: Coming Out of Legalism Without Flying Off Into Worldliness

Introduction to Section IV

Chapter 8 - Holiness Based in the Gospel of Grace

Chapter 9 - Holiness Based in Dependence on the Holy Spirit

Chapter 10 - Holiness Based in Love for the Lost

Chapter 11 - Holiness Based in Love for the Brethren

Chapter 12 - Holiness Based in Love for Christ

Chapter 13 - What to Expect on the Way Out of Legalism to a Life of Holy Liberty

Contact Information

PREFACE

THE BOOK YOU HOLD IN your hands is intended to be broad in its focus. In other words, it is not intended to touch upon a single form or manifestation of legalism, but is rather designed to aid its readers to think through their own backgrounds, so they might rightly determine whether or not they have been adversely impacted by a legalistic family, church, or parachurch ministry. It is hoped that what is said here will encourage the reader to discern legalistic systems from a biblical motivation for holiness, and to choose true holiness that will glorify Christ, rather than becoming a robot or a rebel. Where one has already fallen into such an error, it is hoped that a way out—a way to true salvation and holiness—may be found.

That this book is intended to warn of legalism that is abounding both in fundamental and evangelical realms will not allow for the specificity that many might like. Some readers might like a list of ministries that I deem to be legalistic. However, is that kind of specificity not one of the problems that accompanies legalism? Legalists want everything listed for them so they do not have to think, but this book is intended to encourage the hard work of thinking, and hopefully of thinking biblically. The legalist naturally loathes ambiguity. Everything must be in black and white, and there is never any room for anything gray. Where the Bible is silent the legalist is not satisfied, and is therefore tempted, and often falls to the temptation, to add to the Scriptures. The Pharisees, who were so opposed to Jesus, were dissatisfied that exactly what entailed work was not carefully delineated; and so they took it upon themselves to define anything and everything they could think of that might be considered work, so that they would not err on the Sabbath Day. They loved their lists, even those that caused them to break the actual law of God (Mark 7:11–13).¹

Since it is not the goal of this book to create a specific list of legalistic ministries, but rather to encourage biblical thinking about what is legalistic and what is not, and ultimately to promote holiness, not according to man’s power but according to the working of the Holy Spirit in accord with the clear teaching of Scripture, I have included very few quotations from ministries that promote legalism. Such a list might drive people away before giving the book, and—even more important—what the Scriptures really teach about motivations for holiness, a fair reading. I have also tried to avoid quoting biblical commentators on Scriptures that deal with legalism, since some commentators might be instantly rejected by the advocates of legalistic families, churches, and parachurch ministries. It is also true that no one book can cover every issue dealing with legalism or biblical holiness, and that attempt is not made here. Readers may thus find items that could have been included, and they are probably correct. My goal is to illustrate the results of legalistic systems and to point to some of the primary biblical motivations for true holiness, so that Christ might be glorified through changed hearts and lives.

May God use these printed pages to bring both young and old out of the clutches of legalism and into true biblical holiness.

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¹ Here is what Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees in Mark 7:11–13: But ye say, ‘If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightiest be profited by me; he shall be free.’ And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

INTRODUCTION

SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED WITH what might be called legalism? After all it seems that the church is failing, and failing miserably, to live up to the standards revealed in the Scriptures. Shouldn’t we live in a fashion that is different from the morality, or rather amorality, of the world? Should not Christians live in a manner that is holy? Peter believed so, quoting from Leviticus 11:44, 19:2, and 20:7, saying, But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy¹ (1 Peter 1:15–16). The Word of God leaves no doubt, Christians are to live holy, pure, righteous, godly lives in the midst of a world that seeks its own pleasures and is bent toward evil. Therefore John would exhort us with these words, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (1 John 2:15–16). Again, we are left with no real question about our Lord’s desire that those who name the name of Christ live in a manner that is different from the world. Those who have trusted the Lord Jesus for forgiveness of sin, and who have thus been freed from both the penalty of sin and bondage to sin, are to love the Lord and are to refuse to love this world system and all its evil.² Believers are to walk in a manner that is worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1).

Since it is true that believers are to walk in a manner that is worthy of having been called to faith in Christ, since we are to refuse to love the world, since we are to be holy because the Lord Himself is holy, should we not put into place those standards whereby holiness of life can be maintained? This is a great question and forces us to deal with what holiness is, what legalism is, and how we are to respond biblically to both the call to holiness and the demand that we avoid legalism.

