Pharisees and Legalists

J. Greshem Machen in "What is Faith" wrote these words:

"A low view of law always brings legalism in the church. A high view of law make a man a seeker after grace. Pray God that the high view may again prevail."

The church today as a whole seems to have very little interest in the law of God - especially as it deals with topics that hit a little too close to home - marriage, politics, evangelism, church government, worship, male-headship, male and female gender roles, and education. Those who love the law of God and attempt to teach what it says are, sadly, labeled as legalists in the church, while those who care little or nothing about the law of God are seen, sadly, as exemplifying the freedom of the gospel. Nothing could be further from the truth. Those who dismiss or ignore the law of God because "that was then, this is now," are usually inveterate Pharisees and legalists themselves - all the while looking down on those who love God's law as being the legalists. Those who love the law of God in all of its culturally offensive glory will become, as Machen says, seekers after grace. The word "legalistic" is without question the most completely misunderstood word that is used among Christians today. A "legalist" is someone who believes that we are saved or justified before God by faith in Jesus Christ *plus* our own works of obedience to law of some kind. One other correct use of the term "legalist" would be: someone who makes up laws God has not given us and treats them as if they are the word of God. However, it is only the shallow thinking that prevails today that would cause anyone to label someone who loves God's law from the Bible as a "legalist," because such a person is the precise opposite of a legalist. Those who ignore God's laws will simply make up their own because it is impossible to be without law in one's life. And thus, while they castigate those who follow God's law in the Bible as legalists, the bitter irony is that they embody the spirit of Phariseeism themselves, all the while looking at the lovers of God's law as Pharisees.

It is an odd time indeed in which we live today.