Articles, Bible Questions and Discipleship Guides

As Christians, we often wrestle with the role of rules in our faith. After all, the Bible contains many commandments and guidelines for living. But when do rules cross the line into legalism, and how can we guard against it? Understanding the difference between following rules and falling into legalism is crucial for living a life that honors God in both spirit and action.

What Are Rules in the Christian Life?

Rules, or commandments, are a necessary part of our walk with God. Throughout Scripture, God gives us guidelines to follow so that we can live in ways that reflect His character and His will for our lives. Jesus summed up the two greatest commandments in Matthew 22:37-40: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets" (ESV).

Rules are not inherently bad. In fact, they are often an expression of God’s love and wisdom. They help us understand how to live in harmony with God and others. When we obey God's rules, we're responding to His love with a desire to please Him. Following God's instructions is part of discipleship and reflects our love for Him (John 14:15).

What Is Legalism?

Legalism, on the other hand, is an unhealthy distortion of rules. Legalism occurs when we treat rules as the way to earn God’s favor or when we add unnecessary burdens that God never intended. Legalism focuses more on external obedience than on the heart's relationship with God. It's about checking boxes rather than being transformed by the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul addressed the dangers of legalism in his letter to the Galatians. The Galatians were being pressured to follow certain Jewish laws to be accepted by God. Paul warned them, "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). Legalism becomes a yoke of slavery when we think our performance is the key to being right with God, rather than trusting in the finished work of Christ.

How to Spot Legalism

Legalism is often marked by a few key attitudes:

1. Judgmentalism: When people begin to judge others based on outward adherence to specific rules rather than on their heart's devotion to God.

2. Self-Righteousness: Legalism can lead to a sense of superiority, believing we are more spiritual because of our obedience to rules.

3. Fear: Legalism fosters fear—fear of failure, fear of not measuring up, and fear of God’s rejection. Instead of serving God out of love, we obey out of fear of condemnation.

Jesus spoke against the legalistic tendencies of the Pharisees, who followed the rules outwardly but missed the point of a loving relationship with God. In Matthew 23:23, He says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others" (ESV). The Pharisees were more concerned with religious appearance than with the true heart of the law.

The Balance: Relationship Over Rules

While rules help guide our lives, the heart of the Christian faith is a relationship with God. Rules are meant to help us grow in that relationship, not replace it. Jesus came to fulfill the law and bring us into a relationship with God through grace (Matthew 5:17). Legalism, however, can rob us of that joy by focusing on rule-keeping rather than on the grace that God offers us through Christ.

In Romans 8:1-2, Paul writes, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death" (ESV). In Christ, we are free from the burden of legalism and empowered to live in joyful obedience because of the grace He provides.

Conclusion

The difference between rules and legalism is rooted in our motivation and understanding of grace. Rules, when rightly understood, help us live in alignment with God's will and reflect His love. Legalism, however, traps us in a performance-based relationship with God, where outward obedience matters more than inward transformation.

As we walk in faith, let’s remember that God calls us into a relationship with Him through Jesus, not to live in fear of rules or to earn His favor through legalism. Instead, may we live in the freedom of His grace, joyfully following His commands as an expression of our love for Him.