Throughout recent years the church and many parachurch ministries, rightly recognizing the harmful influences of a world given over to sinful practices, have too often resorted to extra-biblical standards in order to promote biblical holiness. Note that extra-biblical standards are not necessarily, in and of themselves, bad. However, there is a danger that extra-biblical standards may become as important in the minds of believers as is the Bible itself. When this happens the church has stumbled into a legalistic mindset, and the demands of true holiness become obscured. Let me illustrate that an extra-biblical standard may indeed be a good thing for the promotion of holiness in one’s life, but that it cannot be proclaimed as though it is equal with the Scriptures. When my wife and I were dating we were aware of the temptations to immorality. Too many friends and acquaintances had fallen to this most aggressive evil. And so, in order to protect our purity, and in order to seek God’s glory in all of life together, we set some personal standards. Here are a couple of the standards we set for ourselves: First, we determined that "when the car stops, we get out." In other words, we would not allow ourselves to find some lonely place to park and then sit alone together in the car where temptations to immorality would be encouraged. A second standard that we set for ourselves was this: we will never be in a home together where no one else is present. Some years ago a study was done in which it was discovered that many teenage girls who became pregnant had been sexually involved in the hours between the end of school and the time mom or dad came home from work. Too many young couples come home after school to empty houses where sin is convenient. We sought to make sure that sin never became convenient for us. For many the wisdom of these standards is immediately apparent, for the Bible clearly teaches believers to flee also youthful lusts; but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22). For some, people who I fear may be underestimating the power of sexual temptation, these may appear to be silly rules. For a third group, there is the temptation to elevate these rules to a place of equality with the biblical demands of purity. Therefore it is necessary to contemplate a couple of questions. First, is it possible for a young couple to be together in a parked car on a lonely road and not sin? Is it possible for a young couple to be together in a home where no one else is present and not sin? Of course the correct answer to these questions is, Yes, it is possible. But we should ask the second question, Is it wise for a young couple to place themselves in a position where it is easy to commit acts of immorality? The answer to this question should also be readily apparent. It is clearly not wise to place oneself in the way of temptation when the Bible teaches us that we are to flee youthful lusts (2 Tim. 2:22). Believers are to live lives of purity, both in thought and action. Holiness is required, and in the case of sexuality, we are to maintain moral purity. We can certainly take the demands of Scripture and set personal standards that will aid us as we seek to avoid sinful pitfalls and as we seek to live truly holy lives. However, the moment we present these standards as though they hold biblical authority, or we try to force others to conform to them, we have stepped beyond the bounds of the Scriptures and have started down a path of extra-biblical standards as being necessary for true holiness. This cannot be allowed, as it becomes a form of legalism.

In the pages that follow we will seek to define legalism more clearly, we will point out two severe dangers of growing up a legalist,³ and we will seek to encourage true holiness, where maintaining a righteous lifestyle is based in Scripture and Scriptural motives. May the Lord use these words to encourage those who have been caught up in the practices and mindset of legalistic rules to come out of such systems and to enter into the joy of loving Christ, and into the obedience that flows from such love.

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¹ The holiness of God speaks of His transcendence and separation from all that is common, unclean, and unrighteous. If His followers are to be holy, they will then be separate from what is unclean and unrighteous. This does not mean that they will isolate themselves from the world, however, but that they will live in a holy fashion while interacting with the world (see John 17:9–17).

² The Word of God does not encourage believers to refuse to love those who are in the world, i.e., those who are lost. In fact, we know that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Like God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, we should love those who are lost in this world in order that we might bring them to the truth of the gospel. So it is not the people who are in the world that we are to refuse to love, but the world system that is governed by evil.

³ The same potential outcomes can occur in the life of anyone who has been subjected to a legalistic system.

CHAPTER 1

HOW LEGALISTIC SYSTEMS OFTEN FORM

IMAGINE FOR A FEW MOMENTS that you know nothing of the Bible. You have never read it, nor have you been in a church where it is taught and preached. However, you love to read, and since the Bible is the greatest-selling book of all time, you determine that you will make it a project to read the Bible from the first verse of Genesis through to the last verse of Revelation. The Bible is a large book, so it takes several months to work your way through the Old Testament. There are times that you are tempted to lay it aside due to the boring passages such as the chronologies, the detailed demands of much of the law, or the step-by-step instructions on the building of the tabernacle, but you find a way to continue through to the end of Malachi. Then you begin reading the book of Matthew. It begins with another genealogical record, but this one is short, so you quickly work your way through it to more palatable reading. Before you read many chapters in Matthew, it becomes obvious that this gospel is about a person of whom it is claimed that He was born of a virgin, that He is the incarnate God, that He is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament, and that, in spite of all this, He faces great opposition from both political and religious leaders of the day. For example, before His third birthday, King Herod seeks to have Him killed.¹ As you continue your reading into chapter three, you are introduced to two groups who oppose Jesus: the Pharisees and the Sadducees. You are particularly thoughtful about what you have read from the beginning of Genesis until now, so you are struck with the realization that previously you have not read of either of these groups; throughout the entire Old Testament, neither Pharisees nor Sadducees have been mentioned. As you continue reading you find that these two important sects both violently oppose Jesus, even though they also differ from one another. But who are these people, and where did they come from? This knowledge would surely help you understand the conflict between them and Jesus